Dwarf Fortress Adventure Mode Combat Demo

10 minutes of Adventure Mode presented by Tarn Adams of Bay 12 Games! You will see combat, the new dialogue system and a few menus in action. Dwarf Fortress on Steam: bit.ly/2PY0P0w
The Adventure Mode beta opens April 17th 2024
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[@kennydalman]

The kangaroo leather tunic really makes the outfit.

[@Dallitified]

It tied the outfit together man!

[@ker0356]

@@Dallitified I just started watching The Big Lebowski and that's the second comment i see! How??

[@markgould7771]

and in a goblin voice

[@IndustrialBonecraft]

Thank you for your kind words.

[@pandasrule08]

Spare me the compliments.

[@silentdebugger]

I came here to make sure the combat system allowed you to grab enemies by their individual teeth and I was not disappointed

[@Psyralbakor]

Tokri Munchamber the Diligent Collector of Teeth

[@ANunes06]

"ZACH! The Tooth Fairy fucks up the whole program." vibes.

[@bitrotter]

@@ANunes06 geeve me your teeef

[@Just_some_Ape]

Alright Tarn, You won, this will be the end of my social relationships

[@ToiLanhLIVE]

You played dwarf fortress, it was inevitable

[@TourFaint]

This game has been out for years, and nothing meaningful changed since 2021, if you were going to nolife it to the detriment of your social life, you would have done so already.

[@2cuntsgaming]

maybe hes like me and new to the series and adventure mode?@@TourFaint

[@Davids_Stalidzans]

bruh a whole generation is about to not be born because of this..

[@Just_some_Ape]

@@TourFaint I've played a lot of adventure! But this new graphics, potraits... Companion management in 2 clicks... I don't know how I'll he able to play it even more

[@brandonwestfall3241]

"it's heavy enough that their neck twisted, and they got spine injury" fuck me, this looks sick

[@WartimeFriction]

Absolutely love reading the combat logs in Fortress mode. So many fights just end up happening so wildly you'd never expect the endings

[@justinbasinger7728]

Wait until you start fighting stuff like Were-camels

[@pcppbadminton]

No health bars makes it a pretty brutal game. I was watching a fight in one of my forts once and I noticed that a goblin's weapon and shield fell to the ground but the goblin was still alive. I'd only even noticed someone lose their equipment when they were killed before that. So I checked the combat log and the same thing had happened, except it was a hammer and the goblin was wearing a helmet. It did no damage to the goblin's head but the force was enough that it broke the neck causing it to drop its items. It still fought on trying to bite my dwarfs for quite a while.

[@RoboticMagus]

I had an undead poet grab a raven by the head. He then gouges out both it's eyes with his hand. Then he punches it so hard in the head that it exploded into gore.

[@Dekker3D]

Ol' Edgar had had enough of that damn raven.@@RoboticMagus

[@ziusudrasghost]

In which the creator finds out that grabbing the neck is not the same as grabbing the throat, which is what you need to grab to start a choke.

[@BanditLeader]

Have you ever heard of a chokehold? That was what he was going for

[@FrozenPie22]

@@BanditLeader Yes, but in Dwarf Fortress, in order to engage a choke-hold you have to grab the throat specifically. If you grab the neck it won't work.

[@ziusudrasghost]

@@BanditLeader Yes, which for some reason in HIS game starts by grabbing the THROAT, not the neck, which is why he didn't get the option. So it's clear you know the game about as poorly as he does. And I literally used the word CHOKE, so I've clearly heard of it, you blithering butter biscuit.

[@lunyxappocalypse7071]

Make sense, since that's also true to life.

[@GarrettTBuse]

DF is so complex with so many systems and mechanics that I can't really fault tarn for not remembering all of them lol.

[@MartyrPandaGaming]

It's all fun, raiding bandit camps and delving abandoned fortresses. However we all know one of the first things so many of us are going to do is make a wrassler and find the nearest tavern. "I'm the Machobeard, Sandy Loam and you're not goin' anywhere, brudda! I've got you for a whole 3 minutes! Oooooh YEEEEAH!"

