Dwarf Fortress Bug Tracker - Dwarf Fortress
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IDProjectCategoryView StatusDate SubmittedLast Update
0000596Dwarf FortressDwarf Mode -- Diplomacypublic2010-04-06 02:142012-04-14 19:21
ReporterWirrit 
Assigned ToToady One 
PrioritynormalSeverityfeatureReproducibilityN/A
StatusresolvedResolutionfixed 
PlatformPCOSWindows VistaOS VersionVista 64-bit
Product Version0.31.01 
Target VersionFixed in Version0.31.13 
Summary0000596: Humans' Diplomat is a demon, destroys all constructions it passes by, never initiates meeting
DescriptionFort was going fairly normally; no previous problems with diplomats. Fort population 77-78. Suddenly, I was greeted by this message:

"A lizard demonic diplomat from [human civ] has arrived."

Looking at the civs page, I discovered that one of their nobility ("Zakosp, Lawgiver") is apparently the new diplomat. On his way towards my fort, he took a few abrupt detours to punt small wildlife halfway across the map, demonstrating his might and periodically letting off clouds of "frozen lizard demonic extract" (referred to as 'deadly dust' in his description).

It occurred to me that he was going to want to have diplomatic discussions with one of my dwarves. ...but only after following them around for months. ...inside my fort. ...wherever that dwarf happened to decide to go...

When Zakosp got to the entrance of the fort, I discovered he had the 'destroy any constructions/buildings he walks near' trait. In the first 5-10 seconds of him going through the fort, I lost 3-6 floodgates, 2-5 workshops, and half a dozen or more doors. No people or pets, yet.

I have a save from just before he entered the fort, if that's any use.

But, er... ...Is this a feature? ...Or a bug?
...should diplomats be allowed to have fort-destroying powers?

Have reloaded the save a few times to analyze how he tends to behave. Every time thusfar, he's eventually (within 30 seconds) run into a pathing error when standing next to a door; and just sorta gets stuck there, doing nothing. Seems non-hostile, aside from all the property damage.
Steps To ReproduceRequires neighboring civs and worldgen to go a particular way; random chance.

