Dwarf Fortress -Â Ibrukmatul “Ashendance,” 24th Malachite 210 Mid-Summer
This is my second settlement or “fortress” built from the ground up in the free game Dwarf Fortress. My first fortress “The Abbey of Death” had various fundamental design flaws which I hoped to rectify and improve this time around. This is my first “complete” fortress, having no foreseeable future problems to overcome, with a massive stockpile of raw materials, food, drink, as well as complete security from external and internal threats. Furthermore, my fortress has turned into a “Mountainhome” upon arrival of a queen, and as I can set no creative goals for myself I deem this particular settlement “done.” I even delved to the deepest levels in hopes of unlocking a Balrog-esque horror of the mountain, but this land is blessed in Armok’s gaze, and no such vile fiends were stumbled upon. Ibrukmatul, known as Ashendance in the common tongue, will serve as a bastion for all of dwarfkind for hundreds of years to come!
The Fortress:
3. Z-Level +2 – Main Battlements
4. Z-Level 1/0 – Main Entrance
5. Z-Level -1 – Main Social Area
7. Z-Level -3 and Below – Mines
8. Fairly recent complete map on Dwarf Fortress Map Archive
Random Screenshots:
1. A siege in 206-207 by Goblins
2. What the entrance area looked like when I arrived with the 7 legendary founders. Also: another view.
4. The aftermath of another goblin siege in 209
6. Engineering disaster – When channeling the river toward my fort in constructing my wells and reservoir I accidentally left a gap next to the main intake floodgate which caused uncontrolled flooding. Luckily the water did not have enough pressure to blast into the main social area of the fort (Z-Level -1) as I suspected it to, but it did cause a panic when I realized I had made the mistake. In an attempt to save my fort two heroic dwarfs barricaded themselves behind a hastily constructed wall in order to stop the flood. Luckily, as the water did not rise into the fort, I was able to safely dig them out.
7. Prepping for a goblin siege, note the full sized bull “pet” chilling in the tower
8. My first megabeast encounter – As I saw it approaching I ordered everyone inside and put my my marksdwarves and champions on alert. Man the battlements! Unfortunately one guy was still left outside and before I could pull the lever to get the bridge back down the Titan chased him. Still was able to kill the titan with fire from the battlements though.
Thanks:
The helpful dudes at #DwarfFortress on Quakenet for answering my numerous noob questions.
Mayday for his graphical mod
The Future:
I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the next incarnation of this amazing game, which will among other things add massive underworld civilizations and cave systems to interact with. Myconid holocaust by magma anyone? I may start another fortress before then, but if I do it will surely be something unconventional and I will go out of my way to seek trouble including the infamous “HFS” (hidden fun stuff), magma vents, underground chasms, Balrogs etc. I have had little experience with any of these things yet, and I am loathe to embark on an area which does not have underground soil for plump helmet farming: early irrigation of crops sounds troublesome for a modest company of 7 dwarfs! Nevertheless, I want to experiment with magma, pumps, machinery and other infernal combinations!
Also considering writing a review of this game, or a “Top 10 games” review. Games like this need more exposure, for they represent a little glimmer of light in the vast ocean of mediocrity which surrounds us in the gaming world.
One reply on “And they call it a mine!”
and with that krause became a df fag