Spearcavern 4: Going Down, Fighting

[@Arkalidor]

Queen bee just casually throwing a log down the well for no discernable reason is quintessential Dwarf Fortress experience.

[@Arkalidor]

On a completely unrelated note: 20:20 "Seven rings were forged for the dwarven lords"~

[@kruggsmash]

Turned out I put a garbage dump next to the well. In fact that whole part where "the dwarves weren't behaving" was all my fault I figure lol. You'd think i'd be better at this damn game by now

[@Cesar_233]

Intrusive thoughts

[@catriona_drummond]

that is where the term "waterlogged" came from.

[@zejash]

made me laugh so hard

[@sp0ckz0mbi3]

Man what does it feel like putting out the highest quality dwarf content on the whole site?

[@kruggsmash]

Ahh, debatable I feel. To each their own. Glad you like it though :)

[@AU-cu4yf]

@@kruggsmash Well, I appreciate your effort. Always an enjoyable experience and you've gotten so good at it over the years!

[@SerrynRS]

i would absolutely love to watch what is in your opinion BETTER content than this. i have severe doubts that its even possible@@kruggsmash

[@MsDunier]

​@@kruggsmashdebatable? Madness

[@toryumau6798]

⁠​⁠@@MsDunier. … This. Is. Kruggsmash! [ *Kicks into a gem cluster hole* ] D^B(

[@JKXYGolden]

Poor Gutter, watching his girlfriend clean his wounds with dirty swamp water. What is he going to do, tell her she's doing it wrong? And ruin their date??? No, clearly better to risk death by infection. Any dwarf would do the same in his shoes

[@kruggsmash]

It's sorta relatable

[@agihammerthief8953]

Builds immunity, in the dwarven way. Just like falling into a river is the best way to build up swimming skill, if you don't drown first

[@fcomolineiro7596]

​@@agihammerthief8953still thinking that a swimming book would be nice to have

[@mikelnazkauta1317]

Oh wow, that fan animation of the demon dodging the ballista bolts... fantastic

[@KsThe20]

"Seven rings for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone" - what could possibly go wrong?

[@arthurbarros5189]

It is okay, the rings only made the dwarfs greedy. . Wait, they had a greedy streak and gambled mining after cursed diamonds shortly after, it is not okay.

[@HellMuttCoppersnake]

Was just about to make the same comment :D

[@luipaardprint]

Just as long as they don’t dig too deep and accidentally unleash some unspeakable old darkness right?

[@calebhammett942]

Boggy having a large fork for a spear was a great touch. Perfect weapon for the fortress chef.

[@Oroberus]

The demon being immune to ballista bolts because it was knocked prone due to a pretty severe spinal injury, therefor making it even harder to fight compared to it not being knocked prone is pretty much among the Top 10 Most Dwarf Fortress Things ever xD

[@Geesuv]

Speaking of acquiring objects, In my first fort in the Graphical Release, I witnessed a group of civilians successfully defeat a minotaur with no injuries by using their decorative scepters as melee weapons. So from then on, I always made sure to craft a bunch of scepters to leave lying around in the hopes that fashionable dwarves would use them as self-defence weapons.

[@toryumau6798]

… The mental image of a circle of dwarven pimps laying down the rizz on a Minotaur will now live rent free in my mind fortress. >)X^D

[@ChronoTriggerHappy]

@@toryumau6798 "The names a Pimp Named Diamond Hand, and dont you forget it cow man!"

[@uncabob214]

Next episode: The dwarves in their gem collecting fervour unleash another demon which kills them all, sending Kruggsmash stark raving mad!

[@kruggsmash]

Pshhhh we can kill demons now! No worriiiiiies :)

[@whizthesugoi]

the intro gets me every time, so cool

[@kruggsmash]

It did come out pretty alright. I was worried I couldn't do it again lol

[@redstonebrain40]

As somebody who forgets what the diffrent levels of skill are i really appreciate you puting the scale up on screen!

[@ohaenens]

I have loved the clear devil artwork in this series. So amazing and with just the right horror vibe.

[@kruggsmash]

I wish I could have done more. Like, really really wish I could have.

