Currently using 40.13, with Starter Pack r1 - with dfhack disabled.
So I am only fairly new to dwarf fortress and most of my time has been spent experimenting. This version I have been experimenting with military and relationships. My first 10 fortresses were based mostly on military and most died to dragonfire or I figured out what I wanted to figure out.
Now the main problem I have hit is that my dwarves will get into relationships, but never marry. Also some couples I recieve already married will produced children, however other married couples will not.
So my current fort which I have limited to 20 dwarfs, so I can spend the time focused on a small group of dwarfs, has attracted 2 married couples. Using Dwarf Therapist I can see; one couple seems fine both hetrosexual, the other has a homosexual in the mix so their issue seems pretty straight forward. However both these couples arrived in the Autumn of Year 5, it is now Spring of Year 10 and 0 children have been born. Is there any reason why both of these couples are failing to produce children?
A previous fort had a 15 dwarf limit and I had one couple arrive and they keep dropping kids no problem. I even loaded that game up today and the couple had 2 more kids, so baby production appears to work in that and other fortresses. I am quite baffled.
Next on my list is lovers, I have not seen a single marriage in 40.13 - from memory - and have even locked lovers in a 2x2 room with booze and food for 2 years straight. In the current fort I even setup a couple who both had the goal of raising a family and they have been in a relationship for at least 3 years, but refuse to marry. The fort has 4 or 5 relationships on the go at the moment, but there seems to be something blocking them from taking the final step.
I have tried not setting up bedrooms and just a single meeting hall - with the exception of married couples and nobles - to limit idling spaces. I have tried making multiple meeting halls, so they can have multiple parties at the same time. I have tried setting up my target couples with things they like, to make them happier. Personally I think there is something wrong with either marriages in the current build or my version is broken somehow. Any suggestions as to what the problem is here?