[@JackdotC]

"Those are cute high boots, did your husband make them for you?

[@valitsemllaluokanavahyvaks3556]

Im going to wrestle all the goblins down with a broken freakin neck, and grab all their gold.

[@GalladeTheWarrior]

UNARMED DRUNKEN DWARF MONK HERE I COME

[@alessiochemeri2059]

i think there will be soo many taverns brawls... so i need to build a tavern on surface open to all the world with space enough for wild brawls and wild drinks :D

[@superguy183828]

​@@JackdotC"Actually, he did. He bought this for me on our ten-year anniversary. Not only is he my lover, he's my best friend and my soulmate. I'm not ashamed of who I love, nor should I be. For someone with strange abilities due to, I assume, your dwarf god, you're not very tolerant of those different to yourself. You're on the wrong side of history, dorf."

[@Pangora2]

*head gets chopped off and flies through the air* "Hey, Nice hat" "Thanks!"

[@jamjalopie9286]

5:06 always remember to complement your friend's beak dog leather shoe, even in the midst of deadly combat!

[@LMixir]

Of course! Failing to do so would be a TERRIBLE faux pas!

[@Digganob590]

The names of anonymous people being a description of their most notable feature is very funny. It helps to imagine them in the middle of combat, or dialogue. I can hear the uneasiness of that clear-voiced goblin as you menacingly approached. "It appears we are about to do battle! How concerning."

[@Bu-bo-Bu-bo]

Yeah, there are posh goblins, too. I'm expecting they are saying this while having a cup of tea with a cloud of milk. And, of course, with british accent.

[@vanxthenecron3059]

@@Bu-bo-Bu-boi wonder if someone would make a gritty swearing mod, that adds vulgar insults and expressions based on races and such

[@DeonGaming]

@@vanxthenecron3059 Pretty sure dialogue lines are still hardcoded and are not in the "raws" (game equivalent of moddable data, in text format), so it would require a lot of "hacking" of executable.

[@Tired-of-fools]

The battle system seems to me to be rich in detail, which is of great value.

[@justanon4709]

I played pre-steam version of Adventure Mode, I think that combat system in this game is just one of a kind. This video just shows the basics, just dorf and human fighting goblins, but in this game you can be a scorpion-person with 6 fully functional arms and also pincers, and a fully functional poisonous sting, fighting three-headed giant elephant made of fire, or steel, or vomit. This game is crazy 😂

[@grogpod_roguelike_podcast]

I'm so happy to see how clean and accessible the interface is as well. Bodes well for questing in between failed fun forts!

[@Blessed11127]

I read your comment full of excitement.

[@kobold7466]

when i first figured out how to wrestle in adventure mode that was my go to way of fighting anything. I was using mods and was some variety of big animal man so i went and wrestled a dinosaur. one of a kind game

[@DrEnzyme]

"It was inevitable."

[@ilikecrabs1]

"Identify yourself!" "Over my dead body!" lmfao

[@raziel6304]

I love how they take time to compliment each other outfits mid fight. Manners first, always!

[@olorinever-young4685]

THIS is what the game should focus on. Fortress mode is cool beans, but this is outright revolutionary. As far as I can tell, Adventure Mode is going to be the best sandbox roguelike I could ever wish for.

[@wesleymorford5661]

Check it out on one of the older classic versions. Grab a lazy newb pack and spin up and adventuerer. If anything, it will blow you away with the scope of what they've polished with this update.

[@beorik]

The beauty of it is that they complement each other. One of the big dreams has been to do a Fortress, and then after it falls or you abandon it, you GO AND VISIT IT IN ADVENTURE MODE! Go recover that artifact bone crossbow that was created at your Fortress! Because they exist in a persistent world together. And now that the resources of Kitfox Games have allowed the Steam version to exist and thrive, more and more of these cool things are coming together. As an old DF-head (not OG, but Deadly Carp Era), I am very happy these days. Thank you to everyone who has worked on this game!

