How I Tackled Dwarf Fortress' Most Evil Start

What's better than 1 challenge? This is a terrifying start in a glacier biome. Abominable ash, one of the most punishing mechanics in the game, frequently visits. And I'm only building above ground. And all that's saying nothing of the nearby goblin civilization or the lack of nearby allies. Is this even possible? Is it doomed?

[@leuchgaming3080]

Ghost pulling the lever to make more friends is the most wholesome and terrifying thing in Zulbanbisek

[@JustDontDie]

It was quite the unexpected end. When it happened, I just stared while paused for nearly 5 minutes trying to think of any way to recover...

[@thezyreick4289]

dwarf fortress in a nutshell lmao

[@idontknowandidontcare4603]

You can pause the hospital zones btw, and if the dwarves are healthy enough to be awake and move around, they will grab booze to drink. This can be useful to avoid them dehydrating next to piles of drinks

[@HansLemurson]

Good to know!

[@JustDontDie]

Ooh, that's super useful, thanks!

[@edomeindertsma6669]

@Just Don't Die And did you engrave memorial stones for the dwarves that couldn't be buried? That should appease most ghosts I think.

[@burnin8able]

@@edomeindertsma6669 yes. I believe they're called "Slabs" in-game, and you need to first make them out of stone, and then open up the engraving tab that becomes available after making some to then specifically engrave a slab to memorialize a fallen dwarf. Fortunately the list of who to memorialize does denote who has been entombed, memorialized already, or is currently a ghost. Unfortunately it doesn't sort the list by these conditions, but instead is just an alphabetized list of all dead citizens of your fort.

[@itzaleaf405]

The story if ID is horrifying to say the least. Retired from combat due to injury, yet after being turned by ash more than capable of not just fighting but *killing* 4 along with many more injuries while fighting 1 to *7*... to say it's a scary thought that a single mere dwarf can kill their brothers and sisters tenfold is an understatement.

[@JustDontDie]

I was shocked when she took on 7 at once and got so many kills while still being totally fine. That was right about when I realized how bad the ash really was

[@TheHorreK2]

i dont know why but the thought of the sleeping Dwarf/future mayor sleeping through the entire fort being slaughtered and raised is just hilarious to me.... i love Dwarf Fortress.

[@JustDontDie]

It's the only game that gives you so many random hilarious moments like that!

[@TheHorreK2]

@@JustDontDie Yeah i just had a Siege with around 63 Goblins and my Military Commander just left his station to take a nap (he wears the best equipment of all my dwarf + artifacts).... yeah... dwarfs do what the gotta do

[@DMSFister]

This was the exact form and delivery of DF content that I've been craving. Can't wait for more!

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks! And same haha. My guide as a creator is 'what would I want to watch more of?'

[@matheuspimentel3232]

You probably tried it before, but it's a good thing to tell your squads to update their equipment when they're not wearing a full set (as well as when wearing weaker material armor). That way all the steel equipment that could've been used by the dwarves could have saved some from death.

[@khlorghaal]

likewise careful when you do that, if you do it before giving orders itll string apart their formation and make them engage 1 at a time

[@JustDontDie]

I tried that a bunch off screen (especially after the incident with Feb) and it didn't seem to work until I forced them to store their equipment in the barracks. I don't know if I was doing it wrong or if that's a requirement. Any ideas?

[@khlorghaal]

@@JustDontDie possibly "exact match only" or not hitting "confirm"? ive not had the issue otherwise equipment doesnt need to be in the barracks, they will retrieve it from anywhere, including very fun places semirelated with archers, theres a known bug, where custom archer uniforms cannot be assigned ammo, the GUI simply lacks the button

[@petergraphix6740]

@@JustDontDie So one of the more helpful things I've found is not using bins for the armor types you want to wear coupled with armor stands and store armor in barracks. Armor bins hold tons of objects and when a single object is 'in use' it keeps any other dwarf from interacting with that bin, and I believe that causes the armor unavailable issue we see in the squad UI. I also make soldiers wear their armor even when off duty so they don't spend two weeks putting it on before running out to attack something.