1) Have a trading relationship with a civ that contains a demon
2) Have that civ decide to send demon as diplomat
Additional Information
Tagsdemon, diplomat, forgotten beast, liaison
Relationships
parent of 0003086resolved Toady One Traders with building destroyer get confused when getting close to the fortress, slow down incredibly 
has duplicate 0001500closed Footkerchief Demonic law-giver is most awkward & breaking everything / buildingdestroyer & friendlies... 
has duplicate 0001515closed Footkerchief Diplomats that can destroy buildings trash your constructions 
has duplicate 0001698resolved Dwarfu Diplomat not leaving after conversations end 
has duplicate 0002876resolved Logical2u Human civilization diplomat is demonic antelope humanoid 
related to 0003027resolved Toady One Diplomats not holding meetings 
related to 0003347new  Demonic diplomat emits noxious secretions and kills dwarves 
related to 0005937resolved Toady One Hauler with bin wanders in circles 
Attached Files
Issue History
Date ModifiedUsernameFieldChange
2010-04-06 02:14WirritNew Issue
2010-04-06 02:24AquillionTag Attached: demon
2010-04-06 02:24AquillionTag Attached: diplomat
2010-04-06 02:25AquillionTag Attached: liaison
2010-04-06 02:27SilverionmoxNote Added: 0001388
2010-04-06 07:24DoctorZuberNote Added: 0001436
2010-04-06 07:32derigoNote Added: 0001439
2010-04-06 08:18SeconeNote Added: 0001457
2010-04-06 09:43FootkerchiefNote Added: 0001497
2010-04-06 16:55WirritNote Added: 0001612
2010-04-08 19:42GhoulzNote Added: 0002228
2010-04-08 19:43GhoulzNote Edited: 0002228bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0002228#r684
2010-04-08 20:14SirPenguinNote Added: 0002238
2010-04-08 21:15DoctorZuberNote Added: 0002254
2010-04-08 21:20DoctorZuberNote Edited: 0002254bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0002254#r691
2010-04-08 21:22DoctorZuberNote Edited: 0002254bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0002254#r692
2010-04-09 04:01Khym ChanurIssue Monitored: Khym Chanur
2010-04-09 13:12GafgarIssue Monitored: Gafgar
2010-04-09 13:35SquirrelloidNote Added: 0002414
2010-04-09 15:27PhydauxIssue Monitored: Phydaux
2010-04-09 17:04WirritNote Added: 0002466
2010-04-09 17:12SirPenguinNote Added: 0002468
2010-04-09 17:15WirritNote Edited: 0002466bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0002466#r793
2010-04-09 17:24DoctorZuberNote Added: 0002470
2010-04-09 17:30FelbloodIssue Monitored: Felblood
2010-04-09 17:44FelbloodTag Attached: forgotten beast
2010-04-11 06:17DrunkenWizardNote Added: 0002791
2010-04-11 12:37WirritNote Added: 0002857
2010-04-11 12:54FootkerchiefNote Added: 0002864
2010-04-12 20:59WirritNote Added: 0003198
2010-04-13 08:55IronValleyNote Added: 0003267
2010-04-13 09:07FootkerchiefSummaryHumans' Diplomat is a demon; destroys all constructions it passes by => Humans' Diplomat is a demon, destroys all constructions it passes by, never initiates meeting
2010-04-17 02:35RusAnonNote Added: 0003961
2010-04-17 02:35RusAnonIssue Monitored: RusAnon
2010-04-17 02:36RusAnonNote Edited: 0003961bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0003961#r1324
2010-04-17 04:24ProteusNote Added: 0003964
2010-04-17 04:25ProteusNote Edited: 0003964bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0003964#r1326
2010-04-18 19:42clamityNote Added: 0004165
2010-04-18 19:42clamityIssue Monitored: clamity
2010-04-18 20:13clamityNote Edited: 0004165bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0004165#r1395
2010-04-18 20:57ilmoranNote Added: 0004177
2010-04-18 23:27Khym ChanurNote Added: 0004190
2010-04-19 04:34clamityNote Edited: 0004165bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0004165#r1408
2010-04-25 02:09FootkerchiefRelationship addedhas duplicate 0001500
2010-04-25 09:31FootkerchiefRelationship addedhas duplicate 0001515
2010-04-25 16:12MyxineNote Added: 0005051
2010-04-26 05:01TrowzersNote Added: 0005108
2010-04-26 07:44DoctorZuberNote Added: 0005118
2010-04-26 07:44DoctorZuberNote Edited: 0005118bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0005118#r1802
2010-04-30 04:55zooeyglassIssue Monitored: zooeyglass
2010-04-30 04:55zooeyglassIssue End Monitor: zooeyglass
2010-04-30 12:02WirritNote Added: 0005758
2010-04-30 13:52HugnaNote Added: 0005770
2010-05-02 15:46Logical2uRelationship addedrelated to 0001698
2010-05-04 03:53RusAnonNote Added: 0006084
2010-05-13 08:18BeeskeeNote Added: 0006639
2010-05-13 11:37BeeskeeNote Added: 0006648
2010-05-13 23:38BeeskeeNote Added: 0006677
2010-05-14 12:02BeeskeeNote Edited: 0006677bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0006677#r2508
2010-05-20 04:22Keldor314Note Added: 0007058
2010-05-23 20:42BeeskeeIssue Monitored: Beeskee
2010-05-30 07:23Hieronymous AlloyIssue Monitored: Hieronymous Alloy
2010-06-02 15:14ChickenLipsNote Added: 0007583
2010-06-10 07:23Kyle_SoloIssue Monitored: Kyle_Solo
2010-06-10 07:37PutNote Added: 0008049
2010-06-10 07:38PutIssue Monitored: Put
2010-06-15 06:13ContiIssue Monitored: Conti
2010-07-21 23:58fanaticNote Added: 0010803
2010-07-22 09:59JinalealiaIssue Monitored: Jinalealia
2010-07-22 11:58MaDeR LevapNote Added: 0010845
2010-07-22 20:57RusAnonNote Added: 0010855
2010-07-23 03:17burlingkIssue Monitored: burlingk
2010-07-23 04:28AntiscientIssue Monitored: Antiscient
2010-07-25 21:44cognitiveNote Added: 0011054
2010-07-25 22:46DoctorZuberNote Added: 0011056
2010-07-28 13:00Logical2uRelationship addedhas duplicate 0002876
2010-08-04 15:17TorganNote Added: 0011502
2010-08-09 00:06HadokenNote Added: 0011647
2010-08-14 17:01DwarfuRelationship addedrelated to 0003027
2010-08-22 09:06FootkerchiefRelationship addedrelated to 0003086
2010-09-07 02:52Toady OneNote Added: 0012467
2010-09-07 02:52Toady OneStatusnew => resolved
2010-09-07 02:52Toady OneFixed in Version => 0.31.13
2010-09-07 02:52Toady OneResolutionopen => fixed
2010-09-07 02:52Toady OneAssigned To => Toady One
2010-09-07 04:49Hieronymous AlloyIssue End Monitor: Hieronymous Alloy
2010-09-10 11:27Ancient_minerIssue Monitored: Ancient_miner
2010-09-15 11:33ContiIssue End Monitor: Conti
2010-09-25 09:50Logical2uRelationship replacedparent of 0003086
2010-09-27 06:42burlingkIssue End Monitor: burlingk
2010-10-04 09:00FootkerchiefRelationship addedrelated to 0003347
2010-10-11 05:23PutIssue End Monitor: Put
2010-10-14 07:53Khym ChanurIssue End Monitor: Khym Chanur
2010-11-02 13:36ZanethdaIssue Monitored: Zanethda
2011-10-27 01:43KogutIssue Monitored: Kogut
2012-04-03 15:56DwarfuRelationship replacedhas duplicate 0001698
2012-04-03 15:56DwarfuIssue Monitored: Footkerchief
2012-04-14 19:21FelbloodIssue End Monitor: Felblood
2012-05-27 11:48FootkerchiefRelationship addedrelated to 0005937

