40d:Preferences

xTATTEREDx  · +FINE+  · *SUPERIOR*  · ≡EXCEPTIONAL≡  · ☼MASTERWORK☼

v50.12 · v0.47 · v0.34 · v0.31 · v0.28.181.40d · v0.23 This article is about an older version of DF. More Info · V

Every dwarf is born with a unique personality that includes likes and dislikes. A dwarf's personality also changes with time; he or she may develop new preferences for food and drink and develop new character traits.

Possible Objects of Affection or Revulsion

Each dwarf prefers particular materials, objects, animals, and foods. These types may or may not be generally thought of as preferable, valuable or even useful. A given dwarf may display many, a few, or (theoretically) even none of these preferences.

Each unit's preferences consist of the following:

• Various materials:
  • a random type of stone, soil, or ore
  • a random type of metal
  • a random type of gem
  • 1/5 chance of a random type of wood
  • 1/7 chance of a random type of glass
  • 1/3 chance of a random type of leather, visible once creature is known
  • 1/2 chance of a random decoration material - ivory, coral, horn, amber, or pearl
  • 1/7 chance of a random type of bone, visible once creature is known
  • 1/14 chance of a random type of shell, visible once creature is known
  • 1/14 chance of a random type of silk, visible once creature is known
  • 1/7 chance of a random type of plant cloth, visible once plant is known
• 1/2 chance of a random color
• 1/5 chance of a random shape
• Various types of items:
  • 1/3 chance of a random weapon (4/5) or ammo (1/5) (1% exotic)
  • 1/3 chance of a random piece of armor (1% exotic)
  • 1/7 chance of a random piece of clothing (including backpacks or quivers) (1% exotic)
  • 1/3 chance of a random type of furniture - doors, floodgates, beds, chairs, windows, cages, barrels, tables, coffins, statues, boxes, armor stands, weapon racks, cabinets, bins, hatch covers, grates, querns, or millstones
  • 1/3 chance of a random craft - figurines, amulets, scepters, crowns, rings, earrings, bracelets, or large gems
  • 1/3 chance of a random miscellaneous item - catapult parts, ballista parts, a type of siege ammunition (1% exotic), a trap component (1% exotic), coins, anvils, totems (20% chance), chains, flasks, goblets, buckets, animal traps, an instrument (1% exotic), or a toy (1% exotic)
• Various types of food:
  • 1/2 chance of a random type of meat, visible once creature is known
  • 1/3 chance of a random type of fish, visible once creature is known
  • 1/10 chance of a random type of cheese, visible once creature is known
  • 1/7 chance of a random type of edible plant (50% exotic), visible once plant is known
  • a random type of alcohol (50% exotic), visible once plant is known
  • 1/7 chance of a random cookable plant/creature extract (50% exotic), visible once plant/creature is known
  • 1/5 chance of a random cookable plant mill powder (50% exotic), visible once plant is known
  • 1/7 chance of a random type of plant seed (50% exotic), visible once plant is known
  • 1/14 chance of a random type of plant leaves (50% exotic), visible once plant is known
• Various creatures:
  • 1/2 chance of a random domestic animal
  • 1/2 chance of a random non-domestic animal (excluding wagons and one's own race), visible once creature is known
• detesting a random type of vermin (which isn't already explicitly liked)
• 1/50 chance of a random type of tree, visible once tree is known
• 1/10 chance of a random type of plant, visible once plant is known

This information can be brought up either by typing v from the unit list, or by showing a dwarf and then typing p for Prefs, z to view profile, and enter to view thoughts and preferences.

Logem Datanamid likes Hematite, Fine pewter, Topaz, crystal glass, giant mole leather, beds, animal traps and horses for their strength. When possible, she prefers to consume turtle and Quarry bush Leaves. She absolutely detests lizards.

She is quick to anger. She feels strong urges and seeks short-term rewards. She is somewhat reserved. She finds rules confining. She is self-disciplined. She takes time when making decisions. She needs alcohol to get through the working day. She likes working outdoors and grumbles only mildly at inclement weather.

Note that it is guaranteed that each of your initial seven dwarves "likes working outdoors" and "grumbles only mildly at inclement weather". Immigrants most likely will not have these preferences.

All dwarves "need alcohol to get through the working day" - that's part of being a dwarf.

Unlike other dwarves, the dungeon master's preferences are always the same.

Effect on Skill Use (Crafting)

A dwarf with a preference for a material or an object will tend to produce higher-quality results for a given skill when working with that raw material or making that object. This is especially important in cases where you're short of raw materials to train on, as even a dabbling dwarf with the right preferences can occasionally produce quality objects. The dwarf above is not only an ideal candidate to become a glassmaker, she has real potential as a carpenter or even trapper as well.

Note that the material preferences can affect more than one stage in the production chain. If you're fortunate enough to have a dwarf who likes pig tail cloth, or giant cave spider silk, it will improve both their weaving and clothesmaking with those materials. It is unclear exactly how double preferences (steel and axes, obsidian and shortswords, or clear glass and windows, for instance) work, but they do seem to have a cumulative effect when producing those items from that material.

Effect on Thoughts and Behavior

Dwarves who prefer particular drinks or foods will seek them out instead of choosing whatever's closest or newest, and will get a more intense happiness boost from a given quality of food or drink. Dwarves without a preference for a drink will go for the newest brewed. The dwarf above will be especially grateful if you find some turtles or include quarry bush leaves in your prepared meals. The deciding factor is not the name of the meal but whether one or more of its ingredients is a favored one.

Dwarves will also try to acquire items they like; adopting pets, purchasing items from a shop, and in the case of nobles, demanding furniture in their rooms or mandating construction of items in their favourite metal/stone.

Of particular note, dwarves that like cats are more vulnerable to cuddly-wuddly syndrome.

Effect on Artifacts and Demands

A dwarf's preferences have a strong impact on their artifact construction during a strange mood - if it is possible to create an item from the moody dwarf's preferences with the chosen material and workshop, it will be created. If the dwarf has preferences for multiple types of items, then one will be randomly selected. This is the only way a dwarf can produce an exotic weapon.

In a similar vein, nobles will only mandate or prohibit trade of items or materials from their preferences list, often resulting in trouble if you rely on trading those items or materials. Any noble that likes a material you cannot obtain (e.g. green glass on a map without sand) should probably be dealt with at the earliest opportunity.

Civilian and Military Positions

The preferences screen also contains a short section detailing any positions a dwarf holds, his squad of dwarves and enemies of this particular dwarf. While an entire fortress may be at war with another civilization, specific dwarves only become enemies after entering into direct combat with opponents of these civilizations.

Continuing Study

Dwarven personality is a newer addition to Dwarf Fortress and still a work in progress. Also "under construction" is our knowledge of what certain traits mean and how they affect gameplay. We do know -- because Toady One has said so -- that there are at least a dozen or so places in the game that use personality to determine dwarven actions, so they're worth keeping in mind. The above dwarf is probably not the best choice for an expedition leader, as she is neither particularly sociable nor good at appeasing, intimidating, or comforting dwarves who come to her with troubles.