v0.34:Fire

2013-11-05T21:30:06Z

Virusbomb: Changing "clown" to "demon"

{{quality|Exceptional|16:04, 18 February 2013 (UTC)}}{{av}}
[[Image:Running around on fire.gif|thumb|250px|''(click to enlarge)''<br />'''‼'''Dwarves'''‼''' on fire (flashing red/yellow), and trailing [[smoke]].]]
'''Fire''', like its real-life counterpart, is an immensely [[fun|destructive]] force. In-game, entities on the map which are on fire flash red and yellow. In item lists, anything which is on fire will also be surrounded by double exclamation marks, like ‼THIS‼. Fire will burn [[grass]], [[shrub]]s, [[log]]s, [[clothes]], [[dwarves]] (and generally all creatures that are not composed of [[fire-safe]] materials), wooden [[furniture]], wooden [[building]]s and wooden [[road]]s, [[lignite]] and [[bituminous coal]] rocks, and bars of [[charcoal]] and [[coke]]. Except for dragonfire, fire won't burn rock, metal or trees. Constructions (wall, floor, etc) will never burn, no matter what.

Despite [[fire-safe]]ty being defined as stability at a [[temperature]] of {{ct|11000}}, actual burning items rapidly heat up to {{ct|11640}} (but stay slightly below that, because the surrounding air cools them a bit).

== Cause ==

A fire can stem from several sources, for example:
*[[Dragon]]s breathe [[#dragonfire|dragonfire]], which can set things on fire and will melt most metals, at anything hostile they see. The dragonfire spreads out in a conical shape and burns anything it touches.
*A [[fire imp]] can throw fireballs, which may set things alight.
*[[Magma]] can and will burn anything flammable it touches. However, any item set alight by this method will likely just be doused in magma until it is completely destroyed.
*[[Magma mist]] burns stuff just as well as magma.
*Some [[titan]]s, [[forgotten beast]]s, and [[demon]]s can breathe fire/throw fireballs, too.
*[[Fire man|Fire men]] and [[magma man|magma men]], as well as other procedurally generated beasts composed of flame, have high fixed body temperatures, causing them to spread fires (and [[fun]]) in their path.

Note that it is currently difficult to safely start (and then control) a fire. Fire is most easily started by either [[magma]] or a fire breathing attack. An area enclosed by [[water]], metal, stone or Z-level difference can be used to start a fire which can be used as a way of increasing [[FPS]] by removing objects or can be used as part of a complex trap, though this may lead to [[fun]] when something comes out burning which then sets the rest of the fort on fire. Players of modded DF can have fire-breathing (fire spell casting) [[goblin]] castes.

== Spread ==
Fire will not spread across Z-Levels by itself. Walls with trapped passages block the fire too. Trees and shrubs will not catch fire, but you can set them on fire in Adventure Mode.

== Ghosts ==

One thing to note is that dwarves that burn to death do not leave remains and will produce ghosts even if buried in a coffin. Be sure to engrave a memorial to all dwarves that burn to ashes, unless of course you want a ghost infestation.

== Dragonfire ==

'''Dragonfire''' is a very powerful form of fire that reaches temperatures much above regular fire, up to {{ct|50000}}. [[Building]]s (but not [[construction]]s) receive the full effect of dragonfire, so it will easily melt or otherwise destroy all buildings but those made of [[nether-cap]]. Fire left on the ground and the objects affected by dragon's breath is no longer dragonfire - only the initial blast is hot enough to destroy [[fire-safe]] materials.

Dragonfire can only naturally be emitted by [[dragon]]s.

== Dangers ==

The main problem with fire is that dwarves tend to ignore fire, up to and past the point where they become ‼Dwarves‼. As such, typical dwarven activities will be carried out despite the fact the dwarf is both burning to death, and will spread the fiery destruction to his peers. This will not only kill your dwarves but also incinerate a good many useful items. And don't, for Armok's sake, let the flaming dwarves anywhere near the booze. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't ''explode'' (and never did), but it ''will'' boil away into nothing, which is always [[fun#No_Booze|fun]].
{{Category|Physics}}

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v0.34:Fire