[@LordDruez]

This looks amazing. I'm not going to lie I cried and complained when Adventure mode didn't release for the last year. But, this is looking like it was well worth the wait.

[@headbang3r1186]

perfection takes time!

[@theeldestrelic]

Offtopic, but you're looking really good recently. More healthy than a few years back. Keep up the amazing work with the game and yourselves!

[@azura6804]

he made a million with the game realeasing on steam that kinda helps

[@krischurch3763]

Deserved it. I'm so glad for that​@@azura6804

[@Phagocytosis]

@@azura6804 Sure, although of course he has to be a bit careful with that and spread it out. And he's also been through some rough life changes lately. It is nice to see him look well, insofar as such a thing can be gleaned from a relatively short video like this.

[@Fumblerful]

His apartment is looking very clean, as well. I am very glad he is doing well.

[@KrazeeCain]

8:19 The brown wombat blended in perfectly with a patch of dirt. Might be a good idea to add highlights to each character during combat or something.

[@VashGames]

I think the teal dots are meant to do that? I saw the wombat almost immediately

[@KrazeeCain]

@@VashGames Oh wow, I totally missed those dots, maybe they're not big enough in that case lol

[@zonetom4698]

You know a game is going to be great when the developer keeps smiling as he plays the game he developed

[@danielgrusuk5758]

I'm convinced his face just looks like that Skin beng pulled from his massive brain

[@graydogger5711]

"There are overwhelming odds down there" (Laughs in FUN)

[@glitterkitten9499]

I'm SOOOO excited!! Adventure mode is actually the main reason I bought Dwarf Fortress and have been waiting ever since for it to come to Steam!

[@YouTubeToen]

This is what I was waiting for, I'm elated!!! I only miss seeing the directionality of the movements for the next turn, like we were able to in previous versions to calculate where the characters were moving or in which direction they were going to attack. Other than that, it's just perfect 😙👌

[@Just_some_Ape]

se viene serie del Toen 👀

[@kobold7466]

same that saved my ass alot when running from a group of enemies

[@colinbougie]

It seems like the red and green dots are indicating where the characters are facing. Unless that's something else.

[@cataconik]

@@colinbougie The dots to me appear to signify friend or foe

[@VajaaAlyinen]

​@@colinbougie I think it indicates the level of combat (for example: no quarter"

[@VaeluX]

I'm carving out the greatest tavern in preparation for the coming adventures.

[@judedadude9722]

Me too

[@deep_fried_analysis]

I don't want to be a bummer, but there is a risk that one might have to start a fully new world when this update hits.

[@VajaaAlyinen]

​@@deep_fried_analysis tarn said that the older worlds will be compatible, but will lack the cool new features that might come with adventure mode

[@unshavenhobo]

i never in my widlest dreams thought that one day dwarf fortress would allow me to play a pixel-art, open world proc gen ronin samurai game where i am also a professional wrestler

[@MaiseNow]

I've been following DF stories on the Bay12 Forums for about...seven or eight years, never having the patience to learn the ASCII tileset (and not knowing how to install other tilesets). I truly started playing the game on the Steam version this year, though I bought the game on Steam as soon as it released last year. I just didn't have time and wasn't in the right headspace to learn before now. One of the things I've always wanted to do was adventure mode. I just accepted it would come out sometime in the next decade, and thought no more of it until the recent announcement that it was coming in April. Now I'm 4 minutes into this video, and as soon as you showed off that you can choose where to hit in combat, and how effectiveness depends on skills as well as slight RNG...I'm sold. Even more than I was before. I haven't been this obsessed with a game in years, maybe since I was a kid and The Sims was new. I've already told my boyfriend that I don't care if he ever plays the game, I'm buying him a copy once Adventure mode is launched to help support the team. A one time purchase of my own copy doesn't feel like enough support, considering how much love I have for this game. Thank you, Tarn, for showing off the new features for us. Thank you, Tarn and Zach, for sharing your life's work with us all. And thank you, Kitfox, for helping make the steam release possible. Dwarf Fortress is unique and I cannot overstate how important this game has been to me over the years, even if I can't explain why.

