If you liked Moria, if you’ve ever enjoyed a Rogue-like game but were perhaps disappointed by the repetitious nature of the game and the limited gameplay, then chances are Dwarf Fortress is for you. This game – created single-handedly over a number of years by an individual known online as Toady One, is one of the many interesting products coming out of Bay 12 Games. It is truly a masterpiece.
The game requires some effort to learn, but it is definitely worth it. To begin with you must create a world. This is managed by an auto-generation method which creates a unique and random world in which to site your settlement, complete with historical civilisations, mythologies, wars etc. Once done, you are free to choose the site for your first fortress. Starting off with 7 dwarfs, you choose the training each one starts with and equip them as you see fit. These 7 dwarfs must then start mining, fishing, building, hauling, farming, training, smithing, fighting, hunting, cooking, brewing etc. in order to get your community prepared for your first winter. Should you survive (most water sources freeze and are undrinkable during the winter months – bring lots of beer – and food can also be scarce), then there is the trade caravan to look forward to in the spring. If you’re doing well, you can trade goods for what you don’t already have, and the caravan will take reports of your proceedings back to other Dwarven towns. Soon more dwarves with other skills will arrive, and before long (all going well) you will have a thriving little community.
One level of a sizable fortress
There are no “win” conditions – no Balrog to fight and win the thing (not that I ever actually killed the Balrog in Moria), just a lot of different losing conditions – but as the designer says, “Losing is fun!” And strangely enough, he’s right.
And when you abandon your fortress, or everyone starves to death, or are eaten by a Megabeast, or drown when you “accidentally” flood the fortress, or they burn to death, or all go insane and kill each other, then you can play in adventurer mode and see what has become of your fortresses over the years.
I heartily recommend this game. It’s available as a free download from here, and the thriving community of Dwarf Fortress fanatics can be accessed through the ever-useful Dwarf Fortress Wiki.
Strike the Earth!
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