[@christofferrognlien110]

I've found that my dwarves have big issues putting on boots... Unless I make them "wear uniform instead of clothing" rather than wearing it over clothing.

[@yoyofanatic1224]

Discl: English is not my first language. The best Dwarf fortress Videos I've ever seen. I was glued to my screen for 100 minutes watching Brassroars and Zulbanbisek. Top story telling, while not being corny at all. I love how you have long form Videos, unlike with other DF Vids, I'm not worried that you're going to quit the Fortress early with all my emotional investment in the story ending up being for nothing. I like the backstories for your embarkments the most. They hook me in. I wanted to see these outcasts succeed and prove the King wrong. I feel like these backstories might be core to what makes your DF vids so enjoyable. I also love how you're making an effort to make the fortresses look kinda nice. Would love to see another DF video from you! no one does them like you

[@JustDontDie]

Your English is fine! Thanks so much ♥ The compliments are nice, and the feedback on what works is also super nice. I've definitely got at least 2 more ideas for other videos, plus maybe another 1 or 2. I still need to flesh out the ideas.

[@alanrussellsmith1672]

In addition to Just Don't Die, I can also heartily recommend Kruggsmash as another great long-play dwarf fortress channel.

[@bochinibuku_ao]

Hi! (I am terribly sorry for my English.)

[@zaubergurke5468]

these videos are genius and bring out the full charm of dwarf fortress. i love the narratives you weave with what you are given and the way you deliver everything keeps it interesting, funny and exciting. 10/10 would dive into ash again

[@JoshSweetvale]

ToadyOne: "The dead animal's skin also reanimated, which I figured makes about as much sense as a skeleton reanimating, so I kept it in." Me: O.O ...I shall stick to Rimworld and CCDA thank you.

[@patrickwitte7102]

Please please please don’t stop making these

[@oachristensen]

Just discovered your channel, really like the storytelling and pacing of your dwarf fortress videos

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks!

[@xXKerzoneXx]

Just stumbled upon this video and the 'Braving Terrifying Lands' video a few moments ago and ended up watching them back to back. The amount of effort you put into these videos is obvious, and I eagerly await what else you make. Love the narration.

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks so much! Comments like these always put a huge smile on my face :) The next one is already well underway, but they take 3ish weeks each to make, so it'll still be a bit.

[@briankirz231]

Your storytelling is really great and natural. I'd love a multi-part series, following the same dwarves!

[@guerrillaradio9953]

How am I only learning this game exist today??? Excellent pacing I think, putting a great deal of story into a relatively short period of time, without cutting anything out. Very well done. My new binge channel, lol.

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks so much! I'm glad you like it! It's an amazing game. I put in hundreds of hours a decade ago, and the recent steam release has made me so happy.

[@guerrillaradio9953]

@@JustDontDie I just bought it this morning....omg...so good. Everyone said you'll die a lot at first, but so far so good, about 4 hours in, tripled my population, went through my first autumn trading deal, and into winter with nobody dying yet and huge amounts of stores...fingers crossed.

[@matthewsanchez7953]

Dude, your story writing skill is very much appreciated.

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks! This playthrough was almost too good for this kind of story video.

[@joewalker4710]

This is the exact type of storytelling I love to see in dwarf fortress videos! Your narration for this game is amazing, cant wait to see more of this sort of content if you choose to make it :D

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks! I've got at least 1 more video underway. I literally just finished recording for it. I may take a break after that before coming back to DF, since I've been focusing on it for almost 9 weeks now ahaha.

[@joewalker4710]

@@JustDontDie can't wait!

[@remipoujoulat7759]

"Embarking Above Ground in an Evil Ashy Glacier" = "When you don't want to live anymore"

[@JustDontDie]

You have to be a little masochistic to play DF!

[@grayaj23]

I really like your videos about difficult DF embarks, and the way you present the stories that you find.

[@JonesCrimson]

You really handle the dwarves so well, it seems like you get more done with 20 dwarves in 6 months than I manage with 100 in 3 years.

