BASIC MILITARY / BARRACKS - Guide DWARF FORTRESS Tutorial

[@shirenai]

Every work order to produce handware and footware is produced in pair automatically. Which means that if you order to build like one gauntlet, dwarfs will actually make 2 - righ and left one.

[@chaotickreg7024]

This is the thing I've had the most trouble with. If anything, it's just the most tedious to set schedules how you want them.

[@jinz0]

you missed the part about always wear instead of only during sieges, also its not quiver its backpack and its bugged so they leave food everywhere

[@Ic0nGaming]

Ah, thanks for clarifying that!

[@LrdThing]

Yeah, backpack for food, and water skin/flask for drink, so they can take care of being hungry or thirsty while away from your stockpiles

[@dumbleking5172]

I'm VERY VERY tempted to take away all my backpacks because rotting food creates miasma apparently and it's a problem from what I can tell. I'm still new but I don't think miasma is helpful.

[@gogudelagaze1585]

@@dumbleking5172 Yup, it's a pretty nasty bug that will hopefully get fixed soon. You can either avoid them entirely, or super carefully lay out your fortress to work around it.

[@sgt.bonkers8706]

Having a refuse stockpile in an obsidian casting mold or atom smasher solves that problem. Also, miasma won't be created if it's stored "on surface", and rotable items will despawn over time, leaving nothing but bone. And "on surface" can be several z-layers deep, if you channel down a pit deep enough to drop-kill any invaders. Same method can be used for pastures as well, if your soil happens to be 4 or 5 z's deep. Advanced pit designs involve one wall layer being moved inwards 1 tile, to make climbing impossible and/or putting up a wall / moat around your pit. Pits are useful. And sometimes even reward you with a shower of goblinite.

[@gman1515]

At about 9:00 most of the breastplates you have are damaged and the guy who wouldn't equip the stuff was still set to wear it over his civilian clothes so he may have had on something that stopped him from wearing a breastplate.

[@Ic0nGaming]

I always wondered whether or not they would deny too damaged gear or not. I haven't found anything in the Wikipedia about that, but I always figured they'd not wear worn down gear. Really wish the UI would give some bit more information to work with tbh, cause the reason for not equipping stuff is obscure to put it nicely ^^

[@nosetron3044]

They won’t wear it for sure. Likely, they got worn from being in a stockpile with “Refuse” enabled. This enabled causes items to degrade stored in that stockpile. Brand new items will nearly immediately be unusable.

[@0DeadSoul0]

So clear and concise. Thank you so much!

[@Fr00zN]

You have too much damaged breastplates. Thats why they will not equip them. The "x" at the start and end of the item name means that it is damaged/unusable.

[@StonyCephalopod]

They need to have a pair of X's for it to he mangled, one X only means it's worn out but still usable, most of my gear is Mastercraft quality but still has one X.

[@rtleitao78]

Pretty sure that's why they won't equip. If they are already equipped, they will keep it. But won't pick it up. Build more. And melt those old ones.

[@bruce285]

​@@rtleitao78 for anyone wondering why the melting isn't happening, it might be because the gear is still claimed by a dwarf in a squad. Reassign uniforms, preferably with none of the items you want melted down included, or recreate the relevant squad(s) if in doubt so that claimed gear really gets reset. Then remember to queue up a melt items job at a furnace

[@captainmaim]

^answered my question, thanks!@@bruce285

[@ScottBot726]

Love these guides! Keep them up. Though about gauntlets/boots. I’ve read that 1 order of gauntlets provides a “pair”. Would imagine it’s the same for boots

[@DubManor]

Came here to say this, iv found 1 "job" creates a pair. Same with clothing.

[@SuperSayinSolidSnek]

Yep, only note is boots produce two identical boots and gauntlets produce a right and a left. Also of note, in both cases the quality of each item can be different, even though they're produced as a pair

[@captainmaim]

all dorfs have two left feet.@@SuperSayinSolidSnek

[@303Thatoneguy]

Yeah you would get a pair of boots meaning one for each foot or in the case of gauntlets one per hand.

[@istivanp8747]

I keep running into a problem where when my military stores their armor in the barracks the civilians keep coming to take it and put it back into the stockpile. I have multiple barracks for the surface and caverns and its annoying to have the soldiers always need to travel far to get their equipment.

[@petergraphix6740]

Ok this explains what I'm seeing. Have a busy fort and I kept missing where it was going.

[@petergraphix6740]

Ok this explains what I'm seeing. Have a busy fort and I kept missing where it was going. Going to set my regular armor stockpiles not to take steel objects then.

[@boomshanka4667]

Click the always wear equipment button in the military screen

[@boomshanka4667]

i always use the ready schedule, and always have " keep equipment on always " selected, no issues for me.

[@sgt.bonkers8706]

Sure, if you got dorfs on legendary skill levels already... Otherwise put their barracks on their supposed guard stations and let them train.

[@chonky2129]

nice tutorial. i do run into a problem every now and then with the squaddies taking food back to their chests and letting it rot until they are training in thick miasma. how do I control this? lmfao

[@HansLemurson]

The standard solution AFAIK is to just never let your soldiers have food rations. No backpacks for them, but flasks for ale is fine.