Notes
(0001388)
Silverionmox   
2010-04-06 02:27   
The solution probably is to restyle the destruction of buildings to a conscious, hostile action rather than an intrinsic property.
(0001436)
DoctorZuber   
2010-04-06 07:24   
this is not a bug. this is a feature request.

I realize there is a feature button here, but that is simply because mantis is a canned product that is being used to track bugs for dwarf fortress.

The correct place for feature requests is on the suggestion page at the official forums here.
http://www.bay12games.com/forum/index.php?board=5.0 [^] [^]
(0001439)
derigo   
2010-04-06 07:32   
rofl!

That's...awesome!
(0001457)
Secone   
2010-04-06 08:18   
DoctorZuber, this does not seem at all like a feature request to me. However, it certainly seems awesome.
(0001497)
Footkerchief   
2010-04-06 09:43   
Yeah, multiple aspects of this issue could be bugs. Also it is too awesome to close just yet.
(0001612)
Wirrit   
2010-04-06 16:55   
DoctorZuber: Actually, no, it's not intended as a request -- I'm reporting it here because I'm not sure if he foresaw that this sort of situation would come up. I just marked it as 'feature' because it's right on that fuzzy border zone between "interesting challenge" and "destructive force that occupies your fort for months and cannot be attacked nomatter what they do, due to diplomatic immunity".

Additional updates :

- Zakosp The Lawgiver seems to reliably run into pathing problems, and will get stuck on doors within my fortress instead of following anyone around. Has occurred every time thusfar, on two seperate doors. One of them was near a meeting area, one was not.

- I can give my squads orders to attack the Lawgiver (which do show up on the squad screen, and individual dwarves' task lists), but these orders are ignored and they don't actually come anywhere near him. I only tried this while he was stuck. However, if I tell them to Move to his location, they have no problems getting there, and surround him easily. ...not attacking anything.

