Dwarf Therapist Supported Versions (Steam & Classic)

Introduction

Dwarf Therapist is a version-dependent application, meaning each release is built to work with a specific Dwarf Fortress version or build range. Understanding which versions are supported and how support differs between the Steam edition and the Classic edition of Dwarf Fortress is essential before downloading or updating the tool.

Version mismatches are the single most common cause of errors, blank data grids, and application instability when using Dwarf Therapist. Checking compatibility before launch is a straightforward step that prevents most reported setup problems.

Quick Facts about Dwarf Therapist Supported Versions

• Dwarf Therapist requires a version-matched release to function correctly with any edition of Dwarf Fortress
• The Steam edition of Dwarf Fortress, released in December 2022, introduced new memory structures that required significant updates to Dwarf Therapist
• The Classic edition of Dwarf Fortress refers to the free version available directly from Bay 12 Games
• Both Steam and Classic editions are supported by community-maintained Dwarf Therapist releases, though update timelines may vary
• Memory offset files bundled with each Dwarf Therapist release define which game version it can read correctly
• Using an outdated or mismatched Dwarf Therapist build will produce incorrect data or no data at all
• The official source for all Dwarf Therapist releases is its GitHub repository, maintained by open-source community contributors
• Dwarf Therapist is not developed or supported by Bay 12 Games or Kitfox Games
• New Dwarf Fortress updates typically require a corresponding Dwarf Therapist update before full compatibility is restored

What Version Compatibility Means in Dwarf Therapist

Version compatibility in Dwarf Therapist refers to the alignment between the memory offset data bundled with a specific Dwarf Therapist release and the internal memory structure of a particular Dwarf Fortress build. 

When these two match, Dwarf Therapist can accurately locate, read, and write dwarf data within the game’s running process. Each time Dwarf Fortress is updated, Bay 12 Games may alter how data is stored in memory. Even minor game patches can shift memory addresses enough to render an existing Dwarf Therapist release incompatible. 

This is not a flaw in Dwarf Therapist but a structural consequence of how the tool functions.

How Memory Offsets Define Compatibility

Memory offset files are configuration files included within each Dwarf Therapist release. They contain precise addresses that map to dwarf attributes, labor assignments, skill ratings, and other data fields inside the game’s memory. 

These offsets are specific to a single Dwarf Fortress version and cannot be reused across different game builds without manual updates.

When community maintainers release a new version of Dwarf Therapist following a Dwarf Fortress update, the primary task involved is updating these offset files to reflect the new memory structure. The core application code changes less frequently than the offset data does.

What Happens When Versions Do Not Match

Using a mismatched Dwarf Therapist release against an incompatible Dwarf Fortress version produces predictable problems. Players will typically encounter one or more of the following:

• The dwarf roster grid displays no dwarves despite an active fort being loaded
• Skill and labor data appears but contains clearly incorrect values or scrambled information
• Labor changes written from Dwarf Therapist do not register correctly in the game
• The application crashes immediately on attempting to connect to the game process
• Dwarf names or attributes display as blank fields even when the connection appears successful

None of these outcomes cause permanent damage to a save file, but they do render Dwarf Therapist non-functional until the correct version is used.

Steam Edition vs Classic Edition: Key Differences in Support

The Steam edition of Dwarf Fortress, co-published by Kitfox Games in December 2022, introduced a significantly updated version of the game with an official graphical interface, music, and sound. 

While the core simulation remained consistent with the Classic edition, the underlying build structure differed enough to require dedicated compatibility work from Dwarf Therapist maintainers.

The Classic edition remains available for free from the Bay 12 Games website and continues to receive updates on its own schedule. Both editions are active and both are supported by Dwarf Therapist, though the pace and timing of updates can differ between the two.

Steam Edition Compatibility Considerations

The Steam edition tends to update more frequently than the Classic edition, in part because it is distributed through Steam’s update infrastructure and benefits from the commercial release model. Each update has the potential to break Dwarf Therapist compatibility until community maintainers publish revised offset files.

