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Editing v0.34:Caverns
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[CAVERN_LAYER_WATER_MAX:100] | [CAVERN_LAYER_WATER_MAX:100] | ||
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+ | Note that if there is no [[water]] in the caverns that your civilization can access you cannot grow any underground [[crops]]! | ||
Beneath the third layer lies the [[magma sea]]. | Beneath the third layer lies the [[magma sea]]. | ||
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Exploring the underground world, you may find a variety of special geographical features. When your dwarves discover a feature, an announcement window will let you know of it. | Exploring the underground world, you may find a variety of special geographical features. When your dwarves discover a feature, an announcement window will let you know of it. | ||
− | ''' | + | '''Deep pits:''' Deep pits are... deep pits, that connect one cavern level to the next. They have a fixed shape. The top z-level, where the pit meets the next cavern level, is un-muddied rough rock floor where the normal space of the deep pit and the random rock spires of the cavern collide. |
− | If your map has an unseen | + | If your map has an unseen cave-in at the beginning of embark, the caverns may have a deep pit somewhere. This occurs because some stone in the cavern above the deep pit is unsupported, and falls down. This may be a bug. |
− | ''' | + | '''Magma pools:''' Despite the name, magma pools are not actual pools, but tubes extending up from the [[magma sea]]. Their shape is fixed and their presence random. A magma tube might extend all the way to the top cavern, or merely a few z-levels. Magma pools can be distinguished from the magma sea even if they are only a single Z-level high due to two important features: they will always be walled by obsidian as opposed to the standard stone of the layer and, more importantly, will (very slowly) refill to their top if any magma is drained. |
− | ''' | + | '''Passages:''' |
Passages are natural tunnels connecting two layers by ramps and short, twisted tunnel sections. The announcement window will let you know you've found a downward passage even if you happen to discover it from the bottom. | Passages are natural tunnels connecting two layers by ramps and short, twisted tunnel sections. The announcement window will let you know you've found a downward passage even if you happen to discover it from the bottom. | ||
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Caverns will, from the topmost to the deepest, feature the following vegetation: | Caverns will, from the topmost to the deepest, feature the following vegetation: | ||
− | '''Level one''': a benign (or as nice as caverns get) level has shrubs, [[Tower-cap]]s, and [[Fungiwood]]. | + | '''Level one''': a benign (or as nice as caverns get) level, it has shrubs, [[Tower-cap]]s, and [[Fungiwood]](s). |
'''Level two''': a level filled with, in addition to the above, [[Goblin-cap]]s, [[Spore tree]]s, [[Black-cap]]s, and [[Tunnel tube]]s. | '''Level two''': a level filled with, in addition to the above, [[Goblin-cap]]s, [[Spore tree]]s, [[Black-cap]]s, and [[Tunnel tube]]s. | ||
− | '''Level three''': a level lacking the trees the first level had, while still having those the second introduced, | + | '''Level three''': a level lacking the trees the first level had, while still having those the second introduced, also has [[Nether-cap]]s and [[Blood thorn]]s. |
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− | Removing a layer will cause the layer above to randomly pick from trees that the now removed layer could have handled and | + | Removing a layer will cause the layer above to randomly pick from trees that the now removed layer could have handled and the layer above can handle. |
==Dangers== | ==Dangers== | ||
− | There are many, many | + | There are many, many dangerous [[animal]]s in a cavern, including [[bugbat]]s, [[giant olm]]s, [[troll]]s, [[giant cave swallow]]s, and others. |
Cavern level one is as good as things get, and the following levels will [[Cave dragon|only]] [[Voracious cave crawler|be]] [[Magma crab|worse]]. If you can't stand level one, you won't be able to stand level two or three. | Cavern level one is as good as things get, and the following levels will [[Cave dragon|only]] [[Voracious cave crawler|be]] [[Magma crab|worse]]. If you can't stand level one, you won't be able to stand level two or three. | ||
− | [[ | + | [[Giant cave swallow|Flying creatures]] can [[Fun|ruin your day]] if your main stairwell leads directly into the cavern (the bottom of up-down/down stairs can be passed by flying creatures). |
Also, any cavern of sufficient size will be inhabited by [[giant cave spider]]s, which can be both [[Silk|benefit]] and hazard. | Also, any cavern of sufficient size will be inhabited by [[giant cave spider]]s, which can be both [[Silk|benefit]] and hazard. | ||