- At game start, all 3 nearby civilizations had 6 or less nobles / important people listed on their Civ screen. When The Lawgiver arrived on the map, I noticed that his civ's noble list had dropped down to 2-4 people. During one of my play-to-see-what-happens tests, I later (a few in-game days or a month after The Lawgiver's arrival) discovered the list had dropped down to 2 people. I am not certain what exactly is causing this (feature or bug), or if it is relevant.
(0002228)
Ghoulz   
2010-04-08 19:42   
(edited on: 2010-04-08 19:43)
To be fair, any civilization with half a brain wouldn't choose a rampaging lizard demon to act as a friendly diplomat with the intent of reaching peaceful negotiations. If Dwarf Fortress seeks to be realistic, then situations like this should be avoided by the game.
(0002238)
SirPenguin   
2010-04-08 20:14   
His existence isn't a problem. He rose to the ranks with trickery and deception; he's the one who chose to be a diplomat to the humans, not the other way around.

The problem is his attacker traits aren't properly shutting off.
(0002254)
DoctorZuber   
2010-04-08 21:15   
(edited on: 2010-04-08 21:22)
sorry, I didn't read closely enough apparently. I think when I saw this the first time my brain somehow linked feature request and your title and thought you were asking for killer demonic diplomats as a feature. So let me start again.

He did WHAT!?

Are you allowed to attack the "diplomat" ?

P.S. This is by far the dwarfiest thing I've heard yet.
(0002414)
Squirrelloid   
2010-04-09 13:35   
Win.

Can he meet with your leader at all? Won't he just wreck the throne, causing the noble's office to stop existing? I mean, if anything here is clearly a bug, its that he'll deconstruct any room he tries to be in that's designated from furniture, which means your noble will never finish his meeting with him (if it ever starts!)
(0002466)
Wirrit   
2010-04-09 17:04   
(edited on: 2010-04-09 17:15)
Gave Zakosp another try. Had a play-by-play here, but the software ate it and I forgot to save a backup of the description.

Summary:

*) Zakosp hates doors, but LOVES dancing.
*) He will methodically destroy any dwarven place of residence. Up to and including charging into a dwarven child's room, snatching their bed, destroying it, and then leaving. This appears not to leave bad thoughts ?
*) Zakosp can be freed from his dancing by digging out or removing nearby structures (walls, doors, etc). He occasionally manages to free himself.
*) He destroyed a workshop that a mood-dwarf was using, causing the dwarf to go mad and attack him. The dwarf lost quickly, and Zakosp is just fine. Zakosp seems to remain non-hostile.
*) Will report back again, if Zakosp ever goes mad, leaves unhappy, or manages to have a meeting.
*) Interestingly, Zakosp doesn't seem to be following anyone around, that I can tell...

Video here: http://mkv25.net/dfma/browsemovies.php?fortressName=Zakosp%2C+Demonic+Diplomat [^]

Video one is mostly dancing. Video 3 ( http://mkv25.net/dfma/movie-2112-zakospthelawgiverpt3 [^] ) is most relevant.
(0002468)
SirPenguin   
2010-04-09 17:12   
I can't stop fucking laugh, holy shit. When he was methodically going into each bedroom and destroying it (only to later dance with a cat) I just lost it.

This is the greatest thing I've ever seen
(0002470)
DoctorZuber   
2010-04-09 17:24   
This is by far the dwarfiest thing I have ever seen. This is great stuff Wirrit. We've got to get this linked up on the wiki and immortalized or something. ;)

As for troubleshooting, If you're putting up videos I'd be surprised if you haven't already backed up the save and stashed it someplace safe.

Meanwhile, I'm going to go watch the rest of the videos and laugh my head off. If you don't see me around again, Assume I died happy. ;P
(0002791)
DrunkenWizard   
2010-04-11 06:17   
I am experiencing the same problem. The hedgehog demon in my fort doesn't seem to want to meet with anyone, so it seems like he's just going to wander around breaking things until he either leaves or goes insane. At least if he goes insane I can kill him :/ I can provide the save file if anyone's interested.
(0002857)
Wirrit   
2010-04-11 12:37   
Have had Zakosp around for nearly a year now in one save -- still no sign of going for a meeting.

