Last week @context@hexbear.net broke the news (to me, anyway) about the Dwarf Fortress seige update, so I’ve been playing Dwarf Fortress. Spent some time messing around with the world-gen parameters, rolled about a dozen worlds, and found one I’m alright with (suitably deep). Along the way I tried a sinister embark an immediately got wiped out by nauseating muck. I also tried a volcano embark and discovered I was right on top of an active Kobold camp - which was cool, but impractical.

There was an ongoing vampire problem which cost three lives. It turned out to be the Mayor, who has now been arrested by the Captain of the Guard and thrown in a dungeon where she can enjoy the craftsdwarfship of my metalsmith’s chains for eternity. She only received a 400 day sentence though (she’s immortal you idiots!) and is still the Mayor, so I walled it off. Hopefully the chuds don’t re-elect her.

The Fortress is up to about 85 residents with a stream of monster hunters passing through to visit the underground caverns. A few of them turn up dead now and then but my idiot Dwarves are still happily wandering to all extents of the underworld to gather cave spider webs so it must be Human stupidity. I was able to have my militia commander take a squad out to do recon in the caverns and they discovered a cave leading down to a second cavern level. After doing recon in the second level, I was able to choose a spot where I can build a “Great Hall” in-between them, spanning multiple Z layers with overlapping facilities and balconies. I’m planning it out to fit all 11 guild halls, plus a library, tavern, hospital, and dorms - but in a way these fit the architecture and aren’t just extra rooms dug out when needed. Since about 30% of the caverns above are underwater, I’m trying to incorporate an underground waterfall and river as well.

No seiges yet, but I have ample steel and a small castle on the surface built from bauxite blocks.