[@JustDontDie]

It helps that I only show the layers with stuff on them haha. Plus, for a fortress like this, everything is compact and dense.

[@narannarman8643]

Another banger video! It was worth the wait and I'm excited for what you'll do next. Your content rocks!

[@2ndadventure2]

The day always gets better when I see that you have a new video out 🎉. Also this challenge is insane, good job!

[@scudpunk]

Hey dude, stumbled onto your channel recently while looking for DF videos. I love your style, you do a great job using dwarf fortress to tell unique stories, you actually inspired me to get back into content creation after a long break. Just made my first Dwarf fortress video. Thanks for the great content and the inspiration!

[@judosii1473]

Dude I imagine this whole forteress situation as an actual comic / narrative it's so cool and what happens is super interesting!

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks! It's definitely my favorite DF story so far. The hope then despair then hope then despair was almost too good.

[@judosii1473]

@@JustDontDie I also had small pieces of art pop in my head like a dwarf watching the ash in the snow and on top of it the different turned dwarves, all out for blood, like the one with their intestines trailing behind them Really feels like zombie stories without showing the bites, but definitely showing the gore

[@dylanbrewer8605]

I really enjoy your style and narration in these. Here's to hoping there will be many more. 🍻

[@Insommer]

Great video, i've really been enjoying the dwarf fortress content lately

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks and same. So many good creators are making DF content. I love it =)

[@tigerguy009gaming3]

First video I’ve seen of yours, love the depth to it!

[@ZalymBiscayn]

This is some fantastic DF content. A simultanesouly highly-skilled player and an enthralling (hehe) storyteller is sometimes hard to come by in the same YT channel as people often focus on one aspect or the other--but JDD accomplishes that! :)

[@Londronable]

Whelp, subbed. Nice story telling. Only recently began playing the game so seeing what's possible in this game is incredibly interested. The depth just never appears to stop.

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks! Yeah, it's incredible. I've played hundreds of hours and not only see new stuff every single game, but have a completely different story every time.

[@seadog8807]

You certainly set yourself some insane challenges 😂😂 Great video, very entertaining, love your commentary! 👍👍

[@obi-wanea9364]

Great story telling. Very interesting and fun!

[@RoyalFusilier]

Absolutely incredible stuff, I think I've found a new favorite channel already. Simulator games are fun to play, I just can't watch unedited 300-part playthroughs anymore, so this kind of narrative approach is just perfect for me.

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks so much! This is my favorite kind of playthrough to watch, so it's what I make despite it being so much work.

[@StodaGryph]

Absolutely glorious, you've resoundingly proven the saying "Losing is fun". The rollercoaster of hope leading to horror to hope to oh shit is that my arm give that back!@

[@JustDontDie]

It's a motto for a reason. Good stories need the chance of losing at the end, plus the little bumps along the way.

[@leonardosoller8021]

Man... can I just say how much I love dwarf fortress? The community is so creative and inspiring, I'm so happy I got into the game, though I have to allow my rimworld ideals to pass while playing because time and time again I start new worlds, sometimes with no cause. Thank you for posting, brother.

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks! And they definitely are. The DF subreddit is amazing.

[@TheMrThornton]

Superb story telling. Loved it.

[@trueblueflare]

I've not played Dwarf Fortress yet so most of this went completely over my head but it was entertaining nonetheless, and has made me want to play this game even more than I did before.

[@JustDontDie]

Inspiring that kinda feeling is exactly what I was hoping to do. I love videos that make me feel that way :) And you absolutely should! It quite literally got me into my favorite genre 10 years ago and was the first single player game I ever got into! I went from only liking multiplayer stuff to dumping hundreds of hours in despite the graphics.

[@YuubiTimberwolf]

True horror of the Terrifying Lands, ID's story is one of Legends and Terror.

[@kevdog6425]

Thats thee most hardcore biome I've ever even imagined someone facing in this game. And you did it with a fort above ground.

[@JustDontDie]

I didn't originally plan for the ash, but there we went... It made it so good though.

[@turnopsverdsen9578]

The idea of a flute made of coal is so funny. What a devilish creation.

