Can't Figure Out Why I Can't Make Drinks

[Schorsch Wadschinken]

"Needs Empty Food Storage Item"

Next to the Still, I put a stockpile for barrels and drinks only. There are two empty barrels in it right now, and I designated the stockpile as receiving from the Still.

What else does this game expect from me?

Also, in general, is there any way to get dwarves to put barrels in important locations first? When I made the new stockpile next to the Still, dwarves still put barrels in the general food area even though we were low on drinks and didn't need more food barrels. That's just wasted wood

[Fel]

You can determine if a stockpile uses barrels (or bins depending on the type of items) by clicking on the barrel image on the right of the stockpile window.
By default it is set to max (1 per tile) whenever you set what is accepted on the stockpile or change it (even just clicking on "custom" and backing out counts as changing it).

Stockpiles set to use barrels/bins will always try to have an empty one on top of however many they need to store things, and that extra empty one counts as being used (workshops like the still can't make use of it).

The still needs barrels that are not already being used.

Be careful with the "take from" and "give to", those are advanced commands but they change how/where workshops look for ingredients so it's better to not use them in most cases.

Food being stored into barrels is usually better as it more or less never rots in a barrel.

Now, if your map doesn't have too much wood, or if you can't get to it because the outside is dangerous, you can make food containers with other materials.
For example, in the craft workshop you can make "rock pot", which is a rock barrel (heavier but the same thing otherwise and elves won't hate you for trading it).
It's also called "pot" for glass (glass furnace) and metal (in "other objects" in a forge) and "large pot" for clay (kiln).

If you have access to magma and sand, green glass doesn't "use" any resource so it's a good alternative to wood as it is also relatively light.
Depending on what type of clay you have access to (preferably one that doesn't need to be glazed) then clay large pots can also do that.

[Dain_Ironfoot]

Helps to make a lot of extra barrels... for some reason they seem to temporarily ignore certain barrels.

[Holyvision]

Originally posted by Dain_Ironfoot:

Helps to make a lot of extra barrels... for some reason they seem to temporarily ignore certain barrels.

if you making jugs Pot (stone) instead of wood, you have to glaze the stoneware in a kiln before it can hold liquid.

[Dain_Ironfoot]

Originally posted by Holyvision:

Originally posted by Dain_Ironfoot:

Helps to make a lot of extra barrels... for some reason they seem to temporarily ignore certain barrels.

if you making jugs (stone) instead of wood, you have to glaze the stoneware in a kiln before it can hold liquid.

I think I've only used them for honey and didn't have to glaze them. Thanks though, if that's the case. I thought you only had to glaze clay stuff. I mostly just use fire clay though, I don't think it has to be glazed.

I just pretty much only use barrels, so it's rare that I ever mess with any of the other stuff.

[Fel]

Originally posted by Holyvision:

if you making jugs (stone) instead of wood, you have to glaze the stoneware in a kiln before it can hold liquid.

So many wrong things in such a short post.
For starters, Jugs are only for:
-Gathering royal jelly
-Pressing honey
-Pressing oil
https://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/Jug


Glazing is only required for earthenware made from generic clay.
Stoneware (from fire clay) and porcelain (from kaolinite) don't need that extra step.
Things made out of rock in the crafts workshop also don't need to be glazed.

https://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/Glaze
https://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/Ceramic_industry

Also:
https://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/Large_pot

[Holyvision]

Originally posted by Dain_Ironfoot:

Originally posted by Holyvision:

if you making jugs (stone) instead of wood, you have to glaze the stoneware in a kiln before it can hold liquid.

I think I've only used them for honey and didn't have to glaze them. Thanks though, if that's the case. I thought you only had to glaze clay stuff. I mostly just use fire clay though, I don't think it has to be glazed.

I just pretty much only use barrels, so it's rare that I ever mess with any of the other stuff.

You have to also glaze clay if you make standard clay and do not have access to make porcelain. If you can make porcelain it doesn't need glazing.

Regardless, just make a work-order to make 10 wood barrels any time you have fewer than 9 or so empty available, and never have an issue again. (Do the same for mugs/goblets, flasks, jugs, pots, etc).

[Schorsch Wadschinken]

Originally posted by Fel:

You can determine if a stockpile uses barrels (or bins depending on the type of items) by clicking on the barrel image on the right of the stockpile window.
By default it is set to max (1 per tile) whenever you set what is accepted on the stockpile or change it (even just clicking on "custom" and backing out counts as changing it).

Stockpiles set to use barrels/bins will always try to have an empty one on top of however many they need to store things, and that extra empty one counts as being used (workshops like the still can't make use of it).

The still needs barrels that are not already being used.

Be careful with the "take from" and "give to", those are advanced commands but they change how/where workshops look for ingredients so it's better to not use them in most cases.

Food being stored into barrels is usually better as it more or less never rots in a barrel.

Now, if your map doesn't have too much wood, or if you can't get to it because the outside is dangerous, you can make food containers with other materials.
For example, in the craft workshop you can make "rock pot", which is a rock barrel (heavier but the same thing otherwise and elves won't hate you for trading it).
It's also called "pot" for glass (glass furnace) and metal (in "other objects" in a forge) and "large pot" for clay (kiln).

If you have access to magma and sand, green glass doesn't "use" any resource so it's a good alternative to wood as it is also relatively light.
Depending on what type of clay you have access to (preferably one that doesn't need to be glazed) then clay large pots can also do that.

I think this answered everything but my very question lol, why do the empty barrels in my stock next to the still not count? Again, the stock is set to accept drinks and barrels only, the barrels are empty, and the still is set to send drinks to the stock with empty barrels

[Holyvision]

Originally posted by Fel:

Originally posted by Holyvision:

if you making jugs (stone) instead of wood, you have to glaze the stoneware in a kiln before it can hold liquid.

