I know and play DF for quite some years. I started back in 0.23.xx something. I've made many forts. Some were abandoned, few succumbed to FUN, but for the most of the time I just started a new one when a new version came out or when I was bored with the current fort.
And yesterday, after all this years, it was the first time ever I fired a siege engine at an invading enemy.
IIRC also first time EVER I fired a ballista.
The results however...well, the first ballista arrow did not even make it past the fortification right next to ballista. I mean, I did not expect miracles using a dwarf that wasn't even a dabbling siege operator, but this...forth or was it fifth arrow that actually hit bunch of mounted marksgoblins that were just casually standing in a tight 1x trap corridor, just bruised fat on the four or something of them.
They left after a while.
In other news - this fort will truly be something, I tell you. After a bunch of abandoned ones I finally got I site I desired - sand, lots of trees, no aquifer and running water. Majority of fort's industry and other important rules are dig out of clay - 2nd level. Only military dwarfs and major have personal bedrooms, all others have decently large dormitory. I do not plan on using magma, I won't even dig down to the first cavern if I can help it. Dinning hall will have wooden walls, floors, doors, chairs, tables. It is not finished yet, still missing 10+ chairs and tables, lots of floor tiles and some walls. Actually, I plan on using wood as much as possible, despite finally managing to make sufficient amount of bags to finally start my glass industry. But that will be for making 300+ green glass blocks I need for my grand sunlit gladiator arena+meeting area. It'll be glorious, just wait.
I thought heavily forested area would help me support my ambitions, but together with no-magma policy, large wooden defensive wall and long 1z high road...well I guess I miscalculated a bit. I does not help that even the elven caravan is absolutely devoid of any sort of wood. Last time I spoke with dwarven liaison I requested wood (and dogs, by armok, we NEED dogs!). And right now, dwarfen caravan I sitting at my trade depot. It's been there for a while though, gotta hurry.
It's not like I'll be trading them anything other than mechanisms, like I have with every caravan for past 2 years.
Wait, maybe I should trade them some silk shirts from 40+ prisoners I currently have?
Also - out of 98 dwarfes, 45 are freakin KIDS.
My first proper migrant wave brougt my head count from 19 to 61, 20+ were just kids, if I am not mistaken.
Might have to do something with having generated a world with only 55 years of history.
I also had 3 sieges, NO ambushes. Weird. But what is more weird and a bit irritating is that only in third siege did goblins finaly decided to actually go inside my fort.
I'm beseiged by twenty goblins who're just standing in front of my gates. They've been here the whole summer and now half of autumn.
This is what happened on first and partially second siege. And I have such a nice, long, narrow cage trap corridor...Soon with ballistaes in every corner!
Only thing that elves were good for I bringing me a breeding pair of giant eagles.
My civilization has absolutely no knowledge of how to deal with this animals.
Fun times ahead.