Suddenly suffocating dwarves with wounded feet sounds like a syndrome contracted through contact of fluids. Remember, if you do not assign them shoes, they wear none. Any forgotten beasts, toxic mines or plaguebearer nearby ? Or have ever been on the map ?
I have been working (in busses mostly) on a big gameplay change: Some new features that will people encourage to go to the caverns. Also a material overhaul that should make the military more interesting, but is purerly optional.
- 15 Types of blobs in the caverns. small/normal/big * fire/ice/blood/acid/toxic
- 15 Types of gems, only dropped by blobs. small/normal/grand * fire/ice/blood/acid/toxic
- These are high value gems and can be used for decoration/trading. But they have another use as well.
- 15 kinds of metals used in special ammo. No natural occurance.
- 15 types of ammo, made with the mentioned gems, using syndromes to harm enemies.
- Every metal has a fireproof upgrade.
Next ideas: Make two more upgrades for metal. LIGHER metal, so your military can move faster, and STRONGER/HARDER metal, to make the armor better. You could only choose one. That way you can create highly specialiest squads.
- A 3 man fireproof squad with spears to battle magma creatures and light fire-traps.
- A fast crossbow-squad with necrosis ammo to snipe goblins
- A tank squad, towershields and battleaxes, slowly advancing on the invading army.
I also made some pics, mostly because I got bored on the long busrides... they will be included in the next download, but here is a preview:
Building Guide Masterwork
Building Guide Gen
Tile Guide Phoebus (careful, large image)
I might do a creatures guide for the new creatures as well. Items would be difficult, since they have no graphics, only one symbol for all ammo, all weapons, all armor and so on. Would look quite stupid I guess.