Dwarf Fortress is an epic world-building simulation game known for its depth and complexity. As you establish a dwarf fortress, the embark screen is your first major decision point that sets the stage for everything to come. Choosing the optimal location, resources, skills, plants, animals and more is crucial to get your fortress off on the right foot.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through an ideal embark setup for Dwarf Fortress to help you build a prosperous and sustainable fortress that can withstand the challenges ahead.
Finding the Best Embark Location
Your embark location will be the permanent home of your fortress, so choose wisely! Keep an eye out for these ideal features:
River/Water Source – Ensure access to fresh water for drinking, farming and fishing. Avoid aquifers early on.
Varied Elevation – Seek a mix of mountains, hills and valleys to yield stone, ores and underground resources.
Forest – Look for dense trees to provide abundant lumber, plants and hunting.
Soil – Search for soil layers for underground farming and crop growth.
Temperate Climate – Extreme heat or cold leads to crop failure and freezing waters.
Mineral Deposits – Metals like iron, copper and gold help your metal industry thrive.
Limited Enemies – Peaceful neighbors means less early conflict as you establish defenses.
[IMAGE: Map view of embark location next to river, forest and mountains]Utilize the "Find" tool to filter the world map and highlight locations matching your ideal embark criteria. Natural resources are key for long-term survival!
Building a Balanced Team
With a total of 200 skill points to allocate, distribute professions wisely among your starting 7 dwarves:
Miners (2x) – Dig out fortresses and extract metals and gems.
Skills: Mining (10 points each)
Carpenter – Chop trees and craft buildings, furniture, weapons.
Skills: Carpenter (5 points), Wood Cutter (5 points)
Mason – Construct walls, floors and stone infrastructure.
Skills: Masonry (10 points)
Farmer – Grow crops and pick plants for food and booze.
Skills: Herbalism (5 points), Plant Gathering (5 Points)
Brewer – Make alcoholic drinks to keep dwarves happy.
Skills: Brewing (10 points)
Organizer – Record keep, coordinate jobs and manage inventory.
Skills: Administration (5 points), Appraisal (5 points)
Jack-of-All Trades – Fill needs as they arise in early days.
Skills: Novice levels across various skills (10 points)
[IMAGE: Side-by-side dwarves with skill breakdowns]This setup ensures you have the critical roles covered from day one while retaining flexibility to pivot based on evolving priorities.
Stocking Essential Supplies
Your item allowance determines your initial equipment and provisions. Spend these points wisely to cover bare essentials:
Raw Materials: Anvil, ores, gems, stone, sand, clay
Tools & Weapons: Pickaxes, axes, crossbows
Food & Drink: 15 plump helmet spawn, 10 turkey hens/gobblers, seeds, crops, barrels of alcohol
Equipment: Beds, tables, barrels, bins, nest boxes
Animals: Dogs for defense, war/hunting dogs for offense, turkeys for food
Leave room in your supply wagon for additional metal and wood later on. As your fortress gets rolling, you can produce your own food, drink, equipment and building materials to become self-sustaining.
[IMAGE: Items screen showing balanced provisions]Embarking for the Long Haul
When beginning your game, think long-term about what it takes to create a lasting fortress that can stand the test of time in Dwarf Fortress‘s hostile world. Seek biomes rich in natural resources, choose dwarf skills complementary to the environment, and pack judiciously to survive those critical early years.
With these embark strategies for ideal locations, balanced skills and essential provisions in hand, you‘ll be equipped to build an epic and prosperous dwarf civilization prepared for generations to come!
Good luck in your journeys and may your beards grow ever longer. Strike the earth!