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==Benefits== | ==Benefits== | ||
− | Caverns provide ever regenerating resources in form of underground | + | Caverns provide ever regenerating resources in form of underground forests, animals to hunt, and fish. |
+ | On breaching a cavern layer, a variety of ores and gems lining its walls will be revealed. | ||
+ | The cavern floors are always [[Farming#Underground Farming|muddied]], providing soil to a variety of underground [[plant]]s. | ||
+ | Also, underground caverns and the water they provide can be used in constructions and traps. Throwing your prisoners into a damp hellhole filled with ravaging beasts is a nice addition, too. Additionally, creating a world without caverns will result in no subterranean plants, plant products (plump helmets/spawn/wine etc) or fish available on embark (or trade? {{verify}}). | ||
Once an underground cavern has been discovered, shrubs and trees will spontaneously grow on any subterranean [[soil]] or [[mud]]died [[rock]] on every embark site that accesses the cavern. This means that if you find a cavern in one embark site and embark in another site accessing the same cavern, plants will start growing there even before you discover the branch of the cavern that lies under the site. This allows you to construct underground tree farms and avoid sending dwarves to the surface to harvest wood, or just to get wood in environments without above-ground forests. | Once an underground cavern has been discovered, shrubs and trees will spontaneously grow on any subterranean [[soil]] or [[mud]]died [[rock]] on every embark site that accesses the cavern. This means that if you find a cavern in one embark site and embark in another site accessing the same cavern, plants will start growing there even before you discover the branch of the cavern that lies under the site. This allows you to construct underground tree farms and avoid sending dwarves to the surface to harvest wood, or just to get wood in environments without above-ground forests. | ||
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===Creatures=== | ===Creatures=== | ||
− | + | Cage traps placed in the caverns can capture pets for a [[Dungeon master]] to tame. | |
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==When should I start exploring?== | ==When should I start exploring?== | ||
[[Image:Cavern.png|thumb|right|A cavern found underground.]] | [[Image:Cavern.png|thumb|right|A cavern found underground.]] | ||
− | + | You should have a working military. The first cavern usually has few hazardous monsters, apart from the occasional [[giant olm]] or [[giant toad|toad]] and [[giant cave spider]]s, but just one giant bat can destroy an early fort, and [[Forgotten beast|uninvited guests]] will wander in sooner or later. The subsequent caverns will become increasingly [[fun]], so don't dig too deep without making adequate preparation. You can handle what tries to attack, presuming you don't have a [[siege]] to worry about. | |
− | + | You can of course explore a cavern without a military, but you will likely get a bunch of dwarves killed. | |
− | Not all parts of a cavern are immediately visible; | + | Not all parts of a cavern are immediately visible; A good portion of a cavern is revealed once you breach it, but other parts remain hidden until your dwarves explore them. Since you often don't know what you'll find in a cavern, they can be exciting places, but also very dangerous. |
− | very | ||
==Methods of Exploration== | ==Methods of Exploration== | ||
+ | There are many different methods of exploring, some less fun than others. | ||
− | + | '''Dwarf team''': The most entertaining method, you can have dwarves manually explore the cavern by foot. This can be done by ordering your [[squads]] into the cavern with move orders. If you use this method, it is recommended that you equip your dwarves well. The {{k|s}}quad:{{k|a}}ttack:{{k|l}}ist command will help you find and kill enemy creatures which may be located on many different z-levels inside the cavern. | |
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− | + | Note that creatures may wander into the cavern from the edges, so, if you want to start collecting silk, gems, ore and the other valuable loot in a cavern, and you want to do so safely, you should first kill or capture the creatures in the cavern, and then you can wall off the edges to keep new creatures from wandering in. Note that, if you want to keep flying creatures out, your walls will need to cover the edge of the cavern from the floor to the ceiling. If you'd still like to fight or capture wandering creatures, but don't want them killing your workers, you can leave some room for creatures to get in, and build doors or cages as necessary. | |
