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[Chattox]

I know it has a higher value than regular stone and is used to make steel, but is that all it does? Basically, I'm having trouble finding a good site that also has flux. Do flux layers have more ores/minerals/gems than other sedimentary layers?

[Creamcorn]

Besides providing a good start for trading via mugs, certain layers of flux limestone, dolomite and chalk also contain good levels of other materials.

I'm not sure about marble, but I just like the stuff. Course, it's just a metamorphic layer, not much in the way of metals down there. As for calcite, don't worry about that stuff as it is only found randomly in clusters.

[Chattox]

I see, so overall it's better to embark somewhere with flux than not?

[Creamcorn]

If you want easy access of materials, then yes, it is a good idea. Course IMO, I find that to be too easy.

[anotherthing]

You need flux to turn iron in to pig iron and steel.

[Chattox]

Honestly I'm no DF expert yet, I've yet to have a fortress live past 5 years so I have enough trouble without not having any materials

[Pwnzerfaust]

Flux is absolutely essential if you plan on having any sort of steel-making industry.

[ledgekindred]

and with the latest version steel is more or less essential for effective metal armor.  Goblins have been buffed so without steel (or something better) armor your melee dorfs are gonna be on the wrong end of a goblin-powered pointy stick a lot more than you want them to.

[RabidRabbit]

Flux makes the game much easier by doubling the value of most of your stone products and by giving you an abundance of steel.

Without a flux layer, you'll either need to import it and maintain a smaller, more elite military, or dig around in a granite layer for cassiterite to make bronze, which is just as good as steel against anything that goblins can throw at you.

[Shoku]

If you want the material value benefit but can't find flux go for obsidian as it tripples the value of typical stone goods.

The new version have had us spoiled with the super density of metal veins and such so I haven't bothered with flux at all for my test forts.

[rlbond86]

Just a note, even if flux isn't listed at embark, you can find it in veins in lower levels (usually past the first cavern). But you really have to search (or use dfreveal).
 

[Cephas]

Just a note, even if flux isn't listed at embark, you can find it in veins in lower levels (usually past the first cavern). But you really have to search (or use dfreveal).

I disagree. If there isn't any flux present, then there's no way to find it in veins. The only chance you have is the possibility of a neighboring biome that you intersected very slightly possessing a flux layer somewhere.

[Sphalerite]

Most flux stones are layer stones.  The only flux stones that aren't layer stones are only found in layers of flux stones.  Therefore, if there's no flux layers, there's no flux.

Note that your embark site might include more than one biome, and different biomes have different stone layers.  So you might not see flux layers when you embark yet still have flux if you didn't check all the biomes on your embark site.

[TomiTapio]

I modded some fancy minerals to have 2x value, like olivine, serpentine, saltpeter, alabaster, alunite, satinspar.
The rarer stuff which is only in clusters.
Would you rather have a granite statue or an alabaster statue?

[Mephansteras]

Note that iron is actually viable for weapons and armor again in 31.10, so you CAN get away without making steel if you need to. You'll need a well trained and fully armored military if you want to avoid a lot of casualties, though. Also, now that marksdwarves should be viable again archery towers can help a good bit.