how to get manuscripts to build golems and stuff, how the new smelting works, how to cut timber into wood, stuff like that
Much (but not all) of what you ask is covered in the Manual enclosed with the download. Some of what’s in there is not all that immediately obvious: “turrets” are covered in the section on pets, for whatever reason. It’s clear that Meph was big on the library since he emphasizes it several times. "Cutting timber" will be pretty obvious once you've built the appropriate workshop (although, really, it isn't particularly useful unless you fancy parquet flooring). Technically, the new wood scraps can make paper for your new texts twice as fast but still not nearly as fast as rope reed papyrus, particularly once your Farmer gets up to speed, skill-wise, since slag gives potash now. Crucibles and such are covered fairly well under the Buildings section. The new Guilds – not so much (yet, anyway). “Get manuscripts to build golems and stuff” is easiest done by trading. Research buildings are also covered but trading is pretty much guaranteed to work within two years, maximum, much less if you’re lucky with an early caravan. Of course, having enough geld to pay for those blueprints is certain to bring guests and Meph clearly did not like the vanilla DF Danger Room exploit (as in, not only does he tease in his “hints, tips and tricks” section about “small rooms, 3x3 or 5x5” (!) he neglects to mention that armor of some sort is an absolute necessity now for training in them; a cloak no longer does the job).
But there is much that isn’t covered in the manual and particularly so for the latest release (v3). Smake and others are just getting started on a MWDF Wiki namepage (and way to go, Smake!).
Also note: you can get one freebie question in Meph’s AMA thread, open for the next three days – don’t waste it.
