The Complete Dwarf Fortress Tutorial & Beginner's Guide

[@Nookrium]

This is a combination of all 6 tutorials I made, covering the Steam Release of Dwarf Fortress. Let me know how you feel about this sort of thing. I’ve been thinking of combining some of my favorite series’ into these jumbo sized videos too (since KZbin does such a poor job of recommending the next in the series)

[@snafu2350]

Well, you could always add them as playlists: that way the watching order would be preserved ;)

[@zynga726]

Genius!

[@petersmith2522]

I dont suppose you have ever had that auto repiar loop thing on your pc and know how to fix it do you nothing seems to work not even wiping everything

[@jim01q]

I didn't like your guide and gave up after an hour. Your not min max-ey enough. I play at a higher level than you already and I am only on my 2nd fort 😞

[@BryantLegall-f3o]

Hello, could you kindly help me out with this situation? In my OKX wallet, I have USDT TRX20 and my phrase (clean party soccer advance audit clean evil finish tonight involve whip action). How do I send it to BitGet or Binance?

[@sonjaquan5775]

I have been following and playing this game for a decade. My most recent fortress was my most successful, and I was finally able to dig all the way to the bottom cavern layer. And on that level, in a molten crater surrounded by veins of precious gems and metals, was a relic crown. What I didn't know was this crater, and crown, was the thin cap of an adamantite shaft and excavating it was a mistake - and FUN was had.

[@henkaiiii]

im brand new to this game and just diving into it, its so fun to watch everyone go about their tasks. love how open it is and there's no right or wrong way to play, just try your best to survive and have happy thiriving dwarves. but definitely learning something new every time im playing, thanks for this really helpful video (:

[@1wayroad935]

Been playing Dwarf Fortress ever since the official Steam release came out and I still feel like I'm on the tutorial

[@kezia8027]

right? I'm at just over 400 hours now, and I feel like I'm only now getting the foundations solid to where I feel like I can actually experiment or start messing around without worrying about everyone dying XD

[@matthewearl9824]

Bro, i'm scared to even launch the game and i've had it since the release. All i'm doing is watching videos.

[@Zuriki09]

I've been playing since 34.11 in 2012 and I'm still in the tutorial.

[@Sic777x]

lol yes the game is so deep

[@mckennamathers212]

@@kezia8027so everything in the hotbar that includes the mining section, i can click, however the other hotbar is inaccessible through clicking and through the hotkeys. I dont understand help :(

[@prototype102010]

I've seen so many guides and videos on DF and it's really nice to see someone play it the way I would play, not planning out several floors at once and meta gaming things but just building one room at a time. Thanks for this!!

[@elena_online853]

Just got into this game last week, and as someone who has already lost three dwarves to collapsing trees, I can't thank you enough for making this info easily digestible and compiled in a single place!

[@davidbeppler3032]

Dwarf with the axe needs good wood cutting skill, spatial sense, and agility. Then they can avoid falling trees. :) Had a dwarf get stuck in a tree once. Still have no idea how. Cut the tree down. He fell, was hurt. The medic fixed him. I renamed him Lucky.

[@Zucadragon]

A long long time ago, I had a nice fort and it was attacked by gobbos, they stole some children, but I fended them off pretty well. Everything was fine in the world, until I suddenly started noticing that all the children were gone in my fort and I had no clue what was going on, I didn't get attacked again or anything. So I started looking around and eventually found a very angry dwarf mother, who in her rage and sadness for getting her child kidnapped, decided that if she can't have her child, noone can have children anymore. And she'd just gone and picked infants up only to throw them down to their deaths in a crevice. That spot had like 14 bodies of all the kids. So yeah, that was something! I absolutely love the complexity of the game and how weird it can get.

[@BryantLegall-f3o]

Hello, I hope this isn’t an issue, but I need your help. My wallet in OKX holds USDT TRX20 and I have the recovery phrase [ clean party soccer advance audit clean evil finish tonight involve whip action ] How can I send it to BitGet or Binance?

[@alexgarrett3529]

"Lets make a nice square room here" proceeds to make a rectangle. Thanks for the easily digestible information.

[@elechain2441]

Regardless, a square is still categorically a rectangle!

[@Ginger_bit]

In his defense, "Square" can also refer to 90° angles, in which case he is "technically" correct.

[@mynamejef7963]

@@Ginger_bit squares have equilateral sides

[@Ginger_bit]

@@mynamejef7963 I didn't claim that they don't.

