Choosing world gen settings and where you start your fortress is the difficulty select. During world gen, you can set the number of sites, (which includes gobl

Choosing world gen settings and where you start your fortress is the difficulty select. During world gen, you can set the number of sites, (which includes goblin camps and the like), the natural savagery, and the number of beasts to very low, and set mineral abundance as high as possible As a beginner, you want the threat to be as low as possible (serene or calm), the climate to be warm, NO AQUIFER, and make sure that there's iron-bearing ore and coal. In such a situation, the worst you need worry about are some of the late game !!FUN!! sources, which are only really relevant if you delve too greedily and too deep.