[@chonky2129]

@@HansLemurson okok i see. imma try that. thanks

[@dzanderallison]

@@HansLemurson that's how you handle the same problem with real soldiers. this game.

[@relint12]

My understanding of the bug is that their is a 'hidden forbid' so no one can touch the food item after it's dropped it happens when they swap from their military uniform into their civilian uniform. If they are set to 'always wear' in the squad schedule screen options it will help alleviate the issue quite a bit.

[@chonky2129]

@@relint12 that makes sense as to why it doesn’t happen all the time. sometimes I use ‘always wear’ and sometimes I don’t. between both of these tips, I don’t think I’ll be swimming in miasma anymore lol 🙏

[@Flutterguy32]

I noticed armor gets locked into Bins. Whenever I make an armor storage area I always set bins to 0. Seems to solve the problem.

[@boomshanka4667]

yeah bins and barrels can be a bit buggy on occasion

[@Laf-Adventures]

If anyone is confused about the armor thing he couldn’t figure out… it was under a different item in a bin.

[@burgundyknight6826]

One of these days, I will do things in dwarf fortress, right after I build 100 bedrooms

[@Ic0nGaming]

Yeah, things like rooms for the other 100 dorfs ;)

[@DarkWolper]

I have 7 dwarfs in my military but only one seems to level up during training; she's a mace Lord! Has perfected the combat with 2 silver maces and she's a best in the battlefield. The others (all different weapons) don't get over novice and I just don't know what's wrong

[@victorlandim6117]

My dwarfs are stuck on individual combat drill, even though there are 5 soldiers on the barracks. What am I doing wrong?

[@flesforpower]

Is there a video somewhere on training ranged units? Struggling with that

[@Ic0nGaming]

I am working on it, not yet through with it. Honestly picked it up three times already and wasn't getting through it. Will bring up a video once I've learned my part there ^^

[@BORN753]

Wiki says gauntlets and any other paired clothes and armor are produced in pairs.

[@Ic0nGaming]

I tried, it made problems until I upped the production. Unless I've overseen some other issue ofc

[@DanielCoffey67]

If making a barracks out on the surface like this, how do you address the food and drink requirement of the squad efficiently? Do you ever need to let them socialise occasionally?

[@petergraphix6740]

Stockpiling food close is always a good idea. I tend to make 2 squads and have them on opposite training schedules so you don't run into issues with them getting pissed off over time.

[@aiden5887]

thank you man :)

[@ghadabad]

Any ideas how the training stats work? Do legendary axedwarves train troops in that stat only or better or what?

[@incription]

look on the wiki, it should give you all the info you need. But I know people in that stat will train other dwaves in the same stat

[@c.c.germaine9960]

Hey long time player; Several skills effect how Dwarves train: ORGANIZER: Can effect how many dwarves show up for that squad drill when it's called for by the... TEACHER: dwarf who wants to demonstrate. Specific skill's drills and "sparring" trigger when the drill LEADER: is at the "Skilled" level in "Fighter" or other specific combat skills. The higher these skills are by a single dwarf leading the drill the faster they all become mighty leaders. A manager turned commander is a good start. Send them on a few low risk raids for leadership. Start a guildhall with their top skill (outside out combat skills) to get them teaching. You'll soon have a baddass sensei dwarf. I highly suggest no weapons at first for basic training in barracks. Get them wrestling. Skilled wrestlers are OP. Then give thrm any weapon. If they ever lose grip or drop their weapon they can still do grappling, break necks, and kick heads off. Literally punch heads right off.

[@ghadabad]

@C.C. Germaine thank you, very useful. Had two dwarves go to great axedwarf.

[@petergraphix6740]

To add on the great replies here... Pump operation strength training is highly recommended for military dwarves. You'll see many dwarves with stats like 'weak' or 'tires easily'. A year pumping water and those bad stats go away. If you ever get in a fight with a tough forgotten beast they will be able to swing a hammer for months.

[@jacthing1]

​@@c.c.germaine9960or start biting things off

[@JAPerson34]

Do you need a barracks for 10 for each squad? Or can I have just one large barracks for all my squads?

[@Ic0nGaming]

You can have one big barracks too, no problem!

[@JAPerson34]

@@Ic0nGaming Cool. Thanks.

[@chrisseymour2848]

My squadies are frequently dropping equipment even though Ive set them to constant training and always wear gear. Any advice?

[@Ic0nGaming]

My first guess would be that you are producing better gear so they upgrade. Idk, that's the only idea I got why that could happen. If I'm right, they should eventually stop doing that.

[@chrisseymour2848]

@@Ic0nGaming thanks, i am almost constantly producing new armour, that might be it.

[@threndor3743]

What is recommended squad size (% of population), or do you run a squad rotation (where everyone is in a squad, but squads rotate for training).

[@gogudelagaze1585]

There's no real best practice. It depends a lot on what you're trying to achieve, the fortress layout and conditions, etc. The wiki has some pages on advantages and such for each approach (look up cross training), but personally, I just find it easier to specialize.