Players using the Steam edition should follow these practices to maintain stable Dwarf Therapist functionality:

• Check the Dwarf Therapist GitHub releases page before updating Dwarf Fortress through Steam
• If a Dwarf Fortress update is released and no matching Dwarf Therapist update is yet available, delay the game update until compatibility is confirmed
• Verify that the Dwarf Therapist release notes explicitly reference the Steam edition version number you are running
• Do not assume that a Dwarf Therapist release supporting one Steam build will support the next without confirmation from the release notes

Feature	Steam Edition	Classic Edition
Update frequency	Higher, through Steam infrastructure	Lower, manual downloads from Bay 12 Games
Dwarf Therapist support	Supported, requires version verification	Supported, historically stable compatibility
Compatibility gap risk	Higher due to frequent updates	Lower due to less frequent releases
Official graphical interface	Yes, included	No, ASCII or community tilesets
Source for game updates	Steam client	Bay 12 Games website
Dwarf Therapist source	GitHub community releases	GitHub community releases

Classic Edition Compatibility Considerations

The Classic edition of Dwarf Fortress updates less frequently than the Steam edition, which historically meant that Dwarf Therapist compatibility gaps were shorter and less disruptive for Classic users.

When a new Classic version is released, the community typically publishes updated Dwarf Therapist offset files within a reasonable timeframe.

Players using the Classic edition benefit from a more predictable compatibility cycle, but they should still verify version alignment rather than assuming backward compatibility exists between releases. 

An older Dwarf Therapist build designed for a previous Classic version will not automatically work with a newer one.

Finding and Verifying the Correct Dwarf Therapist Version

The correct process for identifying the right Dwarf Therapist release begins with knowing the exact version number of your current Dwarf Fortress installation. 

This information is typically displayed on the Dwarf Fortress main menu or loading screen and follows a numeric format such as 50.13 or 47.05. With that version number confirmed, players should visit the Dwarf Therapist GitHub releases page and locate the release whose notes explicitly list support for that Dwarf Fortress version. 

Release titles and descriptions on the GitHub page generally include the supported game version number to make this identification straightforward.

Step-by-Step Version Verification Process

Follow this process before downloading or updating Dwarf Therapist:

• Open Dwarf Fortress and note the exact version number shown on the main menu
• Navigate to the Dwarf Therapist GitHub repository and open the releases section
• Read the title and description of recent releases to identify the one that lists your game version
• Download only the release that explicitly confirms compatibility with your Dwarf Fortress version
• If no release matches your current game version, check for open issues or pending pull requests on the repository that may indicate an update is in progress
• Do not use a release simply because it is the most recent without confirming it supports your specific game version

Common Version-Related Problems and Solutions

Players frequently encounter the following version-related issues:

• No matching Dwarf Therapist release exists for the newly updated game version: wait for the community to publish updated offsets. Continue playing Dwarf Fortress normally without Dwarf Therapist until a compatible release is available.
• Unsure which Classic version is currently installed: Check the bottom of the Dwarf Fortress main menu screen or the changelog file included in the game directory.
• Steam automatically updated Dwarf Fortress before a compatible Dwarf Therapist release was available: Use Steam’s beta or version rollback options to revert to the previous game build temporarily, or pause automatic updates in Steam settings.
• Downloaded the latest Dwarf Therapist but data is still incorrect: Confirm that the release notes explicitly name your Dwarf Fortress version. A latest release may target a different version than the one you are running.
• Running multiple Dwarf Fortress versions on the same system: Maintain separate Dwarf Therapist installations matched to each game version to avoid configuration conflicts.

Long-Term Version Management and Community Support

Dwarf Therapist is maintained entirely by volunteer open-source contributors. There is no commercial team behind the project and no guaranteed update schedule. 

Support depends on the availability and capacity of community developers who maintain the memory offset files and core application code.

This community-driven model means that compatibility gaps can occur, particularly immediately after major Dwarf Fortress releases. Understanding this dynamic helps players set realistic expectations and avoid frustration when a compatible release is temporarily unavailable.

How the Community Maintains Version Support

When Dwarf Fortress releases a new version, community contributors begin the process of identifying updated memory addresses within the new build. 

This involves reverse engineering or memory scanning techniques to locate the data structures that Dwarf Therapist depends on. Once the correct offsets are identified, they are compiled into an updated configuration file and submitted to the Dwarf Therapist repository. Maintainers review and merge these contributions, then publish a new release. 

The timeline for this process varies depending on the complexity of the changes in the Dwarf Fortress update and the availability of contributors.

Staying Informed About Version Support Status

Players who rely on Dwarf Therapist regularly should adopt habits that keep them informed about compatibility status:

• Watch or bookmark the Dwarf Therapist GitHub repository to receive notifications when new releases are published
• Check the repository’s issues section after any Dwarf Fortress update to see whether compatibility work is underway
• Participate in the Dwarf Fortress community forums or subreddit, where version compatibility updates are frequently discussed
• Avoid updating Dwarf Fortress immediately after a new release if uninterrupted Dwarf Therapist functionality is important to your play sessions
• Keep a backup of your current working Dwarf Therapist installation before updating either the tool or the game

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