How the fuck do I play this?

>>381698438
watch a let's play to see how people play it / read starter guides
Install 'lazy newb pack'.

It's worth it

>>381698438
Don't install the lazy newb pack and just play setting simple goals for yourself which get progressively harder.

>>381698438
Watch a video series on jewtube

>>381699298
ignore this anon

>>381700158
listen to this anon

realistically, DF isn't that hard. there's a vast number of options available to you and there's essentially no mouse support or in-game help, which can be daunting, but if you commit yourself to playing a fort or two and learning for yourself - just accept that your first few will end in disaster, I know mine did - you'll get past the initial roadblock and it'll be much clearer
at that point I'd recommend finding the wiki and using it as a reference any time you get confused about a concept. but before you've plunged in, any guide or walkthrough is either going to confuse you or teach you things that are wrong. there are a million ways to play DF and it's dumb to stunt yourself by learning someone else's

Step 1: Have high functioning autism

read the wiki starter guide

>>381698438
You don't. If you don't like the UI you will not enjoy the game.