[@SkyYuyo]

Do you know if there is a way to equip hammerer to use a specific weapon. Tried doing the crown to equip a less deadly hammer but they just pick up a new silver one killing my dwarves. Unassigned thw hammerer but fortress guards are killing my dwarves as well.

[@Killerlocust49]

The "Hammerer" is the fortress executioner. If you dont want capital punishment in your fortress, leave that position vacant and punishments will be reduced to imprisonment or a beating. Beatings are the lowest form of punishment but also have a high chance of mortality if your guards have ANY amount of martial training. Just make sure they all come from professions that dont use tools and that they dont have any fighting skills.

[@shodan2002]

i think iron with and x in the name means its broken or old or whatever 9:07

[@700007123]

What's the purpose of weapon racks and armor stands?

[@Ic0nGaming]

Right now they serve mainly as decoration for the apartments of nobledwarfs.

[@easterbunny3850]

So armor stands and weapon racks useless?

[@Ic0nGaming]

At the very moment their primary use is for noble living rooms which ask for these items. But for military purposes, they aren't used (yet)

[@easterbunny3850]

@@Ic0nGaming oh

[@easterbunny3850]

@@Ic0nGaming thanks

[@Bergerons_Review]

If the quality is not good enough it will lock it. I think.

[@theshroomian2415]

ive never seen this game before... it's like a more rpg version of rimworld

[@TheVonWeasel]

RimWorld is based on this game that's been in development for almost 20 years. You won't find anything else with a deeper simulation

[@dumbleking5172]

RimWorld but in the opposite setting and on a larger scale. They still want table and chairs though and they'll get annoyed without it. But it won't impact the productivity much at all, so that's a plus...

[@BORN753]

​@@TheVonWeasel After playing DF I know see how fantasy dwarven setting fits such gameplay much better than a sci-fi "borderlands" one. I never understood why you couldn't dig down in RimWorld, or rather why you are given the ability to mine at all, why you are heavily inclined to build a base inside the rock, and the whole thing subconsciously just felt incoherent and disjointed. For example, I didn't really understand a whole "smoothing the floor" thing in RimWorld. Why is there a separate mechanic for it? There is none in Minecraft or other survival/craft games (RimWorld feels much more like a survival/adventure than a simulation, so forgive me for such comparisons). Well, it is because it was taken directly from DF, where it wonderfully fits in the setting of building a rich and beauitiful *dwarven* fortress, with engravings decorating everything and jems encrusted into everything just for the sake of making everything rich. It makes sense for dwarves to do this. It doesn't for your avarage "landed on a hostile borderland planet" human characters. Why would humans even decide to live in a man-made cavern with no sunlight coming in? At the time I explained it to myself by thinking it was just a cool survival/craft trend in indie games. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of building a house or a town inside of a rock, but it does not make any sense if characters doing it *can't even dig up or down*, and the game's narrative and gameplay is not wrapped around the idea of mining the earth (like Minecraft or Terraria). It is as if in Factorio ores would be found not on the surface, but underground: you could do this, but the game is about building a factory, not about mining the earth (for the same reason there are no actual human-like buildings with roofs to place your factory in - it is not a city-builder game). Same thing with art. I didn't get why the hell you would create "art" in such setting, who the hell wants to buy some statues from you in a sci-fi world filled not with feuds and peasents of actual cities, but with bounty hunters, bandits and tribes surviving in some bases. In a medieval economy-based world it makes perfect sense to create and trade various art. Same thing with different stones in RimWorld: while there is much less variety, the question is why make any variety at all for functionally same blocks, and not just a one basic Stone. In DF a huge variety is dictated and supported by the setting and by actually having a Z-axis to the world. It makes sense to care about aesthetics (I guess imaginative ones in case of ASCII-DF) and different colours when you are building a great and rich dwarven fortress for the sole sake of building it. It is part of dwarven culture and it is like in dwarven blood - to use stone for everything. And I don't even want to talk about "componets" being mined directly out of the rocks in RW. This is just absurd and breaks last bits of immersion. In RW I simply wanted to make guns and go shoot somebody (or defend against somebody), I found the most fun in it as a tactical action/adventure game with some rudimentary basebuilding. While DF feels much more multilateral and interconnected, primarily narratively and setting-wise, everything makes sense.

[@stephankuebler762]

Try Armor Stands...

[@Ic0nGaming]

Armor stands serve no purpose in barracks as of yet. They won't get used, just like Weapon Stands. These items have right now their main use as something to make your nobles happy with in their apartments.

[@stephankuebler762]

@@Ic0nGaming Hmmm.... my Troopers put their Armor & Weapons on them, if i Place them into the Barracks - what i never have seen used are the Cabinets.

[@Ic0nGaming]

@@stephankuebler762 That would be awesome cause that would mean a old bug has been fixed! I'm gonna give it a try in my next fortress, thanks for the pointer =)

[@stephankuebler762]

@@Ic0nGaming NP - BTW - Love you Videos watch them all the Time no matter if Rimworld, DF or any... 👍

[@JacksonHighlander]

"I'm up for whatever you have to say" eh? WHY AM I LISTENING TO A VIRGIN THEN?!?!?!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA See I'm witty at your expense aint I so cute.