[@AllisonIsLivid]

Could still happen. There's plenty more gem pillars to probe and an infinite amount of those horrors in the darkest reachest of the underworld... 💎 ⛏️

[@suzienewby7055]

Having had surgery and owned dogs, that is 10000% what any bed you are trying to rest in looks like once they know you are “sick”. I can only imagine how much wilder it would be with a chicken added in. I laughed so hard at that picture I actually had to pause the video to recover so I didn’t miss everything after that. Great work as always!

[@archmageguidla]

The machinations to satisfy this group of dwarves is mind-boggling. Although they appear stubborn in their counterproductive ways and are not thanking you, l can at least say we enjoy the window into your struggle and appreciate the effort. Maybe one day the dwarves will come around and better appreciate what has been laid before them.

[@kruggsmash]

Ohh these damnable dwarves. It really is a struggle sometimes. Can only hope they appreciate it all ONE day

[@weeaboobaguette3943]

Dirty swamp water is a surefire way to avoid infection. Soap, clean water, legendary wound dresser ? 100% chance of death.

[@thebloodlyrage6927]

"3 rings for the Elven Kings, 7 for the Dwarf Lords, 9 for Mortal Men doomed to die, 1 for the Dark Lord on his dark throne." Those 7 steel rings spell doom! 20:30

[@RubyGalaxyYT]

I have been enjoying this series with the small cast of characters, Queen Bee being a favourite design wise as I love bees and hexagons and she just has a bright and positive energy about her.

[@kruggsmash]

Oh it's such a nutty pattern on her dress there. ISuper tedious to draw, but I do like it quite a lot too :) Glad you're liking it all so far, m'dude

[@michagrzesiak5861]

I didnt noticed coma in the title. Had micro heart attack that spearcavern fell.

[@kruggsmash]

Ha! Yesss

[@MegaGullas]

Really like how the whole vibe of Spearcavern is that it's what a dwarven homestead looks like. a handful of dwarves, some who may or may not start families together, just mining, mastering one trade at a time, drinking, and being dwarves in their little hidden caves.

[@TSZatoichi]

Giant birds on the surface can be a real pain in the ass. Also: the amount of stuff you've been able to accomplish with just seven Dorfs is astonishing.

[@Karina-winsmore]

Boggy's "spear" is a giant fork, hilarious.

[@zebulonpike7559]

You really did a great job with character design on this one, I love all of these dwarves. Particularly Boggy. I somehow find myself identifying with the guy who just sleeps through the fight lol.

[@kruggsmash]

Haha. I recorded that fight over the course of like 2 days and only at the end realized he wasn't fighting. What a goon.

[@zebulonpike7559]

@@kruggsmash "Oh hey guys, what'd I miss?"

[@toryumau6798]

… Imagine sleeping through a legendary fortress defining event like this and get bard songs written about being that one guy who slept in while rest of the fort was busy being demon slayers. Poor fellow will never live this down, eh? >):^/

[@Mikhos]

Boggy is so cute and you capture his warm, lover not a fighter spirit so well. And then he sleeps through the fight! Amazing.

[@smivan.]

I love that clear devil running through the tunnel animation in the fanart section.

[@aakashjain5049]

Amazing video as always! I especially love the details you put on each dwarf's armor :)

[@kruggsmash]

Oh man, those designs took so long, but I really liked drawing their full suits out. Been excited to do that for a while now!

[@tempe405]

love the personal touches on the armor design. Thank you for yet another fantastic episode!

[@kruggsmash]

I really enjoyed doing the armor. Been wanting to draw it for a while now.

[@zadinal]

That horse animation in the after credits was quite nice. Good job whoever did it! I feel terrified of a crawling horse demon.

[@AndrewBrownK]

DF has always had colors, but idk how else to put it.... it just "feels" more colorful... The way you do your editing with the drawings on top of the panning landscape and the info boxes on top.. It's a feast for the eyes. You've come a really long ways.

[@nonya1366]

You gotta season your well water with lumber, how else do you get the woodsy taste? And if someone falls in, you can cling to the lumber for dear life.

