Dwarf Fortress

[Peteron]

I have heard a decent bit about the game, both from friends and from others here on the Escapist. I have recently been watching reviews and videos on Youtube and I can honestly say I am interested. Me being a fan of Minecraft, this game seems very similar in certain aspects, and I think it will be a very good way to pass time. The only problem is, I don't know too much on how to get started.

My fellow Escapists, do you have any tips for me based on how to play the game efficiently and successfully? Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Also, for those of you who don't know about it, check Youtube, because I would not be the best person to explain it.

 

[hazabaza1]

Read Internet Kraken's LP of it. Find tutorials or guides.
It's complex, I can't get into it myself, but good luck with it.

 

[Tallim]

Visit the wiki and have a read to start off with, plenty of good articles and tutorials on there.

What I usually suggest to people learning the game is to concentrate on one or two aspects at a time, primarily the basics of survival. Learn how to get food and booze production running as without them you are pretty screwed.

Then once you are comfortable with that pick something else to learn to do.

You will fail a lot when you first start. It is a very complicated game but very rewarding.

I was lucky in some respects as I started playing it way back when it was less complicated (though still pretty confusing). Diving into it now as a new player is daunting especially if you can't find someone to show you the basics in person.

 

[Aidinthel]

Don't try to learn everything at once. When you start, you pretty much just need to know how to farm, mine, and brew alcohol. Once you have that down, you can learn other stuff at your own pace. Always play with the wiki open in another window, and don't be afraid to look up everything.

Also, don't get too discouraged when everything falls apart. Which it will. A lot.

 

[Mr Thin]

Stick to the wiki like glue, watch tutorial videos, and above all, accept the fact that your first couple of fortresses are gonna crash and burn, leaving you wondering what you did wrong.

But you'll stick to it, get the feel for it, get a rhythm going... then you'll get attacked, and get owned, and spend the next half hour figuring out how to use the damn military interface (took me ages, I felt so dumb).

Oh, and you can't win. Ever. The fun is in playing, so play to have fun!

 

[Peteron]

Thanks everyone, I have checked out the wikia and so far it has answered tons of questions!

 

[Cogwheel]

Oh, and you can't win. Ever. The fun is in playing, so play to have fun!

And losing is fun. Never forget that.

 

[Georgie_Leech]

Oh, and you can't win. Ever.

Oh I don't know. What about that one guy that colonized Hell itself?