While it is possible for the dwarves in Dwarf Fortress to consume alcohol without having access to mugs, it is not advisable. Indeed, the absence of drinking vessels can cause dwarves to have unhappy thoughts, which can lead to some significant issues in the future. Fortunately, it is not particularly difficult to make mugs in Dwarf Fortress, and this guide is here to walk players through the process.
To note, cups, goblets, and mugs all serve the same function in Dwarf Fortress. The only differences are that they are created from different materials, and they are crafted in different workshops. Full details on this can be found in what follows, and fans of colony sim video games should simply focus on the vessel-type that they are equipped to make.
Dwarf Fortress: How to Make Mugs
In most instances, the easiest drinking vessels to make are rock mugs and wooden cups, as rocks and wood are very simple materials to obtain. Both of these items are crafted in a Craftdwarf's Workshop, and fans should simply click on the workshop, select "add new task," and then click on "rock" or "wood" to open the associated menu where the vessels are listed. Players that have assigned a manager in Dwarf Fortress can also go through the work order menu, create a new work order, and search for either "rock mug" or "wooden cup."
Alternatively, Dwarf Fortress players can create metal or glass goblets for their dwarves, though the process is more complex than what has just be described. For metal goblets, fans will need to use a Furnace to create charcoal, use that fuel to smelt metal ores into bars at a Smelter, and then turn those bars into the associated drinking vessels at a Metalsmith's Forge. And for glass goblets, players must use the Glass Furnace to collect sand, and then use that workshop and fuel to transform the sand into the cups.
Regardless of the specific drinking vessels that a player creates, they should make sure to add them to their taverns in Dwarf Fortress when they are ready. This can be done simply by placing a coffer inside the tavern, as the dwarves should fill that chest with mugs automatically. Notably, players can adjust the number of goblets that are stored in a tavern's chest by opening the zone menu, clicking on the tavern zone, clicking on the icon with the magnifying glass that appears below the name of the tavern, and the clicking "+" or "-" next to Goblets (Desired).
Dwarf Fortress is available on PC.