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Editing 40d:Well guide
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''This guide assumes you've read the main article on '''[[well]]s''' and are familiar with the basic information found in that article, of what a well does and what is required to build one.'' | ''This guide assumes you've read the main article on '''[[well]]s''' and are familiar with the basic information found in that article, of what a well does and what is required to build one.'' | ||
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==Choosing a Location== | ==Choosing a Location== | ||
− | You want a well central to your | + | You want a well central to your dwarfs, so they'll all get good thoughts from seeing it, and near any [[hospital]] beds you have. You can have more than one well, which solves that problem, but raises the one of engineering water to feed them all. If it's indoors (or behind walls), then there's no threat from [[carp]], [[goblins]], or [[animal]]s, and it can provide a safe source of drinking water during a [[siege]]. |
− | The important part about the well is to make sure that you don't create a situation where the water will [[flood]] your fortress, due to [[ | + | The important part about the well is to make sure that you don't create a situation where the water will [[flood]] your fortress, due to [[pressure]] from a source at a higher level. If the water is stable before you build the well above it, it will be safe (unless your dwarfs change things), but if you are introducing a flow, make sure you understand how pressure works and will not fall victim to its surprises. (See [[pressure]].) |
==Water sources== | ==Water sources== | ||
A well needs a water source of at least 3/7 depth, at least 1 [[z-level]] under it (not between it and the water, but on the next level immediately below the well). Pre-existing water is safe because it's the most predictable - what you see is what you got, no surprises. You can instead use dwarven engineering to bring water from a distant source to (beneath) your well, with a safety factor* based on your experience and the complexity of the project. (See [[flood]].) | A well needs a water source of at least 3/7 depth, at least 1 [[z-level]] under it (not between it and the water, but on the next level immediately below the well). Pre-existing water is safe because it's the most predictable - what you see is what you got, no surprises. You can instead use dwarven engineering to bring water from a distant source to (beneath) your well, with a safety factor* based on your experience and the complexity of the project. (See [[flood]].) | ||
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+ | :<sup>(* +/- booze x [[dwarven physics|the dwarf coefficient]].)</sup> | ||
===Pre-existing sources=== | ===Pre-existing sources=== | ||
− | A [[brook]], [[river]], or [[murky pool]] can provide water under a well. The surface of a brook tile will have to be channeled out, but it works just fine. Murky pools can dry up in warm seasons, and the well will be useless until they refill from [[rain]]. On hot maps, this may never happen - it's quite possible to see your murky pools (which are always full at [[embark]]) [[evaporate]] away before you ever get a chance to build a well - for this, see [[ | + | A [[brook]], [[river]], or [[murky pool]] can provide water under a well. The surface of a brook tile will have to be channeled out, but it works just fine. Murky pools can dry up in warm seasons, and the well will be useless until they refill from [[rain]]. On hot maps, this may never happen - it's quite possible to see your murky pools (which are always full at [[embark]]) [[evaporate]] away before you ever get a chance to build a well - for this, see [[#Beating evaporation|below]]. |
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===Channeling water to your well=== | ===Channeling water to your well=== | ||
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===Safety=== | ===Safety=== | ||
− | + | Your dwarves will happily use any excuse for falling into wells, usually resulting in injury, drowning and swift death. Thus you should construct your well as dead end, surrounded mostly by walls. Military dwarves are reportedly even more interested in well-diving than civilians, so keep military infrastructure, especially barracks, away from wells. This may be caused by sparring dwarves, who tend to ignore danger when dodging. Building escape stairs from your water source may also be a good idea, as well as teaching your dwarves to [[swim]]. | |
====Style points==== | ====Style points==== | ||
* Widen the area around the well, and make it a meeting hall. Smoothed or engraved walls and floors will make your dwarves happy. Smoothed and especially constructed floors will guard against [[tower-cap]] blockages, if that is a concern. The well has to be in a stone layer, not soil. | * Widen the area around the well, and make it a meeting hall. Smoothed or engraved walls and floors will make your dwarves happy. Smoothed and especially constructed floors will guard against [[tower-cap]] blockages, if that is a concern. The well has to be in a stone layer, not soil. | ||
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* Add a gap between the channel and the stairs, then construct walls in the gaps. This avoids the aesthetic problem of muddy stairs inside your well. Be careful, your well will need to be twice as deep. | * Add a gap between the channel and the stairs, then construct walls in the gaps. This avoids the aesthetic problem of muddy stairs inside your well. Be careful, your well will need to be twice as deep. | ||
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Using the well will take a very small amount of water from the water tile below (1/7 from that one tile), so it will eventually dry up if not replenished. | Using the well will take a very small amount of water from the water tile below (1/7 from that one tile), so it will eventually dry up if not replenished. | ||
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+ | ====Beating evaporation==== | ||
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+ | On a hot map, water may evaporate from all murky pools within a few "weeks" of embark, and if there is not enough rainfall, it may never be seen again. Even if the map only has enough heat in Summer, that may be half the year when the pools are dry. If you don't have a continuous water source, a brook or river, it's absolutely key to save some water underground before it's all gone, and as much as possible. | ||
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+ | The solution is to create a [[reservoir]] asap, perhaps 2 levels below the surface, and then build your well underground over that. | ||
===Salt water=== | ===Salt water=== | ||
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{{Water FAQ}} | {{Water FAQ}} | ||
− | + | [[Category:Guides]] | |
− | + | [[Category:Design]] |