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[Randos]

Perhaps a curveball of a question, but how exactly do dwarfs see?

I am making a comic which causes me to think of all of these physical details. Previously I had to dig through the wiki to figure out how they drink and now I see that mugs are an integral part of the game! Although I think that was a coincidence.

Now I am stuck thinking about "light sources" in the fortress? Do dwarfs simply see in the dark very well? Do you imagine they set up torches or lamps? I don't recall ever seeing anything in game which requires light source, although I think you can make candles when you have bees managed and wax set up, is that right?

What do you usually imagine regarding lighting?

And any info on light sources which are currently craftable is appreciated. I will be digging through the wiki.

[robsteel]

Echolocation.

Dwarf beards are actually a highly sensitive receiver of sound so the average dwarf can map out the area in front of him by shouting "Urist!" and waiting for the echo.

My first thought would be really good night vision, but everything can see equally well. There's no mention of any light sources except for Magma and !!ELF!!, sooooo... glowing wall fungi? Maybe?

[Bumber]

There's no mention of any light sources except for Magma and !!ELF!!, sooooo... glowing wall fungi? Maybe?

It's in the dev plans. Currently only adventure mode has any obstruction of view.

[LMeire]

Apparently it depends on how deep they're used to living. I forget which DF Talk it was on but Toady has stated that deep dwarves are supposed to have a very different physiology from hill dwarves. The description that stuck out to me was "glowing eyes, a 'beard' composed of flesh, and other Lovecraftian traits that speaks in a Scottish accent".

So from that I'd assume they've got hyper-reflective retinas to maximize light like a cat does, some sort of extra-sensory organ localized in the chin/upper neck (Heat detection pits? Perhaps tendrils similar to the Star-nosed Mole's?) and possibly the gratuitous use polished stone/metal to more efficiently reflect light from outside into the depths.

[FrisianDude]

yuugh a beard of flesh? Why not some cat-like whiskers in amongst the hairbeard

[Astrid]

yuugh a beard of flesh? Why not some cat-like whiskers in amongst the hairbeard

Because we have to many cats already as it is.

[Skorpion]

In DnD, dwarves have Darkvision, which is pretty much what it says on the tin. I take that as them being able to see in the dark, in DF.

[Klitri]

Dwarves have nightvision...

[steel jackal]

the only explanation as to how dwarves can sense the exact location of a sock thats miles above ground and know the instant its owner dies is if they can sense aura

[MoonyTheHuman]

the only explanation as to how dwarves can sense the exact location of a sock thats miles above ground and know the instant its owner dies is if they can sense aura

but how come they cant tell there is a swarm of goblins waiting to kill them then?   

[steel jackal]

the only explanation as to how dwarves can sense the exact location of a sock thats miles above ground and know the instant its owner dies is if they can sense aura

but how come they cant tell there is a swarm of goblins waiting to kill them then?   

because the greed of having that new sock is just too great for them to not risk it

[MoonyTheHuman]

-snip-

but how come they cant tell there is a swarm of goblins waiting to kill them then?   

because the greed of having that new sock is just too great for them to not risk it

... dorfs are dumber than i thought, candy is mre valuable, but they still go for socks first 

[Morrigi]

Maybe dwarves have thermal detection organs like snakes do.

[FrisianDude]

the only explanation as to how dwarves can sense the exact location of a sock thats miles above ground and know the instant its owner dies is if they can sense aura

Not to mention 'recover wounded' whenever someone a 103 z-levels away stubs their toe on a crundle.


And sometimes 'recover wounded' just for shits and giggles where the wounded, eternally grateful, leaves the hospital at the same moment as their 'saviour'.

[MasterOfLazdumat]

My headcanon is that dwarves carry a specialized microbiota in their beards, some of which produces a dim light (maybe as strong as a kid's glow-in-the-dark toy), and some of which respires oxygen. As dwarves create their dwellings, the microbiota spread from the beards and grow on the walls, taking care of both light and air.