So I started a map in some untamed wilds, temperate climate on a 4x4 map. First thing I did was build a 1x3 ramp aaaalllll the way down. At level 36 my miners had struck cavern. I had brought along a hammers dwarf (cause I'm a sissy) and it didn't take long to explore the caverns almost completely. Starting on level -36 is a plateau where I setup a trade depot and a farm. This plateau is the peak of what appears to be a giant underground mountain, with the base at level -49. This mountain is surrounded with rivers, with a small bit of land at the bottom reaching the edge of the map. The only part I don't have explored is some areas filled by the rivers.
All around the mountain on different levels are small plateaus, which I've been using as lobbies of sorts for different sections of my fort, since there isn't really any room otherwise. I really wish the visualizers worked this version so I could actually see what this looks like.
Things were going pretty well before today. A giant eagle was causing some trouble before I could get everyone underground. Killed my farmer and a newly recruited pikeman with no pike. My hammer dwarf managed to beat it pretty bad, but it fled off the map. Had to build a hospital real quick for him and my expedition leader (which was injured at some point, don't know when).
Today, I was still getting lodging setup with meeting hall, food/other production pretty much setup when a crocodile decided to show up for lunch in the dining room. Killed 4 dwarfs and 3 dogs before my hammer dwarf got there. Also it seems after the confusion my expedition leader died of thirst in the hospital, which is annoying because he had just healed all his wounds >_<. Luckily a whole bunch of migrants just showed up, because I only had about 6 dwarfs left.
Thus ends year one. With the new dwarfs I think I might just be able to survive.