Some lessons are learned the hard way. Others are learned when a single capital “D” appears on your screen and everything you built is immediately on fire.
Dwarf Fortress began as a grid of letters, where survival meant knowing that “≈” was water, “^” was terrain, and “D” was the end of your architectural optimism. Carp taught you humility. Entire civilizations ended because you forgot to build a door. Fortresses collapse, brewers overproduce, and cats make catastrophic life choices. This is not failure. This is curriculum. Attendance is mandatory, survival is optional, and remember: losing is fun.
