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[parlor_tricks]

I've found a nice embark spot, and for once I want to plan my fort out.

I'm trying to NOT do the normal ad-hoc stuff that happens, so I was looking for some tools to use to be able to sketch the fort out. I've got quickfort, but I was hoping for something that would let me perhaps export the embark location, and then experiment with it.
Any suggestions? How do you guys plan your forts out?

[Girlinhat]

Copy the entire region folder, so you have "Region1" and "Region1 - Copy", then change the copy's raws, find dwarves under creature_standard and add the line [SPEED:0] anywhere to their code block.  This will make dwarves run at super-speed!  Then, stay making a fort, experimenting and toying.  Find something you like, then delete that whole world, and then go to your real embark with the knowledge of how to build stuff.

[bobhayes]

And don't be afraid to save-scum. If you're trying to make a great fort and do it all right, there's nothing at all wrong with playing the game a season (or even a month, or a successful project) at a time.

[Nekudotayim]

Now for those, who don't like to cheat the crap out of this game. 

I would try to do some pod-like structure at the very beginning on my next embark, same size and position on every level. As soon as you got everything important running, start building your real fort somewhere else and then cave-in this pod-structure, which will be much easier now. Also try to avoid making masterworks on this early stage to avoid tantrum hell when collapsing this structure. You could also start building outside first, this will be much easier to deconstruct.

As for planning the design: For my tower, I designed the bedroom level on some lower z-level using designations at the spot I like to build it. Then added some lines at the border of the drawing representing how big the building has to be at level 0. Now I know where to build my walls, staircases, pump stack etc. Maybe this could help you too.

[elf-fondling human]

Sometimes it helps to map out an entire area's digging plan a few z-levels down; with no way for your dorfs to get to and ruin it. Then you can use it as a schematic while you build your fort, and you can just cancel the designtion when you're done.

[parlor_tricks]

Yeah I wanted to avoid using super dwarves this time and actually challenge myself.

The pre-drafting the limits of where I think things should go sounds nice - like putting a marker or wall in the middle of the field to show where I plan to have my palisades and so on.

Is there a program that can import the layout of the embark location into quick fort or something?

Incidentally its a nice embark location - its a large flat field, roughly circular at 0, and its embraced by hills about 5 levels high on most sides.
No invasions or thieves so far in the first 2 years.
AND - flux + iron in huge amounts - My entrance halls are made of walls of un-mined magnetite. The residences will be made of marble.

[Triaxx2]

Graph paper, and excel are both excellent methods of planning.

[Brandstone]

Do any if the visualizers work with .19? Just seeing the landscape in 3D could help. I seem to remember there being a mod that could plan a fortress in 3D, but I think you had to recreate your map by hand and I can't find it through a forum search.