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[feorh]

With all due respect, will it be accurate to say that the current stress system is broken?
Because on the one hand, there's the waterfall system that (probably?) singlehandedly makes your fort happier.
On the other hand there're conditions that seem... not working as designed.
Of course there are a bunch of needs that are hard to provide or manage (like crafting/wander/acquire something), but there're also needs that are unobtainable (being with family or friends, when one is a single orphan).
The question is: are those unachievable needs there to balance out the waterfalls?

[Criperum]

Stress system in the game is so connected to everything that you may say it's allways working fine and broken at the same time. Toady made numerous attempts to adjust it or completely rewrite but there are always some edge cases (like orphans missing their parents).
Waterfalls making everyone happy is probably a matter of balace.
Unobtainable needs? Like in real life something cannot be obtained even if we really want it. So i think it's just part of the game. One cannot make everyone happy.

[Garfunkel]

I wouldn't call it broken. It works pretty well. Remember, this is more of a simulation than a game where you aim for 100% achievement. Some dwarves cannot be made ecstatic and that's that. If it bothers you too much, just expel them and that way you won't be annoyed by their grumpiness showing up at the top of the screen.

[Ziusudra]

In his latest video Kruggsmash said he thought the stress system was right where it should be.

[feorh]

Yeah, I'd say that's about right.
It is broken in the same way our real world is broken and dysfunctional.

[callisto8413]

My latest fortress has been going on pretty well.  Even taking into account we're on a island and certain items are not available nobody has gone crazy yet after many years.  Only one idiot died in a tree.  I'm more annoyed about them tree-climbing dwarfs than the stress system.

[Putnam]

Needs are irrelevant for stress

[Bumber]

Needs are irrelevant for stress

What about the "felt X after being unable to Y for too long" thoughts?

[Blue_Dwarf]

Needs are irrelevant for stress

What about the "felt X after being unable to Y for too long" thoughts?

That thought should add to the stress, but not the need itself.

[BlueTrillium]

But doesn't the need cause the thought, so therefore if the thought causes the stress, the need (while indirectly) therefore caused the stress?
A --> B and B --> C therefore A --> C? Transitive property would seem to apply.

Although that said, it's also true I don't think I've yet seen a need-based thought become a memory as of yet, so it would still be just short-term impact. Still, it's not like I've played that long, either.

Personally stress hasn't been a major deal in most of my dwarves thus far, even those with lots of unmet needs. The dwarves that DID get majorly stressed, did so mostly due to their personality (and where that personality crossed with negative memories). E.g. my 'nervous wreck' (due to a lingering memory of being caught in the rain when he migrated in to the fort, of all things) dwarf is... a nervous wreck. At least he keeps my expedition leader well-occupied soothing him. xD I should check her people-skills, I wonder how much she's learned from constantly dealing with him.

[Blue_Dwarf]

I think it takes some time before an unfulfilled need generates a negative thought, so it's not directly the same thing. This way you have some flexibility, instead of having to fulfill needs immediately.

[Putnam]

Needs are irrelevant for stress

What about the "felt X after being unable to Y for too long" thoughts?

That thought should add to the stress, but not the need itself.

One single "death of a loved one" or "trauma" thought is worth over 100 "felt X after being unable to Y for too long" thoughts