DF-Autopilot

An advanced, autonomous fortress management system for Dwarf Fortress (via DFHack). This AI agent takes control of your dwarves to plan, dig, and build a safe, functional, and thriving fortress without user intervention.

Key Features

Fortress Planner & Pathfinding

The core of the system is a deterministic, modular layout generator powered by A Pathfinding*.

• A Ramp Generation*: Uses a custom 3D A* algorithm to find an optimal, hazard-free wagon path from the surface to the Trade Depot. It proactively avoids aquifers, magma, and caverns while ensuring a 3-tile wide clearance for wagons.
• Hub-and-Spoke Layout: Designed around a central 3x3 stairwell that acts as the main artery of the fortress, connecting all vertical levels.
• Dedicated Zoning: Automatically designates specific Z-levels for distinct functions (Entrance, Workshop, Storage, Living).
• Wagon Accessibility: Ensures the fortress is accessible to trade caravans by generating guaranteed 3-tile wide ramps and tunnels.

Automated Defense Systems

• Trap Hall: Automatically designs and constructs a defensive choke point full of traps. It intelligently checks stock and prioritizes Cage Traps for live capture, falling back to Stone-Fall Traps.
• Emergency Burrows: Detects sieges and ambushes in real-time. Automatically creates a "Siege Safe" burrow deep underground and restricts all civilians to safety until the threat is neutralized.

Noble & Military Management

• Dynamic Noble Housing: Periodically scans for unsatisfied nobles and automatically assigns them appropriate vacant rooms (Offices, Dining halls, Bedrooms). Assignments are prioritized by noble precedence (Monarch > Duke > ... > Bookkeeper).
• Smart Military Logic: Logistics manager now verifies resource availability (metal bars) before queuing equipment production, preventing job cancellation spam. Recruitment prioritizes dwarves with superior physical attributes.

Advanced Terrain Analysis

Safety is paramount. The system uses a sophisticated terrain scanner (terrain.lua) before making any decisions.

• Aquifer Avoidance: Automatically detects damp stone layers. If an aquifer is found at the planned Trade Depot level, the system dynamically scans deeper to find a dry, safe Z-level to build on.
• Lateral Safety Checks: Prevents "fortress leaks" by scanning the neighbors of every planned wall tile. It will not dig if it detects adjacent open space (cliffs) or outdoors, ensuring the fortress remains enclosed.
• Vertical Enclosure: Verifies that the main fortress hub is built deep enough to have a solid rock ceiling, preventing accidental surface breaches.
• Hazard Detection: Automatically avoids digging near magma, water, or cavern layers unless explicitly planned.

Intelligent Mining & Construction

• Ramp Preservation: Utilizes a specific digging sequence (Channel Surface -> Dig Tunnel) to ensure entrance ramps are constructed correctly and remain walkable.
• Validated Designations: Every dig command is cross-referenced with the terrain scanner. Unsafe commands are blocked and logged.
• Deterministic Room Placement: Uses a grid-based approach for core rooms to guarantee connectivity, avoiding the pitfalls of random hallway generation.
• L/T-Shaped Rooms: Adds variety to the layout by procedurally generating L-shaped and T-shaped rooms for Dining Halls and meeting areas.

Autonomous Management

• Phase-Based Decisions: The AI tracks the fortress's maturity through defined phases (EMBARK, ESTABLISHING, STABLE, EXPANDING, THRIVING) and adjusts priorities accordingly.
• Crisis Management: Continuously monitors dwarf mood and health strings. It can detect potential interactions or tantrum spirals and adjust priorities ($brain.lua$).
• Auto-Zoning: Automatically converts dug-out rooms into their appropriate Zone types (Bedroom, Dining Hall, etc.) upon completion.

Installation

1. Ensure DFHack is installed for your version of Dwarf Fortress (v50+).
2. Clone or copy this repository into your Dwarf Fortress directory:
   • Scripts go to: Dwarf Fortress/hack/scripts/df-autopilot/
   • Configs go to: Dwarf Fortress/dfhack-config/df-autopilot/
3. The included .gitignore is optimized for development deeply nested inside the game folder (ignoring game binaries and save data).

Usage

Start the AI from the DFHack console:

df-autopilot enable

To stop:

df-autopilot disable

Requirements

• Dwarf Fortress (Steam Edition / v50+)
• DFHack

License

MIT