[@JustDontDie]

Right? I died laughing when I first saw it.

[@R0NYFL0NY]

This was horrifying, great video.

[@rungeon83]

What a video! I really enjoyed this. Fantastic story telling and really well put together. More please kind sir.

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks! I'm already working on the next =) Though my videos take 3ish weeks each to make haha.

[@rungeon83]

​@@JustDontDie I'm not surprised! DF takes many hours, and i'm guessing you're having to record, make notes during it to where you go b ack in editing etc. It's a LOT of work, I do some game dev tutorials and they take me a while but yeah this is next level!

[@JustDontDie]

@@rungeon83 Pretty much. Record an hour at a time, go in the editing program to cut out clips of the important bits while I write the script, record it all, then go back and match the timing on the clips and do the zooms/overlays/etc

[@thecrackshow9402]

The dwarf electing himself mayor at the end was so funny Hahaha

[@JustDontDie]

"If I'm going out, I'm going out on top"

[@theitatit]

this was awesome! love your content.

[@krom4773]

Been really looking forward to this!

[@rohan0724]

great video! loved the narration!

[@King_Alko]

This man only makes bangers, great video!

[@HansLemurson]

After my first bad experience with contaminants and evil weather, I modified a silly poem: _"Urist had a little lamb, its feet tracked Blighted Soot. And into every face he saw, his sooty foot he put."_

[@JustDontDie]

Ahahaha, that's great. I wasn't sure how bad tracking the ash would be, so I thiiiink I was overcautious right up until I wasn't cautious enough...

[@DrusinianX]

Earned a sub this is exactly what I'm looking for in my df content

[@angeluslul2118]

Really really enjoyed that video, was great!

[@termite156]

Love your dwarf fortress videos keep it up

[@ShonkyAdonis]

Probably the most fun df vid I've seen. I definitely need to try this for myself.

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks! I had so much fun making it (Even if I was terrified almost every moment it was unpaused). The story ended up so good.

[@justinjohnston8923]

awesome again, thanks for the content on this snow storm- nice mist idea

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks! I'm sad that I didn't get to test it. I'm still unsure if ash thralls breathe ash/corruption or if they need to be covered in ash to convert people.

[@sammyToesis]

You have gotta be my favorite youtubers now in your ability to feed my current dwarf fortress fixation. You deserve twice the amount of engagement you’re getting right now, on ARMOK.

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks so much!

[@jacobotstot2021]

Nice new DF vid. Been looking forward to this

[@Gloracle]

I gotta admit, got recommended this video by youtube out of nowhere and gave it a look- didnt expect to unirionically watch all 34 mins of it Good stuff

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks! I try to make every bit entertaining, so I'm glad it worked out!

[@the_Red_Star]

excellent format.

[@BenMcManus]

This is great. I'm new to DF but a lot of the videos I''m seeing are fairly dull, slow paced let's plays. I love the fast pace of your challenges and I'm picking up a lot of info about what's important just by watching.

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks so much! This kind of playthrough is my favorite to watch, so it's what I make despite it being so much more work.

[@BenMcManus]

@@JustDontDie you're doing a great job, you're clearly passionate about the game and experienced. I even like the way you plan out your areas even though you don't elaborate on it too much as you've already moved on to the next thing

[@Lord_Cow]

one of the few videos i liked. keep it up

[@cmargir]

rewatching this, it's the best, funniest DF story since the steam release

[@andreccodo]

I need more. More DF videos, those that one and Brassroars are not enough. I need more. You're the best!

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks! I'm working on at least 2 more, but they take 3ish weeks to make unfortunately.

[@andreccodo]

@@JustDontDie Ok! Subscribed and turned the bell on just in case :)

[@THEOFFICIALDJMD]

Your videos are great dude, very underrated!

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks!

[@wacojitsu]

That was fucking amazing!!! had to pause my game and finish this video. Glued!!!

