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[Urist McArmok]

I've been wondering about cave adaptation lately. Dwarves naturally live underground, and yet they "adapt" to their native environment. The only effect of this is causing them to get sick when they leave their fort*. This just seems.. odd..

Why would they need to adapt to living underground when they presumably are meant to live there? Why would they even choose to live there if it's not beneficial? Perhaps cave-adapted dwarves could get some sort of bonus to living underground to make up for the downside?

* Come to think of it, why don't caravan dwarves get sick?

[Dutchling]

I think light and (a lack of) vision because of that should be implemented first.
And the caravan guards do not adapt because they mostly live on the surface, your dwarves won't adapt either if they stay on the surface too long.

[harborpirate]

I think light and (a lack of) vision because of that should be implemented first.
And the caravan guards do not adapt because they mostly live on the surface, your dwarves won't adapt either if they stay on the surface too long.

Once lighting is implemented, dimly or unlit corridors could be an advantage for cave adapted dwarves, especially when fighting something used to sunlight. It also opens up the possibility of cave adapted creatures of the deep that could be confused, weakened, or frightened by sunlight or lamplight.

[Rowanas]

That's still not really dealing with the issue presented here. Why do dwarves suffer from lack of exposure to the sunlight, when lack of sunlight is their native state?

I think it's just a game mechanic to balance out the beneficial sides of cave dwelling.

[Moonshadow101]

It's merely a matter of phrasing. Presumably, your original seven dwarves, as well as all of your migrants undertook a very long overland voyage to reach your fort. During that voyage, they become at least somewhat acclimated to sunlight. "Cave Adaptation" is really just the loss of "Surface Adaptation," a loss that occurs from switching from travel-mode to home-mode.

[Jake]

The existence of dwarven woodcutters, hunters and other outdoor professions suggests that whilst they may be more comfortable with making their homes underground, dwarves don't usually spend every waking moment down there.
What I would like to see, however, is the lighting arc to include simulating some of the effects of under- and over-exposure to sunlight.

[RabidAnubis]

I think there should be benefits.

Maybe it should depend on civilization?

[Waparius]

Once lighting is implemented, dimly or unlit corridors could be an advantage for cave adapted dwarves, especially when fighting something used to sunlight. It also opens up the possibility of cave adapted creatures of the deep that could be confused, weakened, or frightened by sunlight or lamplight.

Oooh. And of course, the ability to construct a system of mirrors in order to flood the cave with sunlight, or perhaps even set it on fire.

[Rowanas]

I sense off-trackness approaching.

It makes sense that cave adapted things should have bonuses in the dark, because that's exactly what cave adaptation represents. It's in the name.

[Dradym]

cave adaptation is the dwarves natural state-therefore, no bonuses should be applied.  if anything there needs to a bigger minus for those dwarves on the surface

[Monk321654]

It could apply a bonus in terms of invaders.
If a human siege force gets into your fortress, they should be at a disadvantage simply because they're not used to living in dimly lit, or unlit places.
On the other hand, your dwarves going outside to fight human invaders proposes a challenge: the humans are used to being outside, your dwarves are not.
This presents a game mechanic that can be used to ones advantage: Stay inside to fight invaders, or go out and confront them face to face?

[ETV]

They should be less susceptible to disease.

[Cuppsworth]

They should be less susceptible to disease.

More susceptible depending on the conditions of the fort.

I think that torches should be able to slow the effects of cave adaptation.