gemini://bbs.geminispace.org/u/Winco/15735

@Winco - Agree. I don't begrudge them any success for the steam version, but there's a part of me that says that the learning curve, the ascii, and the fun!!1 were part of what made df so great to begin with. I've not played the steam release and I likely won't... 0.47.5 is good enough for me.

One of my fave moments was figuring out how to run it in ncurses, then running it on my beefier server and playing via ssh. It wasn't perfect, but was about the most dwarfy thing I could think of at the time.

I'd have loved to see the source code opened up after a successful gofundme (or equivalent) campaign to pay for their medical expenses. Then a team of devs could continue the highly-linux-ey nature of the game. But c'est la vie

SHIELDWALLED, the GREAT STONES: A group of intrepid dwarves set out to build a dwarf fortress, striking the earth. Their location contained rich mineral deposits, and was located very near to several goblin encampments and two necromancer towers. This is typical dwarven behavior.

After 6/7 of the group lazed about watching the one dorf with a pickax work to dig a subterranean stuff-storage, and a few mugs of plump helmet wine, they finally all got to work.

Together they constructed a mighty 3-z-level high wall, surrounding a patch of grass large enough to graze animals and plant several crops. Crennelated battlements were installed at the top layer, so the few bowdwarves could fire on enemies below.

Migrants arrived. They get to sleep in the common room, in the beds shoved up against the wall, until suitable rooms can be carved for them from the living rock. Their complaints were noted and dismissed; the defense project has priority.

Our craftsdwarf has managed to make hundreds of mugs out of discarded rock fragments. Literal trash. Unsurprisingly, the elven trade caravan bought them all.

A moat was dug, and the river re-directed to follow its path. Kogan was the dwarf to break the last wall of earth holding the river back. The escape stairs appear to have been dug into the wrong side of the moat wall. Construction of a burial chamber has now been added to the diggers' task list.

More schlock mugs are sold. Those lumbering human traders even called them 'masterworks.' More migrants arrive.

The universe slowed down to a snail's pace for an unknown quantity of time (we measure time in seconds, but the mountainhome sages insist that a 'frame' of reference matters too). On the plus side, there is now a massive uptick of cat-leather garments being prepared for use and sale.

The first goblin invasion was pitifully small, and easily dispatched. Construction has begun on a sealed tower, some distance away from our walls, to give an alternate angle for our bowsdwarves.

More migrants arrive. More mugs prepared. The persnickity elves who complained that we cut the trees did not return to their treetop shacks.

A vampire dwarf has been imprisoned in a subterranean bedroom, since it can neither be released into the general population, effectively banished, sleep, or die. We compassionately left a bed in that space.

Praise Armok, a real invasion force has arrived. Our bowsdwarves and moat were ready, and the wall stands firm. Urist was left outside when the gate was closed.

Urist has managed to dodge the invasion force, and has reached the freestanding bow tower. As intended, it is sealed. Urist is on the incorrect side of its walls.

As Urist has no tools to turn its wall into a door, a dwarf has been dispatched through the underground tunnels to make a door from the inside of the bow tower.

The dwarf Mistem has discovered flooding in the underground tunnel while on the way to rescue Urist. The light aquifer was not adequately sealed.

The dwarf Mistem has discovered much water in the staircase leading to the lower level. Perhaps Kogan's ghost appreciates the irony of a flooded burial chamber. Mistem would, were lake staircase not in the way.

Another dwarf has been dispatched to see what can be done about the flooding. The water is beginning to overflow Kogan's resting place, and spill into the lower levels, where the bedrooms and ale hall are located.

As passage through the flooded underground tunnel to the bow tower was impossible, water is being diverted to a small, unused quarry room. Discussion begins on accountability for the entire bow tower project.

Mistem has managed to disassemble the wall panel of the sealed bow tower just in time to discover Urist's mangled corpse.

Mistem has managed to locate Urist's mangled corpse at the same time that the goblin invasion force has located the new door in the unsealed bow tower.

The water has been successfully diverted, and the invading goblin force seems pleased that the muddy tunnel is passable. No word from Mistem.

Migrants arrive, and hurry through the new door to find a muddy ale hall filled with goblins.

Lorbam's last act was sealing off the passage to the upper walls of the fortress from within. All the tools and food remain below with the corpses and the goblins.

The water overflows the temporary quarry, and begins spilling back into the ale hall. The passage is impassible, and the goblin force cannot swim.

Our small force of three remaining bowsdwarves remains locked in the upper castle, without food, drink, tools, or the capacity to dig or open our gate. As we starve to death, we enjoy the sound of drowning goblins below, and raise one of the many many many mugs to Kogan.

Dwarf Fortress — Dwarf Fortress is so much fun. It's complex enough to warrant lots of replay, and really lets you imagine and enjoy the world-gen for the fortress you're piloting. Unless you're playing the steam version, it also really scratches the ASCII itch. Reminds me of the good old days with nethack, alphaman, zzt, megazeux and the like.... but as a game with modern levels of depth and scope. Plus there's all sorts of cool thoughts there about what constitutes an emergent story, or...

Comment by 🐧 Winco

2 Later Comments ↓

Original Post