Dwarf Fortress defense guide: How to set traps and prepare your dwarves for battle

Jump To:The essentialsTraining your militarySet trapsEnemy typesSo, you've mastered the basics in our Dwarf Fortress beginner's guide. You've gotten your dwarf fortress off the ground, a somewhat functional outpost among the wilds ready to make a go of it.But there are dangers out there. Animals, thieves, and warlike enemies just waiting to take all you've earned. You'll have to be ready to fight back—whether that's by clever defense, stout walls, or a band of highly trained soldiers, you'll need a good way to either take down or avoid your enemies.Conflict is inevitable in Dwarf Fortress, but being prepared for it isn't.Dwarf Fortress defense basicsStart with a drawbridgeThe hands-down best way to defend your fort is a heavy stone drawbridge. Unlike a lot of other things in the game code (like doors), a dwarven drawbridge is not a capital-b Building, but a Construction, which cannot be destroyed. It's a floor when down, or it's a wall when up: So under Dwarf Fortress rules it can't be...