Speculation: Could this be because of something like an [emotionless] tag? Doesn't get any happiness from doing his job, so doesn't do it. DOES get some equivalent of happiness from destroying things, so that's all he does. May be immune to going mad, too, so may or may not ever do that (still testing).
(0002864)
Footkerchief   
2010-04-11 12:54   
Nah, the AI isn't that sophisticated. There's a chance he lacks the CAN_SPEAK tag or something, though.
(0003198)
Wirrit   
2010-04-12 20:59   
Upgraded to 31.03 -- No change in Zakosp's behaviour or pathing.
(0003267)
IronValley   
2010-04-13 08:55   
This is the old "friendlies with buidingdestroyer" all over again. The problem now is that you can't just remove buildingdestroyer from the raws...
(0003961)
RusAnon   
2010-04-17 02:35   
(edited on: 2010-04-17 02:36)
Not sure if i should open a new ticket, since it seems to be caused by same issue.
So I had same situation human's diplomat was (now its dead) a demon.
He came to my fortress, destroying half of my defence installations on his way.
Then he suddenly stuck near trade depot.

In few monthes after that, i received announce that he left unhappy. But, he was still standing in the same spot, not moving.
Few seasons later, he went insane and i had to kill him.

Humans seem to not mind that, and still send me caravans, so i'm not sure i should care about that, but i hate to repair vertical bars and re-link them to levers.

Version 31.03 here. It came into fortress after update to .03
(0003964)
Proteus   
2010-04-17 04:24   
(edited on: 2010-04-17 04:25)
Maybe it has to do with his emotional attributes...
Maybe something like:


Zakosp, Lawgiver, loves to dance.
He hates beds for their woodiness, doors for their blocking properties, meetings for their dullness and speaking for its sound producing properties.

:D
(0004165)
clamity   
2010-04-18 19:42   
(edited on: 2010-04-19 04:34)
I am having a similar issue... I have a diplomat from one of the animal-men (amphibian in my case) who just barrels through my fort destroying everything... he actually seems to try to go to the meeting, but he destroys the office of my count when he goes into the room.

EDIT: Actually, I was wrong. The diplomat is for the human civilization and was specifically called a 'chameleon devilish diplomat'... I had been confused as there is a 'unnamed amphibian man' civilization that I have yet to have contact with.
(0004177)
ilmoran   
2010-04-18 20:57   
Hmm, if you want to get rid of the building-destroying diplomat, you could try placing a support, digging out a 5x5 platform on top of the support, and waiting for him to come destroy it :)
(0004190)
Khym Chanur   
2010-04-18 23:27   
Heh, that's the first time I've heard suggested arranging an "unfortunate accident" for a creature from another civilization.
(0005051)
Myxine   
2010-04-25 16:12   
It seems demons who took over a human group won't turn their own city into rubble.
(One of them was soundly sleeping in his little hovel while my adventurer hacked him to bits for something like two hours. I'm pretty sure demons had NO_SLEEP, so maybe it's scripted for "human" citizens to sleep at night.)
(0005108)
Trowzers   
2010-04-26 05:01   
I have this same issue - except mine appears to be a forgotten beast with deadly dust. Fortunately the dust has not seemed to have done anything yet, and she's now stuck next to a door near my bone stockpile, after destroying about a dozen doors and all my craftdwarves workshops. I guess I will keep an eye out for suspicious deaths!
My fort was started in version 31.03
(0005118)
DoctorZuber   
2010-04-26 07:44   
Zakosp's pathing didn't improve with 31.03 ?
(0005758)
Wirrit   
2010-04-30 12:02   
Trowzers : Deadly dust, huh? Wait a season or three, and tell me if you start seeing mysterious fevers+numbness among the animals (and later, dwarves) in your fort? It's not relevant to any bugs I'm pretty sure, I'm just curious if he's the source for that.
(0005770)
Hugna   
2010-04-30 13:52   
If a demon becomes a diplomat, he should at least not DESTROY EVERYTHING if he's going to go be a diplomat. Maybe i dunno, ask for stuff in return for the town to not destroy yours. As for a civilization with a demon diplomat... i never had one, but 40d had it enough times on the forums. So it seems it wasn't fixed.
(0006084)
RusAnon   
2010-05-04 03:53   
This brings one more problem.
If human demon diplomat comes first, and dwarven liaison second, mayor will be stuck in never-initiated meeting with demon, so liaison has no chance for his meeting too.

