Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Inglonias]

I'm going to tell a quick story. I put together what I thought was my best embark stats ever. All my dwarves were fully skilled, I had everything I needed, and I had 120 points left to spare. I thought I was a genius.

Then I get to the site, and find I forgot any kind of digging or cutting implements whatsoever. Abandon Fortress.

While I admit, I was probably in the wrong here, I wondered what sort of other mistakes could be made in embark. Perhaps warnings like this could be shown in the problems box:

Code: [Select]

You are not bringing any digging implements with you. It may be impossible to start a fortress without one
You are not bringing an anvil with you. Many players find the game harder without bringing one.
You are not bringing any seeds with you. You may be unable to feed your population.
And so on

The trouble is, though, that these warnings would have to be carefully chosen. Nobody wants to be inundated with that sort of thing before the game starts. Thus, I want to ask what might the most important things be in an embark? What deserves a warning, and how many should the player see at most?

PS: Has anybody made an embark profile creator with a better UI than Dwarf Fortress itself?

[dwarf_sadist]

Warning, you haven't spent a single point.
Warning, you still have x amounts of points left to spend.
Warning, you have no food.
Warning, you have no alcohol.
Warning, you have a very limited (less than 2 months supply) of food or alcohol.
Warning, you are in a wilderness area without an axe, you will not be able to cut down trees.
Warning, you have not brought along any wood. This location has no wood that is local. Without wood, you will not be able to make beds.
Warning, you are starting in a terrifying area with no weapons, fighting skills or defences.
Warning, this area is scorching. Your dwarfs will have a hard time on the surface. Death by melting is likely.
Warning, this area is freezing. Your dwarfs will have a hard time on the surface. Death by frostbite or hypothermia is likely.
Warning, you have attempted to reclaim this fort xxx number of times. All attempts have been met with xxx amount of dwarfs dead from dismemberment. Perhaps you should bring more weapons?

[Inglonias]

Warning, you haven't spent a single point.
Warning, you still have x amounts of points left to spend.
Warning, you have no food.
Warning, you have no alcohol.
Warning, you have a very limited (less than 2 months supply) of food or alcohol.
Warning, you are in a wilderness area without an axe, you will not be able to cut down trees.
Warning, you have not brought along any wood. This location has no wood that is local. Without wood, you will not be able to make beds.
Warning, you are starting in a terrifying area with no weapons, fighting skills or defences.
Warning, this area is scorching. Your dwarfs will have a hard time on the surface. Death by melting is likely.
Warning, this area is freezing. Your dwarfs will have a hard time on the surface. Death by frostbite or hypothermia is likely.
Warning, you have attempted to reclaim this fort xxx number of times. All attempts have been met with xxx amount of dwarfs dead from dismemberment. Perhaps you should bring more weapons?

Last time I checked, most players do that on purpose.
Unless I'm wrong.

[Girlinhat]

Exactly.  These warning would just be annoying.

[Jeoshua]

The "Haven't spent a point" warning would be useful... I've accidentally embarked without buying skills or equipment before...

[profit]

Exactly.  These warning would just be annoying.

No, they would not be annoying, they would be like achievement points!

I wouldn't even see the warnings I would see->

Achievement unlocked: Embarked without spending a single point.
Achievement unlocked: Embarked with no alcohol.
Achievement unlocked: Embarked without wood in a location with no trees.
Achievement unlocked: Embarked without any digging implements
Achievement unlocked: Embarked in a scorching desert
Achievement unlocked: Embarked on a glacier.

Every time I got one of those warnings I would smile.

[IT 000]

Yeah I agree with Girlinahat. This sounds more annoying then helpful.

Warning, this area is scorching. Your dwarfs will have a hard time on the surface. Death by melting is likely.

Besides that was a bug and it would happen anywhere it could rain.

[Dutchling]

Warning, you only have female dwarves in your embark team. You will likely end up in a different place than you chose as embark location.

[Ahra]

"this area do not have any surface water you will need to get to the caverns to get water"

[Jeoshua]

Warning, you only have female dwarves in your embark team. You will likely end up in a different place than you chose as embark location.

Oooh a girl joke? Really?

"Warning, you only have one male dwarf, and all the rest are female.  Lucky, lucky bastard"

[Dutchling]

@Jeoshua

Warning, you have male dwarves in your embark team. You might want to mod out [TESTOSTERONE:LOCAL_CREATURE_MAT:TESTOSTERONE:HORMONE] if you want them to actually do anything instead of fighting over who has the tallest beard.

Fixed?

[Jeoshua]

B-E-A-YOO-tiful.  Equal opportunity jokes! Is funny! I like!

Anyways yes back on topic (which I helped derail, I know.  I am self-dissapoint).

There are good points on both sides here.  And I can see many people actually going after these warnings as badges of honor.

At least you know you did the challenge right when it warns you of your utter impending doom.

[dwarf_sadist]

Yeah I agree with Girlinahat. This sounds more annoying then helpful.

Please, think of all the children who play this game! They need the warnings.

Besides that was a bug and it would happen anywhere it could rain.

Warning, your dwarfs may burst into flames on start.

[NW_Kohaku]

Warning: You are about to play Dwarf Fortress.  All your dwarves will die horribly.

[Askot Bokbondeler]

warnings would of course be init toggleable like the current ones. some warnings and helpfull hints would be the obvious first step into a much needed ingame tutorial

please think of the noobs!

also, a joke, but
warning: you are about to read the combat log, descriptions of violence and gruesome acts may be present. reader discretion is advised