https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1u8jibE1TV7BAwAI2b4TzRkWFlBboLiXMrVBhYmDYPhI&pli=1
The thing I am finding confusing about all the many updates posted to the home page and also the above link is what is relevant to each mode?
How are cities relevant to Fortress Mode? I was under the impression you cannot ever leave the initial embark zone thus can never explore the rest of the world in Fortress mode - or am I wrong?
Lots and lots of cool features but as I said - no real clarity on what mode benefits from them.
Yes - I am very new to DF ;-)
Mostly it takes logic. Look at something in the list and think about where it would make sense to be. But here's the breakdown:
These updates are mostly oriented towards adventure mode, but most of the new monsters (werewolves, vampires, necromancers and reworked undead) will appear in fort mode. Mummies won't, unless Toady's done something there that he hasn't revealed, and the cities and undercities don't effect dwarf mode at all. However there's also some good additions that are mostly fortress-oriented.
The identities and the justice system revision in particular are rather a big deal; you will no longer know about deaths until they're reported, and you won't know who did it.
The Units list is divided into four categories (citizens, pets/livestock, others, dead/missing), which is a huge benefit to its usefulness for most people.
Designations can go across z-levels, which makes long staircases and certain megaprojects much easier.
We also have a revision of gem cutting, adding a lot more variety (but I don't think functionality changed)
The fat burning changes effect combat in both modes, but since you couldn't get a dwarf to deliberately burn his fat away before, I don't think it changes much practically. It just makes wounds from fire more realistic.
If you embark in an evil area, you can have effects like raining blood and a mist which will turn your dwarves into hostile bloodless husks, as well as dead things rising up to attack you in general.
The rest applies pretty much to Adventure only.
The new update largely focuses on expanding fortress mode and its interactions with the world - something adventure mode is more capable of taking advantage of
No it doesn't.