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[Armok]

The variability thing is a myth to. Almost everything smart enough to have a civilization would be just as adaptable and varied.

The actual real specialities of humans, the things we evolved to do better than other animals, are endurance running and politics.

[Neonivek]

We actually do variety better then the other races as it is and it really shows.

The fact that humans build cities in WAAAY more locations then any other race gives them a huge advantage.

[monk12]

Well, right now humans are the best at killing trees. That counts for something, right?

[Ves]

Humans will be the best at casting Magic Missile when that arc arrives, won't they?

[nil]

The variability thing is a myth to. Almost everything smart enough to have a civilization would be just as adaptable and varied.

This would be true in a realistic or science fiction setting, where civilized races can all be presumed to have evolved.  But it's a pretty common trope in fantasy settings for humans to be uniquely dynamic and adaptable, with elves and dwarves and the like sticking to static cultures taught to them by their creators.  At the very least, long/indefinite lifespans would be sure to make a species relatively conservative. 

Besides, if you really want to rely on evolutionary explanations you're gonna have to contend with how wildly improbable it would be for four separate intelligent species (with at least three sharing roughly the same ecological niche) to develop in the same area.

[Dradym]

lolz casting magic missile at the darkness...hopefully hitting boogymen

ok if not farming, pasturing...because they are taller and therefore more imposing to animals, and easier to herd, though how this would work i have no idea, maybe quicker, more effective breeding, milking, shearing.  but yeah i didnt mean to write up a suggestion in here, i was tired and it seemed like it was connected to the current conversation. but maybe i was asking if tarn, or someone else had thought of this idea before, since theres been talk of multi-tile trees, and new structures, and that were in the caravan arc now would be a good time for more variability in the nations

yeah my mind wanders and i voice the thoughts

[Armok]

Modern humans and Neanderthals once coexisted in the same place simultaneously. It's not very improbably at all if they are somewhat closely related. At least dwarves, elves and humans seem like they'd have a rather recent common ancestor.

[Jeoshua]

imo the unique characteristic of humans shouldn't be a single thing like farming or trade, but rather variability.  I'd love it if, in contrast to the relatively consistent dwarven, elven civilizations, every world generation resulted in half dozen wildly varying human cultures with randomly or semi-randomly generated ethics, personal appearances, town styles, primary economies, clothing and military strategies.

This is a golden idea, and one I've thought of many times.  I've started modding in other human races, using entity files from mods like Genesis and changing their names.

I'm thinking of making a bunch of different entity files, one for every civ of humans I'd like on the planet, and then giving them all [MAX_STARTING_CIV_NUMBER:1].  They'd be randomly placed and named, and if I used [CREATURE:HUMAN] for all of them, I think I might be able to make different cultures. I would be nice if they could be randomized, but I find that a few well placed PERSONAL_MATTER ethics get the hair of the other "races" up well enough to cause some intrugue as it is.

[nil]

imo the unique characteristic of humans shouldn't be a single thing like farming or trade, but rather variability.  I'd love it if, in contrast to the relatively consistent dwarven, elven civilizations, every world generation resulted in half dozen wildly varying human cultures with randomly or semi-randomly generated ethics, personal appearances, town styles, primary economies, clothing and military strategies.

This is a golden idea, and one I've thought of many times.  I've started modding in other human races, using entity files from mods like Genesis and changing their names.

I'm thinking of making a bunch of different entity files, one for every civ of humans I'd like on the planet, and then giving them all [MAX_STARTING_CIV_NUMBER:1].  They'd be randomly placed and named, and if I used [CREATURE:HUMAN] for all of them, I think I might be able to make different cultures. I would be nice if they could be randomized, but I find that a few well placed PERSONAL_MATTER ethics get the hair of the other "races" up well enough to cause some intrugue as it is.

I was thinking the same thing recently, but then I realized that as well as that would work in world-gen and adventure mode, in fortress mode you would be totally swamped with humans.

[monk12]

Toady's got pics of the city up!

And by Armok, they're ENORMOUS! I'm looking forward to doing some exploration.

[Rose]

Toasy, will we be having cities that extend beyond the walls? or cities without walls?

It seems a bit strange that all cities would have walls that exactly match up with the city boundaries.

[Quatch]

My only response is "Oh wow..." *mental drool*

[Rose]

my response is also "Ankh Morpork!"

[monk12]

It occurs to me that cities may be large enough to get lost in- lost enough to require directions when you are looking for a specific type of shop/market. I hope that functionality makes it in soon.

[Footkerchief]

Toasy, will we be having cities that extend beyond the walls? or cities without walls?

It seems a bit strange that all cities would have walls that exactly match up with the city boundaries.

It would be pretty weird if he un-implemented all the sprawl stuff, so probably yeah.

It occurs to me that cities may be large enough to get lost in- lost enough to require directions when you are looking for a specific type of shop/market. I hope that functionality makes it in soon.

It was a dev goal at one point, at least:

# Req471, ASKING DIRECTIONS, (Future): You should be able to ask directions more robustly in adventure mode. They should be able to give you directions and location descriptions. You should be able to ask about general or specific items or trades, and various other things. Different creatures might have a broader knowledge of more areas depending on various factors.