Good suggestions and feedback. 4 pages of it.
A map wide "storm" that only affects flyers sounds perfect to get rid of the pesky one-bird-blocking-wildlife.
Remember that you can also hunt in the caverns, why did no one mention that? Cavern One is relatively harmless.
Warlocks cant plant/farm wood like other races, its ibtended. They are not the farming type.
Early meat/bone source: Butcher your Mephits. The scales make armor for your Ghouls.
I plan to make prisoners convertible to Warlocks, so that you can try all castes.
Butchering your own civ members is theoretically possible, but only with dfhack and will lead to Ghosts. Not good.
Fedobear: Good suggestions overall,.but one thing I have to say: Warlocks can already learn the paralyse/petrify spell.
Anything I forgot? Oh yeah, If you want an easy embark, embark on a tomb or necromancers tower. Instant army of allies on the map.
Voodoo Ghouls... Why not.
Graphics are not tied to caste, but noble position and skill. Thats why Warlocks, Ghouls and Skelwtons all have such specific skill sets.
All of them can do all labors btw, they simply dont get any Xp for most of them. But even Waocks or Skelwtons can butcher and tan, they simply stay "dabbling" and never become a butcher or tanner. But they will do the work.