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[smjjames]

Also, is the soldiers using metal flasks (canteens really) a new thing? I thought they only used waterskins. (May get answered if it already happens in the current version)

I just tested it and yeah, they won't use flasks in the current version, so it's new.  It would be cool if we got civilian flask-carrying too, finishing off this dev item:

# Bloat45, FLASKS, (Future): Use flasks for drinking. Dwarves should seek to have a full flask on their person at all times.

but there probably isn't time now.

Well, the code is now set up for military dwarves to carry them. Unless he simply used the code for waterskins and transferred it over to metal flasks. While metal canteens and stuff is a more 'modern' thing and is seen (or at least in common use) from the 1700s onwards, all it takes is someone to have the idea of using them for that purpose.

OT: Is anybody else having issues with the forums today?

[CobaltKobold]

smjjames: Someone else poste- oh, that was you. Yes, they're being a bit slow for me as well

[Footkerchief]

Well, the code is now set up for military dwarves to carry them. Unless he simply used the code for waterskins and transferred it over to metal flasks. While metal canteens and stuff is a more 'modern' thing and is seen (or at least in common use) from the 1700s onwards, all it takes is someone to have the idea of using them for that purpose.

Nah, they're a thoroughly ancient concept.  The Romans used metal canteens, and they probably weren't the first.

And yeah, the forum is having its sluggish moments today.

[smjjames]

Yea, the modern canteen had its origins somewhere in the 16th or 17th century I think. I was having trouble finding military canteens from before the 1800s, but I got some vague references on canteens from as far back as the 1600s and maybe a few medieval era ones.

Still, metal canteens were probably reserved for high ranking soldiers and whatever during ancient times.

I'm not saying that they shouldn't have metal canteens because the modern form had its beginnings during the colonization of the americas, but the concept is certainly a few millenia old. Plus it fits dwarves perfectly.

[Lancensis]

I'm just conjecturing here, but there were some pretty dodgy solders used in the past. Maybe they made anything stored in a soldered flask taste too awful to be worth bothering with? There wasn't modern stainless steel untill the 1800s according to my ten seconds looking on wikipedia. Although I guess Gold might work as a container.

[Im_Sparks]

Why is it relevant that canteens come from the 1700's?
It's a video game with dwarves, not the history channel.

[Lemunde]

I think the civilians really need a better way to drink their booze.  It shouldn't be much of an issue to grab a flask, grab some ale and go hang out in a meeting area.  Right now I keep picturing a dwarf ripping the lid off a barrel and dunking his head in or grabbing the whole barrel with both hands and using it as a giant mug.

Why is it relevant that canteens come from the 1700's?
It's a video game with dwarves, not the history channel.

I agree.  It's not too far fetched that dwarves would come up with this concept long before humans would.  Dwarves are fanatics when it comes to stone and metal.  If they want a metal canteen, by Armok they're gonna make their metal canteen.  Hell, they make metal barrels.  My current fortress has an entire stockpile full of iron and nickel barrels full of booze.

[Rowanas]

Hmm. I don't know if Toady (armok be with him) has plans for this (que footkerchief with a horde of quotes), but I'd like to see dwarves actually bringing food and drink to parties and holding a proper dwarven kegger. Take more food than they could possibly eat and a dozen barrels of booze, set it up at the party location and then hold a proper party, instead of the mild "water-cooler" chats they hold now.

[CaptainNitpick]

Why is it relevant that canteens come from the 1700's?
It's a video game with dwarves, not the history channel.

Toady has a stated technology cutoff at 1400 AD. That said, it's not a hard line, and dwarves are already making metal flasks.

[Askot Bokbondeler]

still, how do we explain our flasks not rusting or our lead flasks not tainting the booze and heavy metal poisoning our dwarves?

[Footkerchief]

For the last time, metal canteens are at least two thousand years old.  There would probably be much older examples if they were the sort of thick robust objects that preserve well, but they aren't.  The ancients weren't morons.

still, how do we explain our flasks not rusting or our lead flasks not tainting the booze and heavy metal poisoning our dwarves?

We explain it with the fact that those mechanics haven't been implemented yet.  All those things should happen eventually.  I did, however, see a bunch of references to iron/steel canteens using a liner of pitch to prevent rust.

[Markham]

Here's one that's even older.

[Im_Sparks]

Why is it relevant that canteens come from the 1700's?
It's a video game with dwarves, not the history channel.

Toady has a stated technology cutoff at 1400 AD. That said, it's not a hard line, and dwarves are already making metal flasks.

I really really don't care that there weren't canteens in the 1400's. I want a fun game, not a fantasy HISTORICALLY-ACCURATE game.

still, how do we explain our flasks not rusting or our lead flasks not tainting the booze and heavy metal poisoning our dwarves?

Now that's just dumb to add that in. Really, it shouldn't matter until like 20 years from now when DF 1.0 comes out.

[Sean Mirrsen]

Reading some of the earlier posts, especially one about the dwarfs' drinking habits, I had a mental image that just refused to go until I drew it up and posted it.

Spoiler: It's nothing great, but still (click to show/hide)

That aside, hurray for metal flasks, I guess. Good to see the military getting some progress.

[Footkerchief]

Here's one that's even older.

Oh, awesome, thanks.  I saw reference to those Etruscan bronze flasks but couldn't find a picture.