[@kruggsmash]

Lol having a floating log put in the bottom of a well as a sefety device seems like a somewhat viable historical pssibility.

[@brucebanner5247]

Kruggs, you have the best content of dorf fort ive seen. And ive been playing since 07 or 09

[@Xzyvoj]

Dwarfyfort content alway 10/10. This is Commander Sheperd, and this is my favorite Dwarf Fortress creator on the citidel.

[@iniudan]

The dwarf can also acquire item when transporting the bin, they just pick whatever they want from the finish product bin when doing so. In a fortress with plenty of labor it is always a good idea to have a fully set up craft industry that include decoration, so you have as many transport as possible from a single object without having to waste dwarf time transferring stuff between looped stockpile.

[@kruggsmash]

See, I wish I could just take these words at face value. I gotta see it for myself when it comes to this damn game though.

[@iniudan]

@@kruggsmash Fully understandable, just telling it since it has been working from my own experience, as I tend to not bother to forbid bin in stockpile. But in a fortress of your size probably lot better to go without bin, as it create more transport event, as your production volume is not high enough. In a normal fortress you can, for a large part of the population, fill the needs to craft and acquire object by letting random dwarf create shell craft and decorate with shell. I have never seen a fortress, with access to mussel, ever run out of shell.

[@thegeckogecko7824]

​@@iniudanbone crafts work well too for forts with breeding/butchering but little or no fishing. I usually set a few of my dwarfs who have free time or a need to craft to bone carving plus you can get some decent tradables if you take down something impressive.

[@Kerze]

This was the worst time for me to catch up and watch all four of the current episodes. You bastard.

[@goreobsessed2308]

She wanted the clean water to have that woody taste 😂

[@artificercreator]

Thanks for the Chapter! A new adventure to lift up the day!

[@kruggsmash]

Hey thanks for giving me a reason to make a new chapter! Hoping the next one goes this well too.

[@artificercreator]

@@kruggsmash Awesome! 🏆

[@norbi1156]

I just can`t believe how good this intro is. Every time new episode is online, I have to watch whole intro several times before getting to the "proper content". Thanks Kruggs, keep up the good work!

[@kruggsmash]

Haha hell yeah. It did come out pretty alright. I was sorta worried about being able to make a new one. Haven't done it in a while!

[@Zalnos7]

always a good day when krugg uploads! also like the video yall

[@frog_man_ree]

Comment more for the algorithm

[@kruggsmash]

Glad you think so! You know I try my best.

[@arex3632]

Very true

[@Agora2021]

Between the great intro, all the huge amount of art and even custom made music, these videos are of the highest quality.

[@blazepond5518]

haha, the menagerie in the hospital bed for moral support ah thats a good tip about the never-leaving merchants, dismantle the depot, i will try it and a cliffhanger!? wow, really great ep krugg! thankyou

[@Blackmagegalayis]

Krugg you beautiful bastard, I am thoroughly incensed by that cliffhanger at the end of the video. You've got me just _dreading_ the moment we see what was in the core of that last gem-cluster; I'm looking extremely forward to the next episode, suffice to say!

[@synthetic240]

One thing I love about your series is the suspense of that first big fight. Since it's DF and simulated, there's no telling what'll happen. So I appreciate the cliffhanger lol.

[@psychotropican666]

The music is just so good! I mean everything in Krugg's videos is just insanely amazing, but the music is like professional grade movie soundtrack quality, really bringing this to the next level.

[@kruggsmash]

Ivan Duch is a real pro. I am lucky he stumbled upon my videos!

[@Attentionseekingnoob]

Mule and trader in a tree art was especially amazing, awesome Krugg

[@AllieGlasswingVT]

Krugg, I'd LOVE to see Mie's adventures in an episode - it's getting to be that time of year after all, and I for one have come to see the adventures of our pumpkin friends as a bit of an autumn tradition at this point. Perfectly cozy vibes!

[@AllieGlasswingVT]

Also please give Larona some ear scritches and a treato for me!

[@wu1ming9shi]

I love how their faces are on their shields! Man, once again, you put a lot of detail in these drawings. Also this was prolly one of the more funnier episodes too.