'''Fortifications''': as dwarves can see through [[fortification]]s, you can carve out a fortification near the edge of the explored area to safely discover more of the cavern. This prevents wildlife and [[megabeast]]s from entering your fort, as an added benefit. This method does not work for exploring the magma layers - or rather, it ''does'' work, but for a very, very brief time during which there is much [[fun]]. | '''Fortifications''': as dwarves can see through [[fortification]]s, you can carve out a fortification near the edge of the explored area to safely discover more of the cavern. This prevents wildlife and [[megabeast]]s from entering your fort, as an added benefit. This method does not work for exploring the magma layers - or rather, it ''does'' work, but for a very, very brief time during which there is much [[fun]]. | ||
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'''Separate tunnels''': Digging exploration tunnels from within your fortress will result in a direct path from the caverns to your fortress- this can result in enormous volumes of fun. Players seeking to avoid fun may instead choose to start their exploration tunnels from elsewhere on the surface, outside the fortress. This guarantees that any threats released through exploration must pass through the same entrance utilized by surface threats, such as goblins or elephants, before they can access the fortress. | '''Separate tunnels''': Digging exploration tunnels from within your fortress will result in a direct path from the caverns to your fortress- this can result in enormous volumes of fun. Players seeking to avoid fun may instead choose to start their exploration tunnels from elsewhere on the surface, outside the fortress. This guarantees that any threats released through exploration must pass through the same entrance utilized by surface threats, such as goblins or elephants, before they can access the fortress. | ||
− | This method | + | This method is recommended in conjunction with the "Digging from above" method. Placing the tunnels as close as possible to the edges of the map will reduce obstruction to the fortress. Magmawiki assumes no liability for any potential damage to lesser surface races resulting from the release of subterranean monsters directly into the surface world. |
==Adventurer Mode== | ==Adventurer Mode== | ||
− | You can enter a cavern with an [[Adventurer_mode|adventurer]] and explore it. The dangers are obvious; Nasty creatures, pitfalls, etc. But you also have to watch out because you can't fast-travel underground. That means no easy healing, so you have to be very careful. Make sure you stock up on food, water and (if you use it) ammunition before you head in, though, as caverns are quite massive and it can be difficult to find your way back. Luckily, there are tribes of animal men underground; | + | You can enter a cavern with an [[Adventurer_mode|adventurer]] and explore it. The dangers are obvious; Nasty creatures, pitfalls, etc. But you also have to watch out because you can't fast-travel underground. That means no easy healing, so you have to be very careful. Make sure you stock up on food, water and (if you use it) ammunition before you head in, though, as caverns are quite massive and it can be difficult to find your way back. Luckily, there are tribes of animal men underground; Unlike in fortress mode, they are your friends. Some of them can even be hired. Camps almost always have food, and usually some other items as well, though probably less useful. Since you can't fast-travel, you have to rely on sleeping to heal, which can be dangerous due to the [[Giant cave spider|nature]] of caverns. If you sleep in a camp, the tribe will try and protect you from [[Forgotten beast|whatever]] [[Troll|shows]] [[Blind cave ogre|up]]. Escaping from the caverns by the same route used as an entrance can be very difficult, though if you manage to reach a cavern area immediately underneath a town you will be able to fast-travel to the surface. |
==Caravan and embark item availability== | ==Caravan and embark item availability== | ||
[[Embark]]ation and dwarven [[caravan]]s will only provide resources available in the first cavern level. Since [[purring maggot]]s don't appear in the first cavern level, unlike in 40d, you can't buy dwarven [[cheese]] or dwarven [[milk]] {{Bug|1449}}. A workaround is to edit the global [[raw file]]s to make purring maggots appear on level one, [[world generation|generate a new world]], then edit the raws of the new world to change the maggots back to normal before embark. | [[Embark]]ation and dwarven [[caravan]]s will only provide resources available in the first cavern level. Since [[purring maggot]]s don't appear in the first cavern level, unlike in 40d, you can't buy dwarven [[cheese]] or dwarven [[milk]] {{Bug|1449}}. A workaround is to edit the global [[raw file]]s to make purring maggots appear on level one, [[world generation|generate a new world]], then edit the raws of the new world to change the maggots back to normal before embark. | ||
− | {{World | + | {{Category|World}} |