Changing keys for menus is probably a bad idea, since this guide assumes the default keybindings - however, it may occasionally be useful to change navigation keybindings on some laptops (for example, changing menus to use = instead of +). This can appear extremely confusing to use, but it is fairly simple to navigate through (as it uses the standard arrow keys, Esc and Enter). Key Bindings: Allows you to change the keys that trigger nearly any function in the game.There is no 'save and continue' option, but saves can be backed up and reloaded. Save Game: Saves the game, unloads the fortress, and returns to the main menu.Return to Game: Exits the options menu (shortcut Esc).There are usually seven available options: Most basic game-related tasks (saving, keybindings, sound, etc.) are performed through the options menu, which can be reached with Esc from the main screen. Shift+ Esc will take you directly back to the top level. Generally speaking, if the directional keys don't work in a menu, try -/ +.Įsc will almost always take you back to the previous screen until you get to the top level of the UI, at which point it will display the options menu. Sometimes you use the directional keys ↑ ↓ ← → and Enter to make menu selections, but sometimes you will need to use the alternate selection keys ( - and +) instead. Sequences of keys will be written with dashes between them, so a- b- C means 'press 'a', then press 'b', then hold shift and press 'c''.Ĭursor movement, menu selection, and navigation Esc

Lowercase and uppercase keys will almost never perform the same function, so it is important to use the correct key. So t means 'press the 't' key without the shift key' and T means 'hold down shift and press the 't' key'. In order to save space, Shift+ t will be written as T. Most documents on the wiki use key symbols that look like t to indicate what keys are used for an operation. If you're looking for more UI help as you get deeper into your first fortress, you may also want to read this section in the Fortress Mode Guide. This is just the Quickstart Guide, so we skip lots of details on the UI. (If you see any displayed in red, those are added through DFHack.) All the keys you can use in a menu are shown in green somewhere on the screen. Also, don't hesitate to ask for help if you can't find answers on the wiki.Ĭontrary to what you might be used to, the Dwarf Fortress interface uses a combination of key presses, instead of clicking through menus with the mouse, so, for example, instead of clicking on the Build menu, then on the Workshop submenu, and finally on the specific workshop, you press b- w- c. Refer to the Fortress Mode Reference Guide or use the wiki search function. While the guide contains many links, you may still need to look something up.

1.2 Cursor movement, menu selection, and navigation.

Forts game wiki