Visitors in Dwarf Fortress serve to remind you that you are not alone in the world, and that you are playing in an ever growing and developing history. Most importantly, however, they generally are useful to your fortress, through entertainment and socialization. Some may even petition to stay long-term and maye ven become citizens. Here is how to attract visitors in Dwarf Fortress.
Attracting visitors in Dwarf Fortress
In Dwarf Fortress, visitors won’t just visit your fortress out of boredom, there must be something there to attract them. This is achieved through meeting spaces with attractions. When browsing the zones menu, you may notice that you cannot establish hospital or tavern zones by themselves. This is because you must first establish a meeting zone, and then specialise it towards such an area.
When you click on a meeting area, its menu will appear. There will be a button with a plus symbol and a wooden sign. Clicking on that will open up a seperate menu with the other specialized zones that you can add onto it, from temples to taverns to guildhalls. In each of those specialized zones, visitors will be attracted.
However, it is not that easy. Each zone will have their own requirements and benefits. For example, if you want to set up a hospital, you need many medical supplies at the ready, as well as tables, traction benches, doctors and surgeons and so much more. You will need to make sure it is running properly. You will then gain the benefit of a working hospital and will attract people needing to make use of the hospital services.
Every specialized zone can have a more detailed menu opened up to assign and prepare each of the elements that are needed.
Related: How to Attract Immigrants in Dwarf Fortress
Types of visitors
Visitors in Dwarf Fortress come in many forms. Some will come to relax, whilst others may require specific services, and others may wish to remain long-term and become citizens. Here are the notable visitors:
- Diplomat – diplomats will arrive to engage in diplomacy, as an alert will appear in the top right. After you are done talking to them, they may stay to enjoy any services you are providing.
- Performer – performers will entertain and play in taverns for free. They will recite poetry or play their insturments.
- Scholar – scholars will head to your library to enjoy the written works and study. If writing materials are available, they may write their own books. Scholars may take some of your library’s books with them, but they may also leave new ones.
- Religious – prophets, monks, and pilgrims may visit your fortress to pray at your temple.
- Warrior – warriors will simply relax in the tavern, but will be equipped with quality gear, so don’t start anything with them.
- Mercenary – mercenaries will come to relax in taverns, however they may want to enlist in your military.
- Monster Slayer and Beast Hunter – upon discovery of a cavern, these guys may show up. They will want to petition to stay simply to slaughter beasts, in caverns or overground respectively.
Be warned, however, as some visitors will be special agents sent by other civilizations to spy on your fortress, or may be questers trying to steal your artefacts.
Visitors are ultimately a good thing as they may want to stay long-term to become citizens.
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Published: Dec 17, 2022 04:32 am