[@mynamejef7963]

@@Ginger_bit rectangles don’t have equal sides

[@Phiaje]

Thanks for such a fair and measured take. The one thing I'll say is that UI is not intentionally clunky, they talk about very often wanting to hire a dedicated UI person to overhaul it. Cheers!

[@kezia8027]

Thanks so much for these videos! I've sent them to multiple friends who've started to get into DF and they're invaluable in terms of getting started and figuring out the systems. Even more convenient now to have it all in one place!

[@whitson6777]

Love this, Nook - found your channel through Dwarf Fortress and great to re-watch these beginner vids again, and in one easy-to-find video is awesome

[@maverickpanda]

This is by far the best tutorial I’ve seen and I’ve been playing for years now.

[@davidbeppler3032]

My most memorable DF game, I decided to build a surface fortress. Walls, ramparts, drawbridge, towers, crenellations, traps, even a moat! Everything was going great, until the werechipmunk. A dwarf that was hanging out in the bar transformed inside my small keep. Nobody was ready. It was a bloodbath. He was put down, but I did not know that he had infected my other dwarves. Everything was fine. For awhile. Then, just as my keep was looking ready to defend itself against armies of goblins, witches, zombies, whatever.... my dwarves turned. Game over man. Game over. 100% fatality. I had just started making steel armor and silver warhammers. Sad.

[@ventz34]

I had a were serpent come around and the same thing happened to me and the bit dwarves were in the hospital still when it turned. It instantly went to the other dwarf laying on the hospital bed and bit it all over and I just gave.💀

[@giskard000]

Not sure if you caught this later (or if it's different in Steam than classic v47, which I play), but at around an hour and three minutes in you create a work order for 200 wooden bolts - this is 200 jobs, not bolts. Each wooden bolt job uses a log and creates 25 bolts, so that order will require 200 logs and create 5,000 bolts, which I don't think you intended? And prepared meals are complicated. As each job creates a stack based on the stacks of ingredients that went into the meal (sometimes the resulting stack is too large to fit in a barrel!). This was a key point of confusion for me - some jobs create more than one item, so you want to consider this when setting up work orders. If you want around 200 bolts in stock, a good work order would be to trigger 5 jobs (so 125 bolts) when bolts are less than 100.

[@RadiusFE]

Got the game two days ago, your videos has me up to speed on a lot of things with DF, thanks!

[@bschoenecker]

Thanks!

[@Nookrium]

Thank you!

[@Prypiyat]

this has to be a sign from tarn and god and dwarf men. I just started a new embark. thanks nookrium

[@Avenger222]

This was a really good idea! Thanks for doing this.

[@dangerously72]

Just getting into this game.....love the tutorial/playthrough you've done here. I will say that i had to watch this video at 75% speed just to try to keep up with you...lmao. Great job! Keep em coming!

[@totrosenrot]

My man, you are legend, thank you for this tutorial.

[@snafu2350]

Once again, I remind you to /tunnel/, not channel, to a water source. Should be at least 2 Z-lvls below the surface (to avoid tree-root problems) but I prefer 3 to be safe. The advantage is that you never have to worry about winter freezing, as that only ever affects the top lvl of the water If you make a drop (ie waterfall) of 1 Z-lvl (maybe 2), stagnant (or otherwise contaminated) water will be 'purified' into fresh as it falls thru the blank space; this is how you can engineer fresh water in eg swamp or even 'standard' greenland biomes without a river or caves: all it needs is some water pool that's deep enough to tunnel to & won't drain faster than you use it (don't forget about evaporation in summer!) Again, rock pots are far better for most storage than wood barrels: the extra weight is irrelevant as you're unlikely to move them around much (unless trading food ofc) & they're not susceptible to vermin. You'll /always/ have access to rock wherever you embark, but wood can be quite scarce in certain biomes, leading to serious bed shortages :( Left off at 2:24:00 I'll watch the rest tomorrow

[@snafu2350]

OK, I've now watched the rest An alternative to dealing with aquifers is dependent on the aquifer's geology: if it's in stone, you can smooth the stone rather than digging out & replacing with constructed walls, which can be safer in some circumstances. If the aquifer is in sand or soil, however, you can't smooth that, so you'll have to replace the surrounding tiles as you demonstrated. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE TOP & BOTTOM of the aquifer's Z-lvl if you intend to make use of those areas for eg living spaces, cisterns, pit traps etc

[@davidbeppler3032]

@@snafu2350 Hate aquifers. Bane of my existence.