[@Cptmcrofl]

Absolutely loved how you rolled with the punches in this episode. Contriving lore reasons for why things are the way they are resembles the kind of thing a good Dungeon Master--keep the plate spinning, make it make sense. Excellent interpretations.

[@baptistemarfaing4509]

i really really love the way you drew those statuettes and the temple human woman, i feel like your style is evolving quickly those days ! amazing work

[@kruggsmash]

Haha hell yeah. Those were a couple of my favorite pics this episode. Kinda cheeky. Thank you m'dude

[@UnEducatedEskimo]

Saw 3 today and was exited to se when 4 came 😂

[@kruggsmash]

Hey go figure huh? Hope you like it, m'dude

[@janimuhli9993]

I gotta say that the intro is of highest quality graphics and sound wise. Been gaming since C64 so that hits the spot... And now that you added highligts from the combat logs i think the presentation is perfect! Awesome!

[@kruggsmash]

Oh yeah the combat log bit there. I figure it's best to show the combat in a fairly raw state THEN go over the details, huh? DOn't wanna gunk up the action too much.

[@Moe_Posting_Chad]

Pop is top tier waifu bait. Good job! I will do anything to protect her smile!

[@RainyBat]

Very much enjoying this series, I've been rewatching Steelclutches again, I didn't expect a new one again yet

[@kruggsmash]

Heck yeah. glad you're liking it! It's been a fun experience so far

[@shadejodoin6683]

Great episode! That fight was harrowing. I'd love to see those daily adventure journals worked into its own episode.

[@elbratzo]

the most wholesome content on youtube and dwarf fortress writes the script.

[@erridian6838]

Great episode as always! I'm glad the fight with the clear devil worked out! Also, that animation by Bingowaders is awesome XD I'm glad Tinny got the final blow!

[@fsfds4942]

I wonder if the reasons the rings can't be in a bin for the acquire item trick to work, is that the dwarves would take the whole bin, not just the ring.

[@christetreault]

I gotta say, I’m super stoked to see the animated intros make a comeback. The elaborate ones are super cool, but if they’re too much work, maybe scale them back a bit. I’m thinking of what you had at the beginning of Honeystoker where it was the short forts intro with one extra scene. Maybe you could have one running intro with one new scene for the current fort. You can bump the oldest scene each fort or randomize it or whatever.

[@TheDewbolt]

The dwarves in steel look awesome. If you want to be extra save when checking gem nodes you can install glass windows on top to look inside or carve a fortification in the side to look inside

[@Bobdd0]

I relistened to the oddly posh "but what~" (vis a vis what to do with the demon cadaver) a few times. Another masterwork episode boss! You manage to fold the odd wrinkles of DF in to a narrative so damn well!

[@rogo7330]

Try to put cabinet and coffer into dwarfs bedroom. Wiki says that dwarfs put multiple clothes and put them into cabinets and can store objects in their coffers, claiming them.

[@iniudan]

He usually have those, it just that those are temporary bedroom so they have somewhere to sleep. Their bedroom is gonna be on the outer perimeter of where he has been extensive digging.

[@johnhonker437]

MAAAAAAAN!! That introduction is top tier!

[@IvanDogovich]

Another Great Episode, love the findings on dwarven needs that the small fort allowed you to discover! Cheers, Ivan :D

[@crabicrabcrab7053]

Binge watching this from 1-4 is sure fun! But leaving a cliffhanger?! Another excellent series indeed ❤

[@yanniestyan]

That log really adds the taste to the well water! Also these HoMM3 swordsman sounds at 15:33.. make me want to play that game again!

[@fchurca]

Maybe Queen Bee took a page from the story of Moses in Marah and made the well water sweet by tossing a log into it?

[@Flargenyargen]

This whole series has been top-tier. Amazing stuff so far!

[@VindensSaga]

I will definitely be doing some Dwarf Fortress story based videos in the future. :)

[@lindwurm-arts6959]

there is not enough content like this on youtube, always nice to see a new video!

