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[Minnakht]

Two of three ores of iron are found in the sedimentary layer. Hematite can be found in the igneous one, but only very rarely.

So, if you don't have a sedimentary layer, don't count on iron. If you have a sedimentary layer, you should find lots, as well as chalk or limestone (flux) or dolomite (magma-safe flux).

Personally, I like rather flat terrain with lots of soil (to find sand) and trees, and that usually gets me a proper sedimentary layer as well.

[Wannazzaki]

If only you could view details on the "shallow/deep metals" to tell me what the fuck they are, not that they are a metallic substance but Armok knows which!

[hjd_uk]

Build traps and scavenge the Goblinite, useually starts off as Copper-Goblinite and then moves to Iron and possibly Steel-Goblinite.
My current for has no Iron nor Flux at all. I have Galena and a smattering of tetrahydrate, luckily i found plenty of Candy under the Carpet ( its just above the Basement ).

Also you can use sand to make glass trap components - glass makes a nice edge and is ok for traps until enemy armor improves. Or just use drop/drown traps.

[Wannazzaki]

What about kitten bombs? Those don't require iron!

[hjd_uk]

I stil lthink dwarves would have the skill and inclination to be able to create rock armor and weapons, i mean the elves make wooden armor, dont think you could get much Dwarfier than a *Granite Helm*

[daggaz]

We already have obsidian weapons, which are absurdly effective compared to many metals..    Tho having a granite hammer or a flint axe would be cool if just for the fluff aspect.

[Starver]

Just to add my experience...

Multiple recent .31.x embarks have been almost exclusively on plains, with plenty of sedimentary rock-types, at least at the surface.  My embark areas are often currently chosen for copious (if unspecified) shallow and deep metal and often some form of flux or other found in enough quantities to use for more expensive rock blocks.  But zero iron.  Usually the chosen home civilisation[1] completely lacks iron as well, if the trading situation is accurate, so maybe this indicates a world-scarcity?

This is invariably on the largest (non-island) default world-size setting template, with the only parameter changes that I ever make being increased gaps between cavern layers for more contiguous stone.  (Would that reduce ferrous ore veins?)

Tetrahedrite (yes, I call it "Tetrahydrite", in my head, as well) and galena are often there and give me silver (and, the former, copper) and I get steel bars and steel products (meltable, if not directly usable) from the home civ, but I'm used to having a steel-sparse military.


I dedicate myself to fortresses for a lot of time (playing time, micromanaging makes a game-year take ages) so I'm talking about maybe half a dozen examples all with no iron, which of course is not as conclusive or statistically significant as several dozen in which either none or few have had.  Chance (and inadvertent self-selection against the more ideal conditions needed) may easily have given me such a non-ferric outcome.



[1] I generally randomly choose home civs, where there's a choice.  It could be I've been picking home civs living in a non-iron locale, consistently.

[Alastar]

It'd be nice to have more options at the low end.

Hardened leather, wooden spears and staves, more Stone and some bone weaponry would solve the gameplay problem without getting over the top with metal abundance.

This could be extended to other civs to prevent elves hitting you with nerf toys.

[Jelle]

Eh I do actually like it this way, gives you more reason to trade.

[peskyninja]

There's no reason to trade if you are not playing a above-ground only fort. YOU CAN BUY THE WHOLE CARAVAN WITH A ☼Sheep tallow roast☼!

[Alestom]

No Iron?

Thats what goblins are for!

[Duntada Man]

No Iron?

Thats what goblins are for!

Truf.