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[Kadath]

One thing that Toady's analysis didn't mention: The squirrel appears pretty sapient/intelligent even as a plain old red squirrel. This opens up a pretty big can of worms. After all, animals acting intelligent is a common fantasy thing, but how do you simulate that in a game like DF? How do you decide which of your regular forest animals are intelligent, and under which conditions? Obviously, a regular red squirrel, even in DF, won't consistently act like that in all cases, so I think this deserves some analysis and speculation.

The story takes place in a sacred grove, so possibly the forest spirit changes the animals around it; making them more intelligent for example.

[jaked122]

do elves keep vermin as pets?

[G-Flex]

One thing that Toady's analysis didn't mention: The squirrel appears pretty sapient/intelligent even as a plain old red squirrel. This opens up a pretty big can of worms. After all, animals acting intelligent is a common fantasy thing, but how do you simulate that in a game like DF? How do you decide which of your regular forest animals are intelligent, and under which conditions? Obviously, a regular red squirrel, even in DF, won't consistently act like that in all cases, so I think this deserves some analysis and speculation.

The story takes place in a sacred grove, so possibly the forest spirit changes the animals around it; making them more intelligent for example.

No, the sacred grove is the place the satyrs were at, where the princess woke up. The "sacred grove" is not the forest itself.

You're right about the forest spirit, though; it makes sense for divine influence of some sort to have that kind of effect.

[Mel_Vixen]

Thanks for reading my story.  I appreciate the feedback.  I'll keep writing.  I hope you keep playing Dwarf Fortress!

Well i am very pleased by this story - thank you! I would even donate without playing df if i get a one of your storys once in while . Which i should actually do - the donating - since i just got paid for the month.

edit:

One thing that Toady's analysis didn't mention: The squirrel appears pretty sapient/intelligent even as a plain old red squirrel. This opens up a pretty big can of worms. After all, animals acting intelligent is a common fantasy thing, but how do you simulate that in a game like DF? How do you decide which of your regular forest animals are intelligent, and under which conditions? Obviously, a regular red squirrel, even in DF, won't consistently act like that in all cases, so I think this deserves some analysis and speculation.

The story takes place in a sacred grove, so possibly the forest spirit changes the animals around it; making them more intelligent for example.

No, the sacred grove is the place the satyrs were at, where the princess woke up. The "sacred grove" is not the forest itself.

You're right about the forest spirit, though; it makes sense for divine influence of some sort to have that kind of effect.

Matagan could make his comrades/tribe half-sentient too which would make control over them easyer, and if the Forrest spirit (or actually its soul-(con)struct) is linked to every animal it could sort some things out. Connecting the animals with the forrest-spirit could also solve some other issues for example how the spirit knows whats going on etc.

In code you could give animals "instincts*" a short term memory and a limited fact memory for imprinting.  (which by the way is a good way to simulate actual behaviour). For "half intelligence" you can override the decision of the instincts by the Soul of the Dominating being. Thinking of Matagans death you should have a man in the middle instead of direct control by the dominating being so: Matagan/spirit/whoever -> proxy -> Animal. Matagan gives a order to the proxy that gives the order to the animal. The proxy can do also the higher thinking of the animal based on the short term and fact memory of said animal. It Also could give back the thoughts/status of the animal to other animals or "higher" beings that are connected to the proxy.

Spoiler:  * Instincts - a "how to" (click to show/hide)

I make it quick and dirty so please dont complain to much. Originally i researched some Literature on that to give robots basic instincts. That was thought a while back so i may have made a mistake here and there.

Many basic-instincts are in animals hard-wired and go by easy variable based rules like "how does [Object] move?", "What size has [Object]?", "Has [Object] fur?" etc. so that they dont have to remember any situation to react in the right way. Experiments with chickens and direct electric stimulation (aka a   electrode in the brain) have shown for example that they attack any animal that is smaller then them, furred and approaching the swarm / the nest.
 
A little bit higher instincts are still hard-wired but work also with positive/negative reinforcement. The Flight behaviour for example is like that. Deer flee from Humans if they are in a certain distance from each other - the flight-instinct kicks in if the deer senses describe a [Object] as "big" + "Agrresive pose" + "smells like predator" + "is near". This instinct gets reinforced if the animal has experience with hunters (and by peer pressure) so that deer in a area with hunters have a higher fight distance then in a area without. Extreme areas like zoos may act as negative reinforcement thus the thresholds for a instinct are enlarged. They then often collide with "learned behaviour" which cancel out the trigger. 

In code you could give the triggers and variables just scores. So any variable A + variable B must reach a score of x to trigger a certain behaviour. For reinforced behaviour you can make x variable. Distinct groups of animals (like herds) can share one set of variable for theyr behaviour which thought has to be adjusted if the composition of the group changes.
 

[cephalo]

Beautiful story. It really highlights that Dwarves really are very brutish and dangerous creatures by their ignorance and priorites. Yeah we can make perpetual motion, yeah we can harness the power of magma. I'd be a millionare if I had a dollar for every kitten bone bolt spent in target practice by my orders. Where's the respect?

[G-Flex]

Beautiful story. It really highlights that Dwarves really are very brutish and dangerous creatures by their ignorance and priorites.

Did I miss something? The only reference to dwarves in the story, that I remember, is that some dwarves crafted a particular sword mentioned.

[cephalo]

Beautiful story. It really highlights that Dwarves really are very brutish and dangerous creatures by their ignorance and priorites.

Did I miss something? The only reference to dwarves in the story, that I remember, is that some dwarves crafted a particular sword mentioned.

I mean Dwarves from the wider context of what we know... Sorry to get all mystical on everyone.

Ok, what I mean is, the Elf in the story gathered up the squirrel and set out to avenge the squirrels master. A Dwarf on the other hand, would likely gather up the squirrel, tie the squirrel up on the periphery, and by his final death squeals be alerted of any goblin ambushes...

Eh, maybe that was a gopher. Same difference.

[moocowmoo]

A Dwarf on the other hand, would likely gather up the squirrel, tie the squirrel up on the periphery, and by his final death squeals be alerted of any goblin ambushes...

Eh, maybe that was a gopher. Same difference.

I hope Threetoe reads this and uses it for a future story plot.

[Org]

It was good. Better than a few others.

But there were still a few iffy things, I say.
If I misinterpret it, it is because I skimmed parts of it.

The Elf Druid is drunk. Very drunk. And the Princess. Yet they don't seem to be drunk. I mean, I guess it is different with everyone, but usually they slur their words. Or soemthing like that.

And I know the druid is crazy, but when he tells Itho to go on the quest, it seems very sudden. Its just like this:

Oh no, Forest god thing is dead.
YOU MUST GO ON A QUEST FOR REVENGE. HAHAHAHAHA I AM CRAZY.

Well, not exactly like that, but you get what I mean.

Itho seems to realize it was his brother very fast. And we never get a mentioning of his brother. It just seemed very strange. Maybe adding something of his grief for his brother's sudden and tragic disappearance, just before his marrying or whatnot to the princess. That could have tied a few things together.

[Little]

It was pretty good. There were a few minor story problems, but overall it was very well done!