[@JamesRichardsPlays]

Ya know... This is one of those games I have been playing for a VERY long time. I was already into Rogue and Nethack and a friend in around 2008 suggested I might like it. And I did. I love the ASCII characters as it allowed me to put my own imagination into it more. I never had the chance to donate, so when DF released to Steam, I bought it. No second thought. I haven't played it or the original ASCII game for a couple years. I think I'll play now. I actually watched your videos around 2016? the other set of tutorials you did that refreshed my memory to get the motivation to play again. I guess it is happening again XD I Only need to decide if Steam version or ASCII version... so torn. XD

[@KevinTan]

Gadam this is such a perfect timing! thank youuuu

[@NicholsonNeisler-fz3gi]

Good video. Enjoyed it and I’ve watched a number of these videoed - hope it gets a lot views and you move on to more advanced topics!

[@burtonstevens8900]

I dug deep into a cave today when I had about 17 Dwarves and I happened up a fun enemy that may have taken me all the way down to 1 Dwarf. I learned not to dig to much early.

[@Sic777x]

this games so deep what a masterpiece

[@robertsample6476]

I really enjoy the tutorial videos and usually learn something useful. In almost every tutorial people set up farm plots that are far too big though, and usually it is just one plot. I will dig out a 8x11 room and initially create several, straight line, 7 square farm plots. That size room will hold 6 different farm plots with a space in between each, and at the end of the room, for seeds and potash storage. That way I can plant more than one crop per season. I find that this set up provides plenty of food and cloth material until I can make some better farms with muddy rock or in the caverns.

[@Nookrium]

That’s a good idea, the little square plot works for the first year or so but will need to grow soon after. Your rows take a couple more steps to set up but a better idea in the end

[@Nerazmus]

3:20:00 You can just smooth the rough walls. You don't need to dig and build artificial walls.

[@Tolinar]

Thank you and good job.

[@tylerbarnard4777]

This video is amazing, I tried going in blind and failed not too far in. This video has got me on a pretty good track I think.

[@caretchara]

Kind of miss the key maps of the original game (and of your tutorials from long ago! your the reason im into this game!!!)... As a dvorak user, this has been my biggest gripe!

[@TheKenworthys]

Raise your pick and raise your voice!

[@TheEvelynMakesThings]

Swing, swing, swing with me!

[@donatedpizza]

Thanks king.

[@RobVespa]

Thanks, Nook.

[@jimmygerano7163]

I always take at least 5 dogs on embark, 2 male and 3 female. Not only can they be used like any other livestock, war dogs and hunting dogs have saved my forts on more than one occasion. I usually pasture all the war dogs right by the entrance to catch thieves and stop werebeasts. They don't need to be actively fed and all the visitors get to pat the good boys.

[@shimwooley]

Love this game.

[@iheartairsoft]

Dwarf fortress!! Can I get a ROCK and STONE!?

[@meepothecat]

Wrong game! Rock and Stone!! Dwarf Fortress motto is Long Live the Cause! Long Live the Cause!

[@OTOss8]

HERE. WE. GOOOOOOOOooooo! *don't read the rest, you've been warned* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I said don't read it! . . . . . . . . . . . Seriously, turn back. . . . . . . . . . . . . Fine, but YOU asked for it. This is YOUR doing. I've needed this. You don't know how bad I've needed this bb. All those weeks and months and years, waiting to take the plunge but I was scared. I didn't know how to do it but now, this is it, I'm all the way in. Plums deep. God I've wanted this. You don't know how bad I've ached for this. You're so good to me bb. These big long guides to these long hard games. No one does it like you do. No one. I'll be playing this for days now. No sleep, no food, just enough fluids to subsist. You've done it now, I'm a degenerate for this kind of thing. You've done it.. and I'm glad you did. Thank you bb. I can finally scratch that itch. Ugh.

[@davidbeppler3032]

I regret not listening. Gonna go wash my eyes with soap.

[@NoxietyPrime]

Normally these super long "don't read," "I said don't read," etc. types of comments annoy me. But this one actually had a good reason for the warnings, so good on you for that!

[@markusr.1513]

Like this idea very much :) Been playind DF for what? 10 Years now on and off... but there are still things I struggle with or just don't get... like bulding the mechanics for a waterfall and stuff...

