While the legendarily absurd complexity of fantasy simulation in Dwarf Fortress provides countless perils for dwarven health and happiness, the most insidious threat to any mountain hall emerges from within: Nobility. As a fortress flourishes, it inevitably draws the attention of dwarven nobles who'll needlessly burrow themselves into industries they're not qualified to direct, issuing demands and mandates without any care for whether they're feasible or sustainable for the rest of dwarven society.
Sounds unbelievable, I know. But there are ways to manage the menace of nobility—like simply walling them off in an unpleasant corner and letting the rest of society live and labor as need, preference, urgency, and capacity allow. In an interview with PC Gamer at Gamescom, Dwarf Fortress co-creator Tarn Adams said there's probably something to be learned there.
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