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[doublestrafe]

That's an easy one.  < and > are stairs, . is the floor, { is a fountain, & is a demon, @ is a person and " is the Amulet of Yendor.  It's just like Izchak intended.

Messing with that is just wrong.

{? What nethack are you playing? A fountain is ⌠.

[hjd_uk]

I've used a bunch of different tilesets since starting playing, the rawascii is a bit too dense for me and i personally hate the non 1:1 ratio, im currently using :

JollyBastion

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I like that it doesnt try to put too much detail in but it still looks good.

[askovdk]

I like to play with ascii graphics, - but not the default set.
When I first embarked I found a nice sharp tileset (Md_curses_16x16) in the wiki, and I have been using it ever since.
I couldn't find that set when I checked the wiki today though, but there are a lot of other good (square) sets to choose from:
http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/Tileset_repository

[Broseph Stalin]

One more vote for ascii, there are so many little things to ascii dwarf fortress that i wonder if graph users even know they exist, such as hard to spot, small vermin roaming, grass and vegetation changing colors and the mist and foam ocean waves generate.

All of those things happen in graphics too.

[Johuotar]

I dont like the look of many custom tilesets and they usually make text look worse. The default tileset is pretty amazing lopking Imo.

[Fortress Calling]

I think this image probably sums it up best.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

That scene so perfectly encapsulates every single ASCII game ever made.

[Rtyh-C]

In the original tileset, grass is not continuous. It's 'period, period, comma, period, comma'. I can't stand it for some reason. I suppose I should edit that and use ASCII... In the meantime, I use Ironhand's set.

A somewhat related question - why does everyone want isometric graphics in DF? Someone even mentioned having graphics like Battle for Wesnoth's. They're ugly, even compared to the ASCII. For me, it's either small colorful tiles or photorealistic 3D graphics. Am I simply a freak?

[wuphonsreach]

In the original tileset, grass is not continuous. It's 'period, period, comma, period, comma'. I can't stand it for some reason. I suppose I should edit that and use ASCII...

Try setting: [VARIED_GROUND_TILES:NO] in your init file.

http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:D_init.txt

[Drutin]

I don't use graphics packs because to me it's like reading the book instead of watching the movie.  Sure the movie has spiffy special effects and famous actors, but no graphics card can match the power of your imagination.  If I see a little picture of a cow walking around on a little picture of grass then that's what I picture in my mind when I think of my fort.  When I see ASCII I tend to imagine not ASCII but the actual scene in my mind and it is much better.  I also don't play with dwarf therapist because I'm crazy.  TL;DR I use ASCII because I watched too much reading rainbow as a child and my imagination is RAD.

[Exlo]

I use ASCII. Graphics packs and ASCII look pretty much the same to me though. I've used both in the past, and both worked. Graphics are definitely good for introducing new players, but after you play long enough in ASCII you'll come to realize you're reading them both in the same way. (Ex. - Clubs and spades and such really do kind of look like trees in ASCII, especially if you mentally connect them with the fact that they are being used to represent trees.) The only thing "better" about graphics packs is that you can have individual icons for creatures and jobs within races instead of positions in races being indicated by simple color changes and several creatures sharing the same letter.

Really though, it all comes down to personal preference. The topic will be debated for ages to come, I'm sure.

[Scruffy]

The only thing "better" about graphics packs is that you can have individual icons for creatures and jobs within races instead of positions in races being indicated by simple color changes and several creatures sharing the same letter.

Yep, I agree.

Reading the "ascii" tiles feels just as natural as using a graphics pack but I too like the way how most graphics packs make it easier to see, for an example, which dwarves are military and which civilians or if the thing stomping your little dorflings is a bronze collosus or just another mule.

[untakenusername]

Personally I LIKE the ASCII graphics better. Dunno why.

This, all the graphics packs just look weird and unnatural to me.

[Putnam]

The only thing "better" about graphics packs is that you can have individual icons for creatures and jobs within races instead of positions in races being indicated by simple color changes and several creatures sharing the same letter.

Yep, I agree.

Reading the "ascii" tiles feels just as natural as using a graphics pack but I too like the way how most graphics packs make it easier to see, for an example, which dwarves are military and which civilians or if the thing stomping your little dorflings is a bronze collosus or just another mule.

Well, military dwarves are always ☻ and civilians are always ☺, so...

[Jake]

Furthermore, I find the default graphics to just look a bit more... Dwarfy. Someone posted once that playing with the default graphics without Dwarf Therapist is akin to a bunch of drunk dwarfs trying to run anything.

I think you mean the quote in my sig.

[Scruffy]

The only thing "better" about graphics packs is that you can have individual icons for creatures and jobs within races instead of positions in races being indicated by simple color changes and several creatures sharing the same letter.

Yep, I agree.

Reading the "ascii" tiles feels just as natural as using a graphics pack but I too like the way how most graphics packs make it easier to see, for an example, which dwarves are military and which civilians or if the thing stomping your little dorflings is a bronze collosus or just another mule.

Well, military dwarves are always ☻ and civilians are always ☺, so...

Ugh, that brainfart made me feel stupid.