So many wrong things in such a short post.
For starters, Jugs are only for:
-Gathering royal jelly
-Pressing honey
-Pressing oil
https://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/Jug


Glazing is only required for earthenware made from generic clay.
Stoneware (from fire clay) and porcelain (from kaolinite) don't need that extra step.
Things made out of rock in the crafts workshop also don't need to be glazed.

https://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/Glaze
https://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/Ceramic_industry

I meant to say pot and not jug, no need to get defensive/snippy.

https://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2014:Large_pot

"Unglazed earthenware can only be used for storing dry items"

[Fel]

Originally posted by John "Tower of Pizza" Pillar:

I think this answered everything but my very question lol, why do the empty barrels in my stock next to the still not count? Again, the stock is set to accept drinks and barrels only, the barrels are empty, and the still is set to send drinks to the stock with empty barrels

Stockpiles using barrels will get an extra barrel that will be empty but can't be used by workshops.
Also the stockpile taking from the workshop might stop the workshop from seeing that stockpile as a valid source of items.

Just make a stockpile only for empty barrels nearby, it should work better.

[Fel]

Originally posted by Holyvision:

I meant to say pot and not jug, no need to get defensive/snippy.

https://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2014:Large_pot

"Unglazed earthenware can only be used for storing dry items"

No defensiveness, just correcting things.

Earthenware are things made our of clay (except fire clay and kaolinite), and those do need to be glazed, yes.
Rock pots on the other hand don't, they work right away, the only downside is that they tend to be fairly heavy.

[Diarmuhnd]

Originally posted by John "Tower of Pizza" Pillar:

"Needs Empty Food Storage Item"

Next to the Still, I put a stockpile for barrels and drinks only. There are two empty barrels in it right now, and I designated the stockpile as receiving from the Still.

What else does this game expect from me?

Also, in general, is there any way to get dwarves to put barrels in important locations first? When I made the new stockpile next to the Still, dwarves still put barrels in the general food area even though we were low on drinks and didn't need more food barrels. That's just wasted wood

This is what i've noticed over my 11 fortress so far.

1: You don't have enough wooden barrels or stone pots.
If the item is reserved for by another dwarf, even if that other dwarf is 10 miles away, a closer dwarf can not use that container for his own task.

2: You do not need to use wooden barrels if your available wood is scarce. You can build Rock Pots instead at the Crafts Workshop. I like doing this asap since it lets me sell vegetarian foods to the elf traders.
note: don't confuse Rock Pots with Jugs, they are for different things

3: Yes, you can make a specific stockpile for empty barrels / pots, i do this often. You must make sure you set that stockpile to take the desired item from the main/other stockpiles. You can have those main stockpile Give the items instead, I have no clue if it makes a difference. Note: sometimes if I feel a rush is needed, i just forbid the item in the main stockpile forcing my dwarfs to move stuff faster to priority stockpiles, then switch it back to store overflow.
This task to move items between stockpiles seems to be very low priority, so if your haulers are over worked it may seem like nothing happens.

4: The game expects you to go ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ crazy digging holes and drinking booze while your dwarfs run around like lemmings demanding new $bling$ in between Forgotten Beats battles and invasions.

Good luck

[Schorsch Wadschinken]

Originally posted by Fel:

Stockpiles using barrels will get an extra barrel that will be empty but can't be used by workshops.
Also the stockpile taking from the workshop might stop the workshop from seeing that stockpile as a valid source of items.

Just make a stockpile only for empty barrels nearby, it should work better.

Nothing is working, I'm stumped

[Fel]

Since we can't see what is going on in your save or know exactly which steps you followed, it's hard to go further than that.

Remove the stockpile/workshop links (take from and give to).
Make sure you have either rock pots or barrels (in the workshop making them or in a stockpile for them) not being used and not in a food stockpile.
Have brewable plants or fruits (it should tell you something else if that was the problem but still worth checking anyway).
Double-check if you have no burrows active (they can mess up search for items).

You could also make another still to check things from there as well.

If everything fails, you could upload your save to dffd (a file deposit specifically made to share saves that need to be checked among other things):
https://dffd.bay12games.com/

[Schorsch Wadschinken]

Originally posted by Fel:

Make sure you have either rock pots or barrels (in the workshop making them or in a stockpile for them) not being used and not in a food stockpile.

There are barrels there which I ordered and they refuse to bring them to the stockpile for drinks next to the still. If I increase the amount of barrels allowed in other stockpiles then they will immediately put them in those, however

Originally posted by Fel:

Double-check if you have no burrows active (they can mess up search for items).

How do I do that? What is an "active" burrow?

[Fel]

Originally posted by John "Tower of Pizza" Pillar:

There are barrels there which I ordered and they refuse to bring them to the stockpile for drinks next to the still. If I increase the amount of barrels allowed in other stockpiles then they will immediately put them in those, however

They are not supposed to bring them to the drink stockpile in the first place, at most they will put one empty barrel there outside of the ones filled with drinks.

If you want to bring your empty barrels near your still, make another stockpile for empty barrels.
To do that, pause the game first, make a stockpile for furnitures then go into "custom".
You want to select "type" in the furnitures category and hit "none" (the one on the far right).
After that, click on "barrels" and "large pots/food containers" to enable only those two types.
Leave the materials and quality alone unless you want specific materials or qualities to be there (not the case here).
You can now exit that screen and unpause the game, empty barrels and pots will be brought there.

Originally posted by John "Tower of Pizza" Pillar:

How do I do that? What is an "active" burrow?

An active burrow is one that is not currently "paused".