[@jjolarte98]

Oh boy a fantastic video of DF is this a new subscribe material

[@darksaiyan2006]

The moment the balance shifts just enough for it all to go wrong…

[@JustDontDie]

I thought that Id would tip the balance, but honestly, it went so well after that riiiiight up until it didn't.

[@martinwinski1988]

The dude electing himself mayor right at the end was icing on the cake.

[@JustDontDie]

It was definitely a good laugh. I guess the game has someone do it automatically, but the new mayor wandering over to get axed, then the sleeping Dwarf electing herself mayor after because no one else was left to run, but it's a funny situation to imagine. Just a guy looking around and yelling out 'I'M THE MAYOR' as his last words.

[@user-ps8ov4yh5v]

Great content! Cant wait to see your next video

[@MootRed]

Bravo! entertaining the entire time! Subbed for more!

[@mueezadam8438]

Id, Hero of Zulbanbisek Id, Bane of Zulbanbisek

[@JustDontDie]

A holy rise. An unholy fall.

[@galacsinhajto]

Salt water flowing through an U turn also gets desalinated. Much easier to passively fill up a reservoir that way than the screw pump method

[@JustDontDie]

Ooh, thanks. I only knew about the screw pump but that would have definitely helped keep more people alive...

[@galacsinhajto]

@@JustDontDie Just keep in mind how the water pressure works and you will be fine! Twistedlogic has a good tutorial on it.

[@secondengineer9814]

Aw the fact that the baby was named after the lost dwarf was a nice catch!

[@alex-ns7jj]

very entertaining, pls make more

[@NoHeadsProduction]

If you can't go out to collect bodies to bury, you can make slabs out of stone and engrave them with the names the dead. Memorialized dwarves don't come back as ghosts.

[@JustDontDie]

Ooh, that's good to know, thanks!

[@huff3782]

Love this style of video :)

[@JonathanChute]

By far the best Dwarf Fortress video I've seen to date.

[@JustDontDie]

I'll play around with it, thanks!

[@tlz9051]

Keep making videos. They are really entertaining.

[@MichaelParker-mi6ie]

Casually playing the banger drink and industry in the intro- respect

[@JustDontDie]

It's soooo good. Every DF track is a banger.

[@jeffcapes]

thing about burrows is, they only restrict jobs in their area, dwarves are still free to wander where they like

[@vladimirgribanov708]

Such a cool playthrough. Dwarf Fortress in a nutshell

[@JustDontDie]

It really is. The manner in which I lost after the back and forth of the enthralled Id being so strong, then soldiers beating thralls, then losing to enthralled soldiers, worked out so well for the story

[@rubrub3104]

Most of your content doesnt feel like filler, therefore I sub to you.

[@JustDontDie]

I try to get rid of everything that's not relevant to the story, including all the micromanaging and filler, so I'm glad it works out!

[@rubrub3104]

@@JustDontDie It does, I really appreciate it. Thank you.

[@asdaviqs5950]

Love your content!

[@tritoner1221]

great video!

[@CptEggman]

Fantastic storytelling!

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks! I'm so happy with how the story of this one naturally turned out.

[@Krav_Swaga]

You could build two adjacent cisterns, fill one with salt water and pump fresh water into the other. well well well.

[@christophercollins3632]

That was a lot. I just heard about this game. After 15 minutes of this video, i can see the appeal. But i need a break before i try and absorb anything else. Whew! Don’t tell the King, or he might get mad, which is a mechanic, I believe. 😊

[@JustDontDie]

It's definitely a ton to take in. It took me a couple dozen hours of playing alongside a video tutorial and figuring stuff out to get really into it, but DF is soooo worth it.

[@gracelandabigale5387]

"these are the end times... there was no hope for survival. This is how you died." (-the opening of starting a run in project zomboid.-) Because I seriously feel like this scenario has a similar feeling

[@JustDontDie]

The opening in Zomboid is so good, and I can definitely see the parallels.

[@noahschmuckler8493]

I love all just don’t die videos

[@HBon111]

Very entertaining! Really wished you could have pulled through.

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks! So did I, but it was the perfectly fitting end in the arms race between Dwarves and undead.

