Ive been trying to find an optimal performance land base, this one I tried using a whole forest instead of a mountain, because whenever I used mountains I couldn't farm, plus I think I could see whats going on better than anything else. Though, there are a few hills nearby completely consisting of dirt.
Don't worry about computer performance right away, learn to build what you want first. Forests, with the soil, easy access to wood, and animal life are a good place for anyone to build pretty much anything though.
http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:Embark Read up on "Choosing a site" for more details.
I think I have a stable farm program going, except I would like to introduce a textile industry soon.
Your farms aren't "wrong", just not as big as your going to need when you have 200 more dwarfs then you do now. Especially if your making clothes out of plants. The trick to good farming is having a few legendary farmers, not a lot of mediocre ones.
There's a ton of hematite and tetrahedrite under the fortress, and fortunately it was built over a completely shale rock body, except for the dirt, sand and clay.
Excellent place to expand your fortress into then. Tetrahedrite is my favorite ore. Not just because its fun to say, but because you can make mass produce metal traps out of the copper, and make shiny stuff for the fort out of the silver.
I haven't put much thought in a water system, whenever I try to use it it usually ends me.
http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:Reservoir You need water for medical purposes. Maybe in some sort of trap or cleaning as well. I make arenas I can flood clean. The trick is just make sure you have a way to close off the water intake fast, and not to over fill the Cistern.
http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:LeverThe Militia Commander is a spear user, the captain is an archer.
Not a bad start.
http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:MilitaryThose dogs there are for Kobold thieves and Goblin thieves, and from my 4th fortress they tear through them like crazy(All their limbs were ripped off).
Don't get me wrong, dog herds are useful. Ive had them hold off a Roc once while the archers got into place. But dog teeth are less useful when 20 goblins wearing full iron armor suits show up.
http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:SiegeTraps? Those exist? How and what should I use?
My computer screen swam when I read that. When used correctly, traps can be so powerful that some people consider it to be cheating. I use lots of serrated disc weapon traps personally. Cage traps capture a lot of things, though some things, like thieves, are immune.
http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:TrapIm only into my fourth migration wave (15-29 Dwarves), and I don't think I have much of a militia to build on to, though I do have the resources to build an iron-plated heavy armor division. Right now I have a leather/spear division(1st Animal-Dressers) And the archers (1st Eagle-Eyes).
Ill refer you to the military page again. Crossbow dwarfs are very powerful when shooting from a safe place, so it makes a good start. With lots of traps, I don't start building a big military until I have over 100 dwarfs.
Surface farming doesn't work well on my terrain, its riddled with pebbles. Plus they're too preoccupied with Plump Helmets.
http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:Crop http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:FarmingDon't worry if your surface farms look like swiss cheese, your dwarfs will use them just fine. Try and Designate plant gathering job over the area you want to build, it will help. I like surface plants better because they all can be grown year around, instead of just certain months. Keep in mind that surface plants can be grown underground as well, so long as the tile is exposed to sunlight first. You can build a floor (which will then be a ceiling) over the farms after. It just needs that one exposure.
How should I store my seeds?
http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:Stockpile#Custom_stockpiles There is a bug due to hauling that will slow planters down when using a stockpile with barrels allowed. Make a custom stockpile that excepts only seeds (in the food sub-menu of the custom stockpile screen), then disallow all barrels. "Q" over the stockpile lets you change settings like that. I think its upper case C, maybe not, just look at the menu next to the words Barrels, above Bins
How big should a noble room be?
http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:Noble#Needs Not something you really need to be worried about right now, give it a couple years or so. Nobles count how much there room is worth, so it's not "bigness" so much as ease of stuffing it full of high quality furniture. Size definitely counts for worth though, don't get me wrong. The way you have them set up, in dirt that can't be engraved, means the rooms are already worth less then they would be in just raw stone. To make it work, you ill need a lot of masterwork Iron furniture for the higher levels (like duke).
Ive have built a burial ground in a mountain on the 4th fortress, it was in a grove and full of plants. Ill appoint to make one soon, but how do I make a bloody zoo? Is that even possible?
Of COURSE its possible, this is DWARF FORTRESS
http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:Zoo http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:Sculpture_garden http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:Tomb http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:MemorialIll stop wall construction and make Shale Blocks soon. I'm planning to expand the wall into what me and my sister thought would be fun to do, three sectors for some reason. And with knowing traps, make some drawbridge into a ditch full of spikes maybe?
TOTALLY do whatever you think will be fun to do, if three sectors does it for you, go for it. You really have to play the way you want to, or else its just a chore. Personally, I like building things. Not so big on the military, its a little wonky. That means I rely heavily on traps and bridges and walls to keep the dwarfs safe. You may find you like the military though, it is very powerful when done right.
http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:Defense_guideYou want blocks because they are 1/4 the weight of the stone, and it will get hauled by hand faster. Also its more efficient material wise. A ditch full of spikes is also quite doable if you wish.
http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:Trap#Upright_Spear.2FSpike Will be a little hard to get a bridge to drop them onto it though. Drawbridges tend to "fling" small things like goblins around. But hey, they got to land somewhere.
http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:BridgeOr should I just get a fresh start?
I wouldn't. Think of it as a challenge to make what is already a good start even better, with more dwarfie knowledge then you had before. Like you did with your other tries, just keep going until the fun ends.