Preparing for the Journey

I used to just go with the default embark settings, and while they work I eventually wanted to make a few changes. Two posts that I got a lot of info from are RadGH's post on Preparing Carefully and the Starting Build page on the wiki.

For Dwarf skills, I use a modified RadGH's setup:

1. Miner #1: Novice Miner, Proficient Weaponsmith
2. Miner #2: Novice Miner, Proficient Armorsmith
3. Axedwarf: Adequate Axeman, Adequate Shield User, Adequate Armor User, Adequate Fighter, Adequate Dodger (will be given Wood Cutting after embark)
4. Housedwarf: Proficient Grower, Adequate Brewer, Adequate  Cook
5. Doctor: Adequate Wound Dresser, Adequate Diagnostician, Adequate Suturer, Adequate Judge of Intent, Adequate Appraiser
6. Bookkeeper: Adequate Organizer, Adequate Record Keeper
7. Crafter: Novice Carpenter, Novice Mason (will be given Wood Cutting after embark)

For items, I again use a slightly modified RadGH setup:

• Remove both iron battle axes, add a wooden training axe for crafter to use until workshops get built, add a bronze battle axe for the axedwarf.
• Remove the anvil completely, 100 points is a lot on embark and there's almost always at least one for sale with the first caravan.
• Add 1 wine and beer for the barrels. It's only 2p for 1 alcohol, which comes in a barrel, vs 10p for an empty barrel.
• I drop to 10 of two types of meat instead of 15 of two types, and add 1 of 10 types of meat (only the 2p ones.) Make sure the 10 are from different animals, as chimpanzee meat and prepared chimpanzee brain are the same 'type' and will go in the same barrel.
• I don't use hunting for food, so I remove the three quivers.
• Add 5 units of gypsum plaster
• Remove 2 thread/cloth/bags (take only 3 of each)
• Remove the splints/crutches, we have plenty of wood at our site so we can craft those later.
• Add 1 nest box for the turkeys to lay eggs in so we can produce food quickly.
• Add a male and female dog (to guard your entrance,) male and female cat (to keep vermin in check,) male and female sheep (ewe/ram, for wool and milk,) one male and five female turkeys (for eggs to eat.)
• With all that I had one point left over, so I picked up a bag of sand (for the free bag, of course!)