[@matthewhurley5117]

Another great addition to the channel! Thanks for taking so much time, and putting in so much effort on these videos. I'm really loving what you're making.

[@Nastyn1nja808]

Ayyyy i just binged 1 2 and 3 earlier tonite lol

[@kruggsmash]

haha go figure. Well, I hope you like this one well enough too!

[@pandicus2719]

Man that cliff hanger is so mean!!!!! Cant wait for more!

[@clint4527]

The colour is really getting good. I think Krug said that he got some help with it so thumbs up to the person who did it. I can really see some real good progress.

[@mikelnazkauta1317]

I'll edit when I watch it, but! Me: *reads the title* immediate reaction: "NOOOOOOOOOO!" The tree mule was so cute and funny. Edit: Oh! You bastard! That ending!

[@kruggsmash]

HA!

[@Kite403]

Oooo the cliffhanger :D I'm excited to see what comes of this gem rush! Also, cute pup :D

[@matdattein]

Another great episode! Coincidentaly, I was just yesteday searching on how the hell I make my dwarves satisfy their need to acquire new things. I couldn't agree more with the suggestion of dwarves taking care of themselves.

[@fchurca]

Hey Krugg, great video as always! A couple of things I have noticed from the wiki and from experience: Regarding wells and flood control: You could use diagonal passages from the "pipe" to the well to reduce pressure by resetting it to that height. That way, you could feed the well even from its highest point just below the hall floor in a risk-free way without requiring management. If you only want flood control and don't mind the well cistern being constantly full from then on, you can even do without the floodgate. Alternatively, you could dig a spillway at that level, opposite to the feeder pipe, all the way to a stone edge of the map, where water can drain off. The width of the spillway will of course have to be proportional to the throughput of the feeder, I've found that around 10 tiles of exposed light aquifer can be drained with a one-tile-wide channel. Compared to the above method, this also allows for a floodless and pumpless waterfall for mist generation if the feed consists of the aquifer pouring into the hall and flowing into the cistern through wells and grates, with the excess draining through the spillway. Something that I have found useful is the following, working from the bottom up: * Floodgate-controlled drain in case you need to completely drain the cistern, can drain to a second cistern, the caverns, or a smoothed and fortified map edge tile * The cistern * Spillway, can flow down and join downstream of the bottom drain * Hall with wells and copious floor grates draining into the cistern * In a non-aqueduct layer, a one-tile-large cistern open to the hall, for filling the well and providing mist, optionally controlled by a hatch * Diagonally to it, four (or more) staircases up into the aquifer layers For plant control, you can cover all floor tiles with something. Paved roads work great for long spillways and cistern and hall floors. Regarding clowns, they can also be unbutcherable if inorganic, not only if they're sentient. Maybe yours is made of some non-fleshy material?

[@millennialboomer6780]

I love the design of your fortress, btw. Like a multi-clawed beast

[@MechakittenX]

Great video! I love that animation that was sent in for the demon crawling down the hall! Chilling.

[@IanHodgetts]

LOVE the dwarf shields!

[@nanogibbon]

Krugg at 26:17, re: Pop being poisoned by a Clear Devil: "I think she's in the CLEAR now. We're gonna keep an eye on her, CLEARLY, but yeah - feeling pretty good about it." Oh Krugg... don't you see that the Clear Devil's poison has already spread into your very mind?

[@JediLordNathan]

Great episode. A smaller fortress like this allows for you to learn more about the game then you would in a much larger fortress, that and if you limiting yourself to your starting Seven Dwarves it allows you to pay way more attention to them and do the best you can improve things for them as much as possible especially if you take an unnecessary risk any of those starting seven you've gotten to know and care for could die as a result of one mistake. That said really tempting fate on those gem pillers, here is hoping what is in there isn't another demon because it was a pretty tough fight against one that had been heavily wounded, a fresh one could spell doom especially if it has something nasty like I don't know webs. That said there is the chance that'll they'll be straight up empty and you aren't taking any chances this time around so if another one does pop up you could swarm and kill it before it gets any advantage. Again solid episode and this smaller scale Fortress really allows for us as an audience and you as a player to be on edge and care for the dwarves. Espeically since the demons aren't the only issue it is possible at any point the Forest Titan on the surface could just decide to end everything in one horrible rampage. That said the only thing that went down fighting this time was what you wanted to go down fighting.