[@davidbeppler3032]

Yea, the pumps and mechanics get complicated. Built a windmill once. It worked. I was a happy. Only took about 4 hours real time to figure it out. ;)

[@TheIvalen]

Like your recent KeeperRL video, is there a reason to go 'up' in DF? Or is everything you need/better stuff always down?

[@Nookrium]

Normally up just has dirt and sand, easy place to put some farms but most of the good minerals (gems & metals) are down

[@mrw0lf364]

is the tutorial up to date despite the fact is 2 years old? thanks for the content!

[@Nookrium]

Yup, Dwarf Fortress is pretty slow to update, plus, all the basic, fort starting stuff I show here is all the same

[@Neuroheads]

56:35 How about the big mark all button?

[@Sic777x]

i just started gaming a couple months ago and did something crazy like learn rimworld Dwarf fortress songs of syx keeperl and oddrealm stardues spacehaven and clanfolk at the same time lol bc the games looked so amazing and u have helped me alot in at least 4 of those i appreciate ya bro being 42 years old gaming has came so far but the best games to me arent the 4k graphics its the pixel graphics with the crazy depth

[@jannisdombrowski2066]

very cool

[@jimmyjam5517]

oh boy you mean after nearly four hours you really think i'll be ready? LOL

[@ZolecPalec]

This game is so weird without dwarf therapist. It just feels so disconnected.

[@solorolo8671]

Its only showing "No Uniforms" in my squad uniform selection, how do i fix this?

[@atheist101]

What i need help with the most is getting overwhelmed. I get to the point where the trader comes the first time and by that time there's so many things going on my brain shuts down. It's like I can't handle all the different micro options. Then seeing the trade list just makes me quit. There's so many things the trader has, so many things I make that can be traded and I just can't handle it. I love this game so much, its my favorite type of game, and desperately want to play it through. I've tried so many times over the past year only to feel like I can't do it and quit. I don't know how to get over this and so far nothing has helped. I've even watched many tutorials and still it's to much. Any help or advice on how to get past this would be amazing, if it's even possible.

[@MarketResearchReading114]

I'm starting a fortress with a tip of a corner in sinister lands. I have the best starting dwarfs for a horror film. They are awful clumsy, weak, and have outrageous personalities. They are doomed. That will be funny. One of them was somewhat competent but I trained them poorly on purpose. If this were a light novel, I would be isekaied into this situation surely. There is no isekai though, this is dwarf fortress! Their fortress starts with an all copper exterior. This will be their tomb, maybe until they start crawling back from out of the grave! Muhahah!

[@Xyrin1]

Yay!

[@change_profile_n8755]

THIS

[@mallonox]

🔥

[@sechmascm]

59:20 I've been giving traders thousands in profit thinking they paid for the difference in coin or something lol

[@sechmascm]

I also thought that limonite was gold because it's kind of yellow and couldn't understand why I couldn't make gold bars. Turns out I have all three ores for iron

[@meepothecat]

I'm an old Dwarf Fortress player and have been playing since version .34 I was so excited for the Steam release but so far its been unplayable for me. I was really hoping Toady would have fixed all the issues by now (unnecessary clicking, labors, mouse-edge panning, different color stone floors, square ascii tiles) but it seems he is busy with Adventure Mode.. Maybe in another few years I'll hop back on

[@TokerChron]

Kitfox needs to hire you !! nice tutorial.. but you might be speaking too fast.. i have rewound twice in the first 28 min to gleen the info you just told..

[@snafu2350]

SalfordSal already did a vid with Nook WRT the Kitfox (Steam) release on the Kitfox channel, but I agree the pacing is too fast to take in info from what's intended to be a 'tutorial'

[@TokerChron]

after watching further i belive my issue was resolved and even then i can still paues and rewatch , Great Tutorial.

[@davidbeppler3032]

Did you know, you can speed up and slow down video on youtube?!

[@rodrigoapaza8086]

Beginner's Guide 3 hours long!! dam this game is complex

[@lukex1337]

Watched the whole thing - still have no idea how to play the game 😂. This game is too complicated for me Lmao

[@alexasalas6189]

You can try the game tutorial

[@DHU11]

The Gravity’s Rainbow of games loool

[@jeremybrews2521]

1k likes ;)

[@VoodooD0g]

U woud recommend running without enemies for the first FEW forts? cmon now....

[@dougdupont6134]

Don't care about DF, but watching the whole vid for Nook

[@Mikodemuz11]

Thank you!

[@aurein1219]

Thanks mate