Hello Jude!
I've been genning small worlds and whenever I pick an embark site I look at the "Civs" tab, and it has all of them..including "------" goblins...then I embark and hit "c" and there's nothing listed but my own dwarf civ. Any ideas what's going on here? And what does the list at the location chooser mean?
I am not sure what location chooser you are referring to, but the civilization thing is a misunderstanding.
'c' will only list the civilizations you have already established contact with in your current fortress. So, elves will be listed after the spring of the second year when you get their first caravan. Likewise, humans will appear after their first caravan. Kobolds (not listed when you choose the embark region) will be added when you have the first kobold thief and goblins once you have the first snatcher.
So, you need not worry about the initial empty civilization list - it will fill up eventually if your initial location list said so.
Aggiedog: Well, right of the cuff, one thing you need is a very high height variance (maybe 800 - 1200 ?). Also try increasing low altitude minimum. You should probably also go for many mountains and oceans to enforce your point and be prepared to wait through 2,000 to 10,000 rejects.
Also put volcanism variance very high (1200-1600) and have many volcanoes - they tend to raise the terrain.
Sorry, but besides of these rather general things, there is little advice I can give.
Deathworks