[@Runetrantor]

All those lootboxes being opened, I was so ready for the cheery music to cut with a record scratch for comedic effect.

[@Andrew.A.]

RE: Dwarfs claiming coins I can confirm that I have seen this happen. The best I can deduce is that the tendency to claim coins is maybe contingent on material affinities. In my case, a dwarf who liked platinum was frequently caught with platinum coins in her bedroom, owned by her, and would seek out more occasionally.

[@Dohlenblick]

Outstanding work on building the suspense in this episode. Well edited!

[@bryanjones7082]

i'm loving this series please keep it up!

[@nils-peterwihlney8732]

This was an awesome episode. Great end for a great foe. The first real monster hunt has ended successfully. And a fine cliffhanger. Can't wait to see more. Oh and an update, I have worked on the DnD 5e Northbridge Adventure Module, it is not complete but it is getting there. But I feel like I am missing some lore information from Northbridge. Like the different guilds. temples, important dwarves, dwarf clans/families, and their relations, and what artifacts I should keep in the module since there is a large amount.

[@tpsSurvivoR]

Dude, I giggled so hard when I saw Boggy sleeping through the whole action!

[@Diarmuhnd]

*I scream! You scream! We all scream for KRUGGSMASH!* Armok is pleased 😁

[@kruggsmash]

The shriek hits the dwarf in th right ear. The severed piece flies off in an arc!

[@toryumau6798]

@@kruggsmash. … Could this be? A new extreme sport to surpass goblin launching? >)X^D

[@heroslippy6666]

Another fantastic episode!

[@calgriff1900]

Man this dude needs to get involved with more artist collectives or something. He’s got top tier narrative and the style is so comfy.

[@fredmon18]

Amazing art. (again!) and I LOVE the doggo pics at the end. Larona's getting to be so big. Hopefully you're out of the "puppy stage".

[@Zonalar]

love this series. absolutely magnificent

[@tulsatrash]

Whew. These Dwarves make plenty of their own luck, but glad to see the gods coming through for them too.

[@ohuckabee]

Dwarves? Seven rings? Ohhhh no, I don't like where this is going.

[@Scatteredpast]

I've always known dwarf fortress was complex, but I had absolutely no idea you could selectively breed dogs to get different breeds that are better at certain things. This game continues to astound me beyond belief.

[@thaumly]

you cannot

[@fjuuh]

In my very first large scale fort I had a Necromancer dwarf running the show as a mayor, who unfortunately got impaled by some frog persons sword trough his arm. I had not yet learned of soap, that arm got super infected, but since the guy was undead he just kept suffering and being the angriest dwarf unalive for a few years, before I eventually realized and learned the art of soap making. Now it is always on my new fort to do list in honour of that furious necromancer mayor.

[@dethkruzer]

I was gonna say how I wished the combat include the combat log, but having it at the end was nice. Gotta say, you had me on the edge of my seat with the fight agaisnt the demon, I was expecting to see a dwarf horribly injured or killed.

[@kruggsmash]

Yeaaah I figure it's probably best to just show the combat as-is then go over the details afterwards. It'd be boring to see the combat step by step with me blabbing over all of it.

[@mrpeacecraft]

I hope this cliffhanger is over soon, because I can't hold on much longer!

[@zglinaPL]

Great series! Thanj you Kruggsmash for amazing episode :) I am curious how deep will these dwarves dig to get gemstones ;)

[@sambojinbojin-sam6550]

Thinking for your next fort, just set the max population to around 18. That'll give you 2-3 immigrant waves. Still small enough that we'll all get to know them, but big enough that projects get done quickly. Although, the tiny population format is interesting to watch too. Loving the series. Thanks! (The gem pillar roulette is a lot more fun to watch than I thought it would be)

[@millennialboomer6780]

That cliffhanger was devilish, lol

[@CommanderScarin]

Best fortress series yet