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As one can expect from playing a simulation game called Dwarf Fortress, you will need lots of dwarves to succeed in expanding your domain. However, sometimes you might get lots of them in a single stroke, and sometimes none at all. If you have questions regarding the dwarf migrations, here are a few ways to get more dwarves in Dwarf Fortress.
1. Wait for the Dwarf Migrants to Come
Dwarves will automatically migrate to your Fortress every season. While their jobs, skills, types, etc., are going to be randomized, you can influence parts of it.
First of all, immigrant skills are influenced by how your Fortress works. Migrants with skills that your Fortress frequently uses or lacks altogether are more likely to arrive. Essential skills like mining, food production, and crafting are considered more important than others.
The first two migrant waves are somewhat fixed: they will come in a number between 1 to 10 dwarves, and the size won’t be affected by your Fortress’s condition (wealth or deaths). However, some special conditions might block them from coming to your place.
Your Fortress’s wealth (as reported by the Caravan) will increase or decrease the number of migrating dwarves. Four variables usually dictate the number for each migrant wave: the number of dwarves, invaders, merchants, and animals that either died or lived at your Fortress. The maximum size of migrant waves will be reduced as this number rises. Once the local population reaches 3,000, you won’t get any more migrants. Nevertheless, you can also limit them yourself by tweaking the Population Cap and Strict Population Cap settings in the Game tab under the Settings menu.
2. Improve Your Dwarf Fortress
As mentioned above, improving your Fortress wealth by creating higher quality stuff will surely entice more dwarves to come to your Fort. For instance, build more beds and bedrooms for the dormitory or more meeting halls, taverns, guild halls, temples, and others. You also can’t neglect things like leatherworking workshops to attract specific dwarves.
You may even draw in different types of dwarves, such as musicians, thieves, and nobles—even strange and dangerous creatures like elves and goblins.
3. Can’t Get More Dwarves in Dwarf Fortress
However, if you still aren’t able to attract more dwarves for some reason, then there are some things that you need to check up on.
First, as I wrote above, once you hit the 200 population cap, then migrants will automatically stop coming. You can only expand your population by having children at that point. There are no migrating dwarves during the first winter as well.
Then you might want to consider if there are currently sieges or there are too many deaths in your Fortress. You can try fixing your reputation by securing and improving the Fortress, but usually, it’ll be too late. If you want to move out to a new Fort, then keep in mind that Insane citizens that migrate to your new Fortress will still be Insane. Husks or Zombies that exist in the previous location might also tag along to the new Fort.
In case your Fortress is too isolated, or for some reason, your group ends up becoming the last dwarves in your civilization, then you might want to just restart and play a new playthrough.
4. Remember the Migrant Messages
When new migrants are coming to your Fortress (or lack thereof), you will see messages like the ones below:
- “A migrant has arrived” or “Some migrants have arrived”: Normal message
- “Some migrants have arrived, despite the danger”: Dwarves still migrate even though there are many deaths.
- “Some migrants have decided to brave this terrifying place, knowing it may be their tomb.” Dwarves still migrate even though there are many deaths.
- “Migrants were too nervous to make the journey this season”: No migrants coming this season. Happens often during the winter.
- “Migrants refused to journey to such a dangerous fortress this season”: Very large numbers of deaths, especially nobles.
- “No one even considered making the journey to such a cursed death trap this season.” Things went horribly wrong (read: too many deaths), and no dwarves will want to step foot at your Fortress.
Dwarf Fortress is now available on PC via Steam and itch.io.