[@DeonGaming]

Adventure mode was always my go-to mode all the time. I like fortress mode, but I find adventure mode or so much more personal. Also 8 years as a lot. As a 18 years old Dwarf Fortress veteran (I started playing it in 2006), I salute you.

[@vicentebalbastre]

DF Adventure mode combat is the most shocking, ultraviolent gameplay i've ever had in a videogame. Im not exaggerating. Maybe because youre visualizing whats happening in your mind.

[@DubManor]

Thanks for the hand gestures on the neck twist.

[@Phagocytosis]

For future reference, 9:21.

[@Llevellyn]

I can fill my backpack with some random goblin womit during the fight, now I feel satisfied

[@olafcatten]

I'm currently writing the script for my new video about Anatomy and wounds in Dwarf Fortress and I thought nothing could surprise me. But I was wrong....This is absurd and amazing.

[@xeovosa6498]

Looks epic! Though I will say one thing that would be nice is with wrestling the icon for the right hand actions should be flipped so you can easily tell just at a glance which action uses what hand.

[@frogdeity]

Adventure mode has always been my favorite. Really excited for this.

[@Andoxico]

I remember making overpowered custom races in the OG dorf fort, committing unspeakable horrors to helpless townspeople. I can't wait to do it in glorious full 2D graphics

[@MaiseNow]

Good news: you already can in fort mode! Highly recommend getting used to the steam version ahead of release, so you're accustomed to the control changes.

[@Snottle1]

I am so excited for this I can't even express it properly! Interface looks like it's been hugely improved.

[@chamoix]

I just started to play this game like 3 days ago and i'm already excited for this 😭😭

[@kamilziemian995]

I would be Dwarf Fortress on Steam for this mode, but I already have it.

[@maybehesbornwithitmaybeits9318]

Delicious! Waiter more stroke please!

[@mecc2445]

Adventure mode is the ultimate choose your own adventure.

[@MHMakaNate]

loving the vibe from tarn in this video.

[@TheAleG]

so we can go back to make glorious forts to attract forgotten beasts and after the fort ruin we can go there with our adventurers for revenge?

[@Epic501]

correct!

[@Zorro9129]

This looks gorgeous! Large-scale combat could definitely get a bit tedious, but we wouldn't be DF players if we minded any of that.

[@jamesbright3439]

Yeah, but you could just control one character and not have to worry about your entire force.

[@pkfiremain710]

Not really considering you could just be one dude???

[@johnnysex3230]

The goblin portraits are so cool that they even look cute, I'll have to start my adventure as a goblin :)

[@kaydee66781]

Can’t wait to go around wrestling every monster I meet!

[@Coda8]

I'm gonna fall of the face of the planet when this update releases.

[@plushie946]

I primarily played adventure mode in the free version prior to the steam version coming out (probably about 150-200 hours of adventure compared to roughly 100 hours of fortress) and wow, everything is so streamlined here. Fights with more than like 4 people total used to take literal hours before if you were playing anything other than a demigod hero. I remember fighting a werelizard for like 2 and a half hours because I was so close to dying but had also severely injured it which cuased it to periodically disengage. I couldn't afford to take any risks so it took several minutes to plan out and execute each move. So seeing how easy everything is now to quickly access it very exciting. You can still do all the precise things you want to but don't need to remember 500 hotkey combos to do it (or in my dyslexic case, having to stare at the menu and slowly prod through to figure out how to do what I wanted).

[@KyriosHeptagrammaton]

I remember a half hour fight with a weregoat with my various limbs and teeth wrapped around its own teeth, neither of us managing to hurt each other. Looking forward to this.

[@plushie946]

@@KyriosHeptagrammatontruly something only achievable in DF

[@blackcurtainanimation]

When i first got into DF my favorite mode was Adventure Mode. Getting to play the new and improved version is a dream come true. Thanks, Tarn & Zach!

[@RoseArkana]

I haven't watched it because I want to see it with my own eyes when it's out, but I'm so here for this!!! Sitting waiting patiently like a child on Christmas.

