Bay 12 Games Forum

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

Author Topic: Population cap  (Read 794 times)

pabrams

  • Bay Watcher
    • View Profile
Population cap
« on: August 18, 2012, 08:04:00 am »
My current fortress is getting pretty laggy; down to about 20 fps now.  According to d_init.txt, the population cap is 100 (and has been since embark), yet my fortress's actual population hovers around 200.   For my next fortress, I'd like a true population cap of 100-110; I want at least 100, because according to d_init.txt, I need that many to get 'current game features'.   

How should I set d_init.txt to get a true population cap of 100?  Right now it's set at 100 and I have 200, so if I set it at 50 does that mean I'll get 100?

The  BABY_CHILD_CAP is currently 100:1000, is that why I have 200 dorfs?  The 100 in baby cap gets added to the population cap?  Should I just try leaving population cap at 100, and lowering the baby cap instead?
Logged

Urist McPenguinhead

  • Bay Watcher
  • dungeon master with questionable motives
    • View Profile
Re: Population cap
« Reply #1 on: August 18, 2012, 08:21:27 am »
I don't think there is a way to get a definite population cap, but I could be wrong.
Population cap in d_init isn't a definite cut off, for example if it is set at 100 and you have 97 dwarves, you could still get a migration wave of 50 dwarves, but after that none should come.

So yeah, if you wanted a population of 100 or so, set it at 70-80 maybe, not sure.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2012, 08:23:20 am by Urist McPenguinhead »
Logged

pabrams

  • Bay Watcher
    • View Profile
Re: Population cap
« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2012, 08:38:34 am »
Yeah I can understand if I get a huge migration wave when I am just below the cusp then I'm out of luck.   I'm wondering about the babies though.  Seems like I get more babies whenever population dips below 200.

Since my cap is 100 but dorfs still get pregnant when my population is above that, I guess the only conclusion is that POPULATION_CAP does not include babies.   Can anyone confirm that?

Oh btw this is v0.34.11
« Last Edit: August 18, 2012, 08:40:54 am by pabrams »
Logged

Laurin

  • Bay Watcher
    • View Profile
Re: Population cap
« Reply #3 on: August 18, 2012, 08:52:11 am »
Population cap only manages migrants, I believe.

The first number in BABY_CHILD_CAP is the total of new born babies, the second one the percentage of your total population.
Logged

pabrams

  • Bay Watcher
    • View Profile
Re: Population cap
« Reply #4 on: August 18, 2012, 08:57:38 am »

Okay, that's consistent with what I'm experiencing. 

That default of 100 babies is huge!  A fortress killer, I think, for many.  That default should probably be lowered.
Logged

wuphonsreach

  • Bay Watcher
    • View Profile
Re: Population cap
« Reply #5 on: August 20, 2012, 06:58:33 pm »
Start with your pop-cap at 20, then raise it by 5 or 10 every spring.

It will get you a much more gradual growth curve and you won't overshoot as much.
Logged