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[Stargazer]

In the past, my military dwarves counted themselves lucky to receive a barracks that contained one bed for each dwarf of a 10 member squad and a single armor stand to share between them. I've decided, after a recent spate of temper tantrums involving other, innocent dwarves losing limbs to my rioting military, to spruce up their quarters into something that might keep them a tad happier after long deployments on the rain-swept rooftops.

So, I've given them master-crafted beds and limited 4-8 dwarves to a room (Either 1 or 2 squads). They've each been given a coffer or cabinet, weapon rack, and armor rack for personal use. The barracks also contain a supply of booze and food, a small dining room, archery range, and an ammunition depot for crossbow bolts. Up until recently, it also had a well inside. Unfortunately, the water would freeze over each winter despite being completely enclosed indoors, thereby breaking it. Plus, there was also an unfortunate "accident" involving the most experienced Captain of my military somehow falling in and drowning during what I can only imagine to be a rather vigorous sparring session. Investigations are ongoing, but nevertheless, the well was removed.

Now, I've built it with actual walls, outside, so they can't be engraved. The dwarves are assigned to sleep there at need, train, and keep their equipment on the racks. There really should be no reason for them ever to -leave- the barracks (Except to acquire new armor if I decide to change it). They should sleep there, eat there, and train there. I have all other labors for them deactivated, yet I constantly find them wandering around in my main fortress. Is there something I'm missing here? Should barracks be set to sleep at need? Are they, in fact, not keeping their items in the cabinets or racks like they should be? (How can I tell if they are?) Should I just assign them to a barracks burrow at all times? What gives?

[nil]

...Now, I've built it with actual walls, outside, so they can't be engraved. The dwarves are assigned to sleep there at need, train, and keep their equipment on the racks. There really should be no reason for them ever to -leave- the barracks (Except to acquire new armor if I decide to change it). They should sleep there, eat there, and train there. I have all other labors for them deactivated, yet I constantly find them wandering around in my main fortress. Is there something I'm missing here? Should barracks be set to sleep at need? Are they, in fact, not keeping their items in the cabinets or racks like they should be? (How can I tell if they are?) Should I just assign them to a barracks burrow at all times? What gives?

You can tell whether they're keeping their items there by going into {t} mode and moving the cursor over the containers; I've actually yet to see a dwarf use a barracks for storage, myself, although I haven't really been trying.  Your best bet is probably to use a burrow, although making sure the whole squad is scheduled for perpetual active training will help too.

Also, a side note--from a pure efficiency standpoint, you're way better off using bedrooms instead of a barracks for sleeping.  Even the nicest barracks will still give an unhappy "Slept without a proper room recently" thought.

[Darkweave]

Assign the barracks from an armour stand and make each bed in to an individual bedroom and assign them manually to the dwarves. Individual bedrooms inside the barracks are the way forward.

[Tierre]

They can have their appartments and it should help with this negative thought. If a dwarf have a room it doesn't matter to him that he sleeps in a shabby barracks - if it is not mud he sleeps at he is pretty content.

[Psieye]

They can have their appartments and it should help with this negative thought. If a dwarf have a room it doesn't matter to him that he sleeps in a shabby barracks - if it is not mud he sleeps at he is pretty content.

No, he won't get the "slept in his [quality] room" thought. Every bit of happiness should be squeezed out as harsh military life really drains them.

Add hatches, chains or bags as a 'tapestry' to further keep them happy in their barracks. Dwarves like looking at expensive furniture set up around them. There should be no tile that's free of furniture.