The Delvers

There are parallels to draw between D&D editions wars and Dwarf Fortress. 40d versus the latest version, ASCII versus graphic tilesets and so forth. That’s not what this article is about.

It’s not real ASCII! It’s Code page 437!

No matter your preference for how you play Dwarf Fortress, every Dwarf Fortress player will agree upon one thing. Losing is Fun!

Probably the most famous story of Dwarf Fortress is Boatmurdered. Another famous tale is the illustrated story of Bronzemurder by Tim Denee.

The beauty of Dwarf Fortress is the emergent gameplay. The game doesn’t provide scenarios and it’s not trying to tell you a scripted story. There are no objectives and there is no win condition. Your goals are determined by you. You decide your path (and hope the dwarves listen) in the simulated world of Dwarf Fortress.

“You have more complicated simulations in Dwarf Fortress than when you model the aerodynamics of a wing.”
- New York Times

I have played Dwarf Fortress since November 2007. I recall the date, because at the time my friend was spouting how this new game, Assassin’s Creed, was “so realistic.”

That’s not a knock on Assassin’s Creed. I had just discovered Dwarf Fortress, so his use of the word “realistic” seemed like a joke.

Yes, he was referring to the graphics. So while he was enjoying eye candy, I was farming underground mushrooms and making sure I had enough alcohol, so that my dwarves could survive their first winter (It didn’t go so well).

When it comes to role-playing games, particularly those that are grouped with the OSR, the most memorable experiences are that of tragedy. Yes, there are bits of humor and shenanigans and the occasional act of heroism scattered about actual play. However, I’d argue that you are more likely to remember character death over the exploits of your heroic champion of invulnerability.

“While failure is a part of life, in Spelunky every play feels like a fresh chance to get it right.”
- Gus Mastrapa, Paste Magazine

Not everyone can get into a roguelike. That’s okay. Kay and I take turns playing Spelunky; we have a blast with every death. Others get frustrated.

What you read on The Delvers are not tales carefully crafted by my hand. I may fallback on modules, but what happens in actual play is up to the girls and our polyhedral dice. Yet, a story slowly emerges and comes to life, akin to that of Dwarf Fortress. This style of play makes The Delvers’ victories that much more satisfying. The story is told in the Campaign Journal after events, not during the game.

So, while the girls would be the first to tell you, “Ya, he thinks he’s B.A. Felton. He really spouts all that flavor text at the table,” it’s not a scripted game we are playing.

Also, like Dwarf Fortress, losing is Fun!

You want to destroy your interest in your favorite video game?

Try god mode.