[@glitterlich]

you had an aquifer, you didn't have to mine down to the caverns to get water! just punch a hole in the aquifer and put your well just above and voilà!

[@JustDontDie]

That aquifer had salt water, though some other commenters have pointed out that you can desalinate in other ways I wasn't aware of. However, a well wouldn't have worked, since the water would have frozen immediately if it were exposed to the surface for a well. Sending them down with buckets was the only way.

[@BraveLobster4567]

"There's no way for them to have water!" -> anyway here's my aquifer-fed mist generator with infinite water. BRUH. THE ANSWER WAS RIGHT THERE.

[@JustDontDie]

I explain it at 9:18, but the aquifer leaks salt water not fit for consumption. If it's exposed to the surface were they could build something to purify it, it'd freeze in the cold. While underground, there was no way to desalinate it (Or so I thought, some other commenters told me that a u turn will work. I thought you needed a screw pump while playing).

[@lechking941]

what suprises me is HOW FUCKING DEEP THE CAVERN IS!

[@JustDontDie]

It just kept going and going..

[@TarsonTalon]

I think water was a crucial necessity that was ignored until too late.

[@JustDontDie]

In hindsight definitely, but the story could have ended very early if I'd dug into the caverns and some terrifying undead force or forgotten beast said hello, since I can't wall it off. The lack of water ended up killing about 5-10 Dwarves, which was a definite but not fortress-dooming loss.

[@TarsonTalon]

​@@JustDontDie I'm not so sure. Seems like a butterfly effect to me, where you were losing your best fighters who would have gotten a lot of XP if they didn't die. Who knows, a couple extra experienced soldiers might have saved the fortress. An extra dwarf might have been close enough to the lever to toggle it in time, and you would have never known how much chaos they prevented. But I just watch forts die, I haven't taken the plunge to make my own yet. A tip I've seen other people implement is making sure the levers are in the meeting hall, so that there is always a dwarf nearby to flip it. Not sure if you did or didn't do that, though. It could be they were all busy because they needed to be.

[@roxterat]

Once again, a fine story.

[@jacobotstot2021]

this was better than I expected.

[@lunacampbell7816]

Ah, I love the Rimworld approach.

[@Scourge24]

Man, having dwarves be converted into mindless killers is bad enough, but the sheer durability of the undead brings this to the next level.

[@JustDontDie]

I really underestimated that part of it. I knew they'd be more dangerous, but that bad? Oof.

[@zachchristiansen]

This was FANTASTIC. Long live Zulbanbisek.

[@kolinako6872]

very entertaining, good job.

[@1337snake888]

These videos are awesome

[@PSYCHOpaty4]

Amazing video and amazing story! I'm wondering if you could chare safe file of that fortress. I think it would be interesting to try to recover that doomed place

[@JustDontDie]

Thanks! I think this should work, but let me know if it doesn't. It's the save I made while everything was falling apart but hadn't quite lost. www.dropbox.com/s/iy6kmuho8hlk3yu/We%20lost%20Zip.zip?dl=0

[@PSYCHOpaty4]

@@JustDontDie thank you! The save is working but for some reason I can't close the hatch. Whenever dwarf pulling the lever, it dosent do anything. I belive there is still a way to save the fortress, but it might take a lot of save scumming

[@JustDontDie]

@@PSYCHOpaty4 Do they actually pull the lever or do they get stopped by the nearby fighting?

[@PSYCHOpaty4]

@@JustDontDie they pull the lever, sprite shanges, but hatch is still open. I think it's a bug. Althoug, it's quite difficult to say if it closed or not because of all that garbage that is laying on it. But I had another problem. Dwarfes don't want to work. Even that peasant with great mood would rather socialise than construct the wall. Anyway, I''ll give it anoter try tomorrow

[@JustDontDie]

@@PSYCHOpaty4 interesting. I wonder if it's something to do with the save being compressed and transferred.

[@porteralleman5179]

First time seeing dwarf fortress content on yt

[@JustDontDie]

There's some really good creators in the niche, but there definitely need to be more.

[@JarrettJ]

Great video