[@ChaseLivermore]

that laugh at the end felt like it was directed at the entire audience because he knows our lives will be dedicated to drinking and pillaging once adventurer mode drops.

[@MattNinety]

The depth of the combat system is truly astounding, almost overwhelming. My brain cannot fathom how it is possible to have a simulation so detailed, from combat mechanics, to world generation and progression, to every single creature's details (from what they wear on their pinkie, to what they feel at the moment), and I marvel at the events that can unfold during my (often ending in tragedy) management of the many fortresses I established since I discovered this gem of a game long time ago. I've always neglected the Adventure Mode, but I can't wait to finally experiencing it once it will become available in this new look.

[@KyriosHeptagrammaton]

Did you ever play the original Slaves to Armok? Fully 3D game that this combat system is based on. Very jank but completely free on Bay12games.

[@ChiefKief6Nine]

Coming from someone who just got into the game, I commend you sir. What a treat to get into the game this close to the release of this highly anticipated mode, can't wait!

[@esquilosafadoverdadeiro7913]

Cant wait to play this, the game is looking awesome

[@setonix9151]

May Emperor Tarn Adams reign for ten thousand years to come!

[@patick6642]

I love how cheerful you sound while describing the goblins horrific injuries

[@leighmarsden623]

Def looking forward to this! I don't buy many games usually just DL them but feel i want to buy this game to reflect how much i love it. Paying homage to its progression & dedication, its first class.

[@Fr3k3]

you dont know how excited I am for adventure mode. I spent many many sleepless nights playing it

[@DualStupidity]

The commitment to detail is amazing, I can't wait!

[@vinnevince]

Love seeing your progress updates. Your success has come a long way!

[@sethtrain7331]

This is everything I've dreamed of since I first played this game when I was like 15.

[@MildPsychedelic]

God bless Toady man, crazy to see how far this game has come. I still remember my friend showing me DF back in 2011 and even then I was blown away by its complexity.

[@chrism3562]

This is one of my most anticipated releases for the year! Keep up the great work!

[@polastarr]

I'm incredibly excited about this! Thanks for the demo, Tarn!

[@NUCLEARxREDACTED]

The combat has always been one of the coolest parts of dwarf fortress to me. Just recently in my forts, we had a sudden werecivet attack, lost 2 fisher dwarfs and 3 cows before the legendary Tholtig Dakazusol the spear dwarf gets there way ahead of the rest of the troops. He then single handedly held of the werebeast at the entrance to the fort for long enough that the rest of the troops could get there. Luckly enough, the werebeast had an artifact iron short sword, so he was more interested in using that, then his teeth. But right as all the other fighters joined into the melee, Tholtig took a big stab in the foot from the beasts sword. The beast was quickly dispatched, and Tholtig had single handled saved us from a potential werebeast out break. But it came at the cost of permanent sensory and motor nerve damage in his foot, so he could never walk properly again. For his sacrifice Tholtig was made baron, given a fancy tomb in honor, and had a jewel encrusted silver statue of him erected in the middle of the main through fair of the fortress.

[@Dennzyl]

i havent played this game myself yet, but i admire the progress made over the years! from time to time i see a video of it and be like "THATS what its looks like now?!" - "THIS is what you can do now?!" (all in a good way ofc!)

[@Piercemxpx]

the roleplay potential is amazing! make a warrior who only attacks by grabbing fingers and toes lol

[@nunyabeeznutz5286]

Combat is looking great and the new audio tease at the end is making me want more! ♥

[@Byzz2077]

amazing

[@user-ub4hw4zo8s]

Wow, just wow. I really appriciate your work. It's so nie to see my beloved adventure mode being updated!

[@TalkAboutaTrapstar]

This is awesome! Really spectacular work!

[@blazepond5518]

so exciting, thankyou for all the hard work, your game is magnificent!

[@JustAllinOneResource]

I just want to thank You for all the hard work you're doing. Many Many thanks.

[@artificercreator]

Thanks for the update!