I have save file with both of them at my fort, with mayor stuck in 'Conduct meeting' few blocks away from the demon, if needed.
(0006639)
Beeskee   
2010-05-13 08:18   
I have this too, a demonic law-giver showed up, breaking everything in the fort and claiming diplomatic immunity heh. As if my military could stop him anyway.
(0006648)
Beeskee   
2010-05-13 11:37   
I've let it run for a while and the baron TRIES to conduct a meeting with him but the demon hangs out 2 z-levels above the baron's office, near my well. I've just tried making a new office for the baron, we'll see if that helps. ... nope, demon hangs out at same spot. Note to self, build supports holding up small stand alone sections of flooring around the perimeter of the next fort. :D
(0006677)
Beeskee   
2010-05-13 23:38   
(edited on: 2010-05-14 12:02)
I managed to wall the demon in, though the noble kept getting unhappy thoughts from being unable to conduct the meeting.

I then flooded the room with water and it didn't drown. :( I'm a little disappointed, my first time trying to drown something and it doesn't work. The room is 7/7 full of water and the demon is fine after a year. Nothing in the demon's description says it doesn't need air to live.


Could we get this (edit: the demon breaking stuff, not the part about drowning) reclassified from "feature" to "bug" please?

Edit: I was able to catch the demon due to it getting enamored with a traction bench. Hopefully this information helps others in capturing these things for the time being.
(0007058)
Keldor314   
2010-05-20 04:22   
Most likely, the diplomat is dancing about because he doesn't have the [CAN_OPEN_DOORSS] tag. Poor thing has to bash down any door it comes across just to get through...
(0007583)
ChickenLips   
2010-06-02 15:14   
I can confirm it on .04. Got a sloth demon named Othri Pestratkamca for my human diplomat, emitting noxious secretions. It was very helpful in literally biting the head off a kobold thief, but, eh, this does not mean I like him touring the bedrooms...
(0008049)
Put   
2010-06-10 07:37   
Hey give the poor giant guy a break, he's not used to all these cramped tunnels. He can't help but flail his tail into your workshops.
(0010803)
fanatic   
2010-07-21 23:58   
Issue still present in 31.10 . He destroyed the depot the human caravan was in. Now that's diplomacy...
(0010845)
MaDeR Levap   
2010-07-22 11:58   
How much time can take adding one if to code???
(0010855)
RusAnon   
2010-07-22 20:57   
As per http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=62124.0 [^] this is also the case when you embark on human settlement, which is being run by demon.
Demon crushes his own basement and his own settlement. Now THATS a law-giving.
(0011054)
cognitive   
2010-07-25 21:44   
just had this happen with a "chameleon dervish" diplomat. first thing he did was try to walk through a door, it exploded. then it did a quick 180 and obliterated my trade depot, security was called.
(0011056)
DoctorZuber   
2010-07-25 22:46   
Good ol' Zakosp still up to his same old tricks I see? I admit I'm almost be a bit sad when this bug is finally patched. We will still have the videos and the memories however. ;)
(0011502)
Torgan   
2010-08-04 15:17   
Just had this happen in .12 as well, Human Law-Giver turns up who is a towering tortoise with noxious secretions, he knocked down some workshops outside but doesn't seem to be able to get past my locked or unlocked doors.
(0011647)
Hadoken   
2010-08-09 00:06   
This also happened to me in 0.31.12. Lushòb, law-giver, a lizard fiend diplomat from the human civ. Destroyed one workshop on the way in and is now endlessly running up and down a flight of stairs.
(0012467)
Toady One   
2010-09-07 02:52   
The basic toppling issue is resolved for 0.31.13, and the demon appears to have proper meetings. As for the fact that the demon pretending to be a god of the humans comes by and chats about how nice your fort is and stuff, we'll have to get to that later when they can realize a bit of their dignity.