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[DG]

Quick one basically summed up by the title. I believe it would add to the grandeur of artifacts if the creator collapsed in comatose exhaustion immediately after completing the work. Other dwarves must then carry him off to a bed and feed and water him so that he recuperates. If there are no dwarves to do this (unlikely) he would probably die, dependent on toughness.

Whatcha think? Good flavour or needless inconvenience?
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EDIT Consequence of artifact creations ideas:

1. Exhaustion (may be small and easily shrugged off or extreme, requiring bedrest and nursing or even instant death)
2. Celebration (feast, large party etc)
3. Official recognition (nobility somehow acknowledges the creation or creator)
4. Flourish/brandish creation (some dramatic display, possibly running through your fort seeking attention)
5. Unruffled (dwarf acts like it's no big deal, may be amusing if everyone else does think it's a big deal)
6. Long break (dwarf does no work for a while but not due to physical/mental damage)
7. Guzzler/glutton (dwarf drinks a vast amount of alcohol and/or eats a lot of food)
8. Test creation (dwarf wants to use creation as intended, so a weapon may be used to hit something, a throne may be sat on for a while etc)
9. Depression (may be basically the reverse of the current ecstatic boost, or may be from "soul damage")
10. Change of personality ("doesn't go out of his way to do  more work than necessary" could become "has a strong sense of duty" or other examples)
11. Temporary insanity (of the more harmless kind, not so much stabbing people in the eyes and eating their tongues) 

[Errol]

Should depend on the artifact. A dwarf making a tower-cap bracelet with a picture of cheese on it should not be exhausted. A dwarf creating something akin to Planepacked should collapse dead on the spot. And stuff inbetween.

[DG]

Well, artifacts are a placeholder for the moment. You should never have "Oh, this is just a cheese enscribed towercap bracelet, -sigh!-" because it'll be epic in it's own right, for it's own reasons. And even more so if the creating dwarf collapses in exhaustion having made it, because it required phenomenal focus and concentration not to mention the lack of sleep and the fasting during construction.

Urist Handlebroom, Peasant: "Ugh...Where am I...?"
Bomrek Gearthunder, Mayor: "He's awake!"
Unknown speaker: "Urist is awake!"
Unknown speaker: "Prepare a feast!"
Unknown speaker: "Advise the King!"
Urist Handlebroom, Peasant: "Wha...What happened? I feel so weak."
Bomrek Gearthunder, Mayor: "You don't remember, Urist...? You created this! DAIRYCINCHED THE CURDLED AEGIS OF GLOATING. A towercap bracelet!"
Urist Handlebroom, Peasant: "I don't...? No...I remember!"
URIST HANDLEBROOM HAS BECOME A LEGENDARY WOODCRAFTER

[Aquillion]

I don't like this.  There's many different kinds of artifacts and many different themes for artifact creation, and this seems like it would be imposing one restrictive narrative on the process.  Why can't a dwarf hold their artifact sword triumphantly overhead while running cackling through the fortress?  Why can't a dwarf simply smile to themselves and go back to day-to-day?  All those things are epic responses in their own way.

[LegoLord]

Yeah, I don't like this either.  Maybe having variable reactions based on personality, experience, and item produced might work, but just having them faint every time would get old fast and annoying faster.

[numeral]

Urist McEngineer runs around the fortress completely naked and wet screaming "Eureka!" ?

[bjlong]

That said, reactions to artifacts should be fleshed out. So it's a good first step.

[Jonathan S. Fox]

This seems most appropriate for possessions, specifically. I can imagine that being possessed and forced to make an artifact could have a chance of being extremely draining, especially as the possessing entity may have wanton disregard to the dwarf's physical needs.

[Derakon]

I agree that this sounds like a neat idea but shouldn't apply to all artifacts/mood types. Some dwarves should collapse; some should just go on an extended break; some should consume vast quantities of alcohol; some should be perfectly fine. A dwarf making a weapon might want to try it out once or twice and find a tame creature to take a stab at. A dwarf making a bag or barrel or the like might take the next job requiring such a tool and use the artifact for it. The dwarf might go on tour, showing his artifact to other dwarves. And so on.

[alfie275]

Maybe being possed by a good spirit should be good, give good thoughts? Perhaps a good spirit would transport the dwarf's soul to it's realm whilst it inhabits thier body?
'Urist has been ecstatic lately. Urist swapped places with a spirit lately. Urist has been to Valhalla lately.'
Spirit:'Hey Urist mind if I borrow your body for a bit?'
Urist:'Sure thing, just be sure to get it back in one piece.'
A while later...
Urist:'Hey dude you dented my body!'
Spirit:'Don't worry, I'm sure you could just buff it out.'

[Sunken]

Some might throw a party upon the completion of their artifact... (just adding to the list)

[tigrex]

Bear in mind that this would make sites without water tiresome, as you would be guaranteed to lose all artifact making dwarves.

[DG]

In response to the mostly negative reaction for all dwarves being dead tired afterwards: Fair enough, variety is the spice of life.

Bear in mind that this would make sites without water tiresome, as you would be guaranteed to lose all artifact making dwarves.

A site without water should be a challenge, don't you think? And it will be more so once brewing requires a water source. Having said that, I don't understand why injured dwarves can't be given alcohol if it's available, maybe that will be changed or at least explained.

[Derakon]

A site without water should be a challenge, yes. But you can't control acquisition of moods (except by refusing to expand your fortress, which is stupid). Thus, water-requiring exhaustion after moods amounts to a random death sentence on dwarves in your fortress, which you can't do anything about. You've seen how people react to the Hammerer, who does similar things even though you can manipulate him/her. This would be much worse.

I don't think that the water-for-wounded-dwarves thing will be changed until or unless brewing starts requiring water as well, which doesn't really change the dynamics any. But both of those won't be changed until you can import water in large quantities.

[SirHoneyBadger]

I'd like to suggest that creating artifacts damages the dwarf's soul--he/she puts a part of their very soul into the item--and that "soul damage", in general, could then have a variety of effects, including: coma, insanity, risk of possession, change in personality, depression, etc.

The dwarf's damaged soul could heal/grow back, in time, under good conditions, or it might never entirely heal.