Genned a 395 yr medium region.
So, rolled an outsider peasant dwarf: illiterate archer Fikuk Gullychannels the Muddy Toes. Narratively, like
every sturdy idiot from various fairy tales, he's tall and strong.
(click thumbnail to expand)
Mechanically, I selected a tall build description, so Fikuk would be north of 47500 in size; he'll be able to one-hand weapons with the requirement [TWO_HANDED:47500] without suffering a to-hit-penalty. Sometimes the "thin/short build/average-in-size" dwarf character will end up multigrasping anything 47500 and up. Since behavior and insight into character thoughts and feelings aren't well-reflected yet, I murderhobo'd some of them to end range automaton (no anxiety/stress/fear, etc). While it's preferable to play a nuanced character, I'd rather run an insensible goon rather than a handwringer who will fret and kvetch over the minor inconveniences of the Armok-governed world. Lesser of two evils.
Starting strength at High makes a character much less reliant on weapon material type, weight and contact area in regard to damage, and in relation to encumbrance for slow travel gameplay, a strong character can carry more. It's also the slowest body stat to advance even if a character is engaged in perpetual warfare.
(click thumbnail to expand)
Fikuk's starting sprint speed is 2.881, which is in the better range (high 2.88+-mid 2.9) for dwarf with high strength and above-average agility.
He spawns in a hamlet where he finds sheep wool yarn and rope reeds to make two pairs of pants and two shirts; inner layer wool, outer layer rope reed (makes simulation sense). While collecting some tree branches for this clothesmaking, I misjudge Fikuk's z-level and have him jump 3 levels down to the ground where he suffers a variety of bruising damage, and unintentionally gains a bit of armor user XP.
(click thumbnail to expand)
By the time he slow travel jogs to the town 1 world map tile SW, I check his description and it seems he's healing nicely. His pancreas has improved from mangled beyond recognition to bruised.
He had 20 equipment points left over after buying IMO the bare minimum archer setup (large dagger-weight 2Γ, maple bow-weight <1Γ and copper axe-weight 7Γ)….
(click thumbnail to expand)
and while every peasant might like a dog as a pet, RNG determines what type of dog. In town he hopes to find a large dog, with the word large in its description.
(click thumbnail to expand)
Large size, not based on being fat, but skeletal build might be the most useful for NPCs. Like the real world, wrestling is about size. And for a critter whose main attack is bite with [CAN_LATCH], the NPC definitely wants the sizing modifier to either break grips or maintain them.
While looking for a dog, Fikuk picks up a short sword weighing 2Γ. And with that, he has his fighting gear for this run (bow/sword/dagger). He might include a copper mace, but that weighs a hefty 8Γ which would limit other items he might want to carry, especially as this run won't include any fast travel. Unhelpful to have a walking speed under 1.000 if playing only slow travel.
The nice thing about DF Adv Mode, as opposed to the standard rogue-like hit point attrition system, is you can stick with your starting equipment and manage performance through physical strength and if desired, metal type, rather than being railroaded into gear upgrades.