[@Nozong]

Gee gosh that was a blood bath! So many battle options and all the attention to details. This is very exciting!!! Great Work 👍👍

[@Opolopso]

watching someone who knows what they are doing is the most inspirational thing for me when playing dwarf fortress

[@KaizarNike]

I got into game development from all the inspiring people making cool games.

[@user-uv2sg6yh1t]

That's hilarious and astonishing at the same time. I'm so excited for the progress of the game's development. Wish you the best of luck! POG

[@Duccy86]

Love your dedication to the game, Tarn! Congrats to everyone involved for making the game what it is and thanks to everyone for working so hard on it. Can't wait to try the new adventure mode when it releases!!

[@manopeace9175]

wow man, the adventure mode looks amazing! I really appreciate you sharing your art with us all. You take all the time yall need to create. Hope you two are doing good these days. Peace.

[@Gaark]

so detailed and precise, this is crazy good

[@officerwomack9833]

just got to say everything here seems to be such a huge improvement this is far more then just updating the ui thanks for all you do

[@FoxxofNod]

This looks incredible! Kudos to the entire team!

[@Randy-tc3mv]

Great work! Thanks for everything g you've poured into this game. It really is one of a kind, and no other game is going to be able to compare to its depth without decades of work. You have something greatly special going.

[@Satanperkele]

I'm so excited for this! A cool thought struck me when the Combat Wombat had wandered off to who knows where; The ability for characters to shout in order to communicate certain things with each other? If Vabôk shouted something loud enough & your other characters were within hearing distance, some sort of rough directional indication? Naturally it could also be used in combat, say when those initial gobbos realized they're about to meet their makers they might've shouted for backup from their other mates?

[@petervenkman8835]

I am most definitely making a combat wombat when I do my first play through

[@Equinox_Fox]

This looks absolutely insane. Well worth the wait, this looks fantastic!

[@WartimeFriction]

Thanks for sharing Tarn

[@teaconnoisseur6339]

I'M SO READY TO GET INTO THIS!!! been playing a ton of CDDA while I wait.

[@Untrustedlife]

I'm so excited to jump back into adventure mode after this update! Its always been my favorite mode.

[@YoaeSG]

This is looking really good, glad to see that adventure mode is coming together so well!

[@morkmon]

the wombat person portrait is so cute

[@daleosbaldeston3612]

Looks great! Very excited!!!!

[@Beastly_Chariot]

I'm so incredibly hyped to play this! Looks fantastic 🎉❤

[@RobinPortnoff]

Can't wait! Great work guys.

[@Nilserrich]

That is incredibly detailed and complex. What else did I expect? Looks really nice.

[@ritzcrackersgaming]

Can't wait to play this. The depth of the history in the generated worlds makes this unparalleled.

[@verity7947]

I love how in-depth the attack selection is, that's honestly going to be one of my favorite parts of Adventure Mode. Or at least a significant contributing factor to my enjoyment.

[@itsokiie]

papa Tarn producing another banger update for the 1000 year anniversary of dwarven Fortress 9

[@TAITheAsian]

Oh man this is awesome! I purchased the game not being too good at OG Dwarf fortress but I always loved screwing around in adventure mode and getting into trouble. Its sure awesome to see the WIP for Adventure mode in the new Dwarf Fortress. The new dialogue system and new menus and UI is a real awesome iteration. The context menu sure looks slick!

[@justanon4709]

This looks awesome!

[@Doctorgeo7]

This looks great. I like the complexity and options you have. I've never played Adventure Mode before, but with the new UI and graphics I want to give it a go.

[@vanguze]

Dude this looks sick

[@andrebenoit404]

It's looking great thank you!

[@DK_Krieg]

that's cool. Can't wait to see it's done

[@JV-ib7gx]

Can’t wait to play !

[@DDD-lg6xx]

This was awesome!

[@greenaldergaming8896]

Spectacular, I am very excited

[@ErikMalkavian]

SUPER Excited for Adventure Mode. I am just sitting back with my Proverbial Popcorn enjoying this and looking forward to playing this New Game Mode.