If you aren’t aware, the ASCII matrix that is Dwarf Fortress has a reputation of procedurally generating some of the most incredible (and hilarious) strings of events you’re likely to see in a game, and naturally, players have chronicled these events through storytelling. These stories, in many cases, are so nuanced that it beggars belief that they occurred verbatim in a game and not in the mind of some zealous (and slightly deranged) storyteller.
Anyway, I spotted this link over at RPS to a wonderful, wonderful illustrated battle report from a fortress by the name of Bronzemurder. I don’t want to go into detail because the whole thing is a delight and really deserves to be witnessed at first hand. If you’ve never read any Dwarf Fortress stories of madness, miasma, cats and more madness then this is a great place to start. Just don’t expect many of them (if any) to be this exquisitely illustrated and graphic designed. Big up for ligatures.
If this leaves you wanting more then there are some great short stories over at Dubious Quality (here and here) and if they aren’t enough then visit the Hall of Legends over at the Bay 12 forums for the cream of the crop. Seriously, check them out, they really are quite amazing.
Email the author of this post at greggb@tap-repeatedly.com
I love reading these stories, especially when they have awesome illustrations like this one. I was never able to devote the time necessary to learn how to play Dwarf Fortress, but to be honest it’s probably a game I’d take to a desert island all the same, because the infinite variance and replayability just can’t be matched. Thanks Gregg!
Reading that little AAR made me laugh out loud. Thanks Gregg!
I must point out, I’ve only played Dwarf Fortress properly for two days solid and after losing many hours of sleep both nights due to an over-active imagination I decided to follow its progress and pick it up again when the interface is a bit more streamlined and I can sink a lot more time into it. It’s too massive to just dip into.
@Toger: You should read the last story on the second link to Dubious Quality. That had me laughing out loud as well; just unbelievable.
The game looks really engaging. I just played ye olde War of the Lance, dodgy graphics and all, recently. I don’t mind old school graphics if the story and gameplay are great. Why oh why can’t there be more gaming hours in the day? Maybe I’d download this on my lappy and play it on the train while going to work. It certainly does look complicated though.
It’s less the graphics than the absolutely brutal learning curve. This game is old-skool in a very big way, and there’s just so much you can do that it’s overwhelming at the start. I never got far in it due to lack of time.
I had a bash at it last night. Spent about 2.5 hours (including 40 minutes of video tutorial). I’d just managed to make my world, equip my dwarves, and place them in a starting area… and that’s it. Didn’t even have a chance at building anything. I’ll have to re-watch the exploration and fortress building tutorials, as I couldn’t find anywhere nearby to start mining, despite there supposedly being cliffs nearby.
I think I’m in the same boat as you Steerpike – I won’t have enough time to play it, despite it being really intriguing. It’ll have to go on my ‘retirement’ list.
And I was dreaming about the bloody game all night too… thanks Gregg!
Good effort on taking the plunge Jarrod, it’s a pretty intimidating game! If your dwarves are stood on solid ground then you can always dig down… 😉 Tarn has implemented a lot of subterranean features with the new version so expect there to be all sorts of interesting stuff as you dig deeper. By ‘interesting’, I mean potentially fortress threatening…!