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Editing v0.34 Talk:Minecart

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* skipping does not depend on weight [http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=109460.msg3285968#msg3285968]
 
* skipping does not depend on weight [http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=109460.msg3285968#msg3285968]
 
* Minecart derailment speed, Track Stop friction [http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=112831.msg3508793#msg3508793]
 
* Minecart derailment speed, Track Stop friction [http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=112831.msg3508793#msg3508793]
 
: If useful should it not be on the page? If it is already the references should be inline on the page. If not useful no reason to list it? - [[User:AnnanFay|AnnanFay]] ([[User talk:AnnanFay|talk]]) 22:22, 3 August 2013 (UTC)
 
  
 
== Cave-Ins ==
 
== Cave-Ins ==
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== Minecart Tricks ==
 
== Minecart Tricks ==
Has anyone considered compiling a list of unusual things you can do with minecarts, like dwarven rollercoasters or traps?<small>&ndash; [[template:unsigned|unsigned]] comment by [[User:50.104.53.154|50.104.53.154]]</small>
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Has anyone considered compiling a list of unusual things you can do with minecarts, like dwarven rollercoasters or traps?
  
 
Sure. Here are a few examples:
 
Sure. Here are a few examples:
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How about minecart "landing pods" that actually launch the soldiers out of the fort into the middle of the battlefield, splattering enemies while delivering the soldiers straight to the fun? Could this be done safely? -[[User:Billw|Billw]]
 
How about minecart "landing pods" that actually launch the soldiers out of the fort into the middle of the battlefield, splattering enemies while delivering the soldiers straight to the fun? Could this be done safely? -[[User:Billw|Billw]]
 
Launching soldiers into battle is problematic, a straight forward shot would require a perfectly flat arrival zone and ballistic launches seem to be truly safe only if the cart is caught and stopped at the apex of its flight curve. It does make for a spectacular rollercoaster-type construction - about 70 tiles forward distance and over 20 z-levels ascent in free flight are possible, with perfect safety barring freak accidents.<small>&ndash; [[template:unsigned|unsigned]] comment by [[User:91.66.179.15|91.66.179.15]]</small>
 
  
 
== Bridges versus Hatches ==
 
== Bridges versus Hatches ==
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It's been noted that retracting bridges can be used as track direction switching points, as well as the fact that bridges will ''fling'' minecarts if they happen to be in the way while the bridge is switching. Would hatch covers also work for this? If they do, they would have the advantages of being instantaneous (rather than a 100 tick delay) and non-disruptive to minecarts (since they don't flingify stuff). --[[User:Quietust|Quietust]] 03:59, 17 June 2012 (UTC)
 
It's been noted that retracting bridges can be used as track direction switching points, as well as the fact that bridges will ''fling'' minecarts if they happen to be in the way while the bridge is switching. Would hatch covers also work for this? If they do, they would have the advantages of being instantaneous (rather than a 100 tick delay) and non-disruptive to minecarts (since they don't flingify stuff). --[[User:Quietust|Quietust]] 03:59, 17 June 2012 (UTC)
  
Hatches have close to the same friction as ground thus making a poor substitute for track.<small>&ndash; [[template:unsigned|unsigned]] comment by [[User:24.35.132.170|24.35.132.170]]</small>
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Hatches have close to the same friction as ground thus making a poor substitute for track.
  
Hatches don't seem to have an own 'direction' that would overwrite underlying tracks (which is what allows bridges to operate as switches). At least in my test, a cart followed a hatch-covered track corner faithfully instead of continuing in a straight line.<small>&ndash; [[template:unsigned|unsigned]] comment by [[User:91.66.176.151|91.66.176.151]]</small> You can use hatches over downward ramps to switch a track between two z-levels, however, and for that purpose, hatches are probably superior to (1x1 retreating) bridges because of their immediate response.<small>&ndash; [[template:unsigned|unsigned]] comment by [[User:91.65.219.68|91.65.219.68]]</small>
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Hatches don't seem to have an own 'direction' that would overwrite underlying tracks (which is what allows bridges to operate as switches). At least in my test, a cart followed a hatch-covered track corner faithfully instead of continuing in a straight line. You can use hatches over downward ramps to switch a track between two z-levels, however, and for that purpose, hatches are probably superior to (1x1 retreating) bridges because of their immediate response.  
PS: hatches over downward ramps are of limited usefulness if the hatch can open while the cart is passing over it. It seems that a hatch opening under a cart forces the minecart to 'fall', nullifying its forward velocity. It will then roll off the ramp at much too little speed to climb back up a ramp. A cart propelled by a highest-speed roller can ascend a ramp and will 'bounce back' if the ramp exit is blocked by a closed hatch. This appears to be somewhat more useful for switching tracks with hatches. There are other options of using hatch covers as cart switches, but those are hard to pull off without abusing the bugs concerning ramps.<small>&ndash; [[template:unsigned|unsigned]] comment by [[User:91.66.177.201|91.66.177.201]]</small>
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PS: hatches over downward ramps are of limited usefulness if the hatch can open while the cart is passing over it. It seems that a hatch opening under a cart forces the minecart to 'fall', nullifying its forward velocity. It will then roll off the ramp at much too little speed to climb back up a ramp. A cart propelled by a highest-speed roller can ascend a ramp and will 'bounce back' if the ramp exit is blocked by a closed hatch. This appears to be somewhat more useful for switching tracks with hatches. There are other options of using hatch covers as cart switches, but those are hard to pull off without abusing the bugs concerning ramps.
  
 
== Capacity ==
 
== Capacity ==
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== Magma-Safe ==
 
== Magma-Safe ==
  
It turns out that nether cap minecarts are not magma-safe and can not be used for hauling magma.<small>&ndash; [[template:unsigned|unsigned]] comment by [[User:89.210.64.176|89.210.64.176]]</small>
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It turns out that nether cap minecarts are not magma-safe and can not be used for hauling magma.
  
 
== Magma Transport ==
 
== Magma Transport ==
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:: I have done some major rework and restructuring. Hopefully it's much better now. [[User:Sorno|Sorno]] ([[User talk:Sorno|talk]]) 21:58, 27 June 2013 (UTC)
 
:: I have done some major rework and restructuring. Hopefully it's much better now. [[User:Sorno|Sorno]] ([[User talk:Sorno|talk]]) 21:58, 27 June 2013 (UTC)
 
::: Thanks. I somehow missed this post, but I like your improvements. :) --[[User:Lethosor|<span style="color:#074">Lethosor</span>]] ([[User talk:Lethosor|<span style="color:#092">talk</span>]]) 01:53, 28 June 2013 (UTC)
 
::: Thanks. I somehow missed this post, but I like your improvements. :) --[[User:Lethosor|<span style="color:#074">Lethosor</span>]] ([[User talk:Lethosor|<span style="color:#092">talk</span>]]) 01:53, 28 June 2013 (UTC)
::::Much better now thanks you for your work. I did some extensive minecart testing and added some additional info to the numbers behind the scene. Feel free to reword my paragraph, as english is not my native language, but the info I added is accurate, so don't change it. fricy -(20 July, '13)
 
 
== Rollers, power transmission ==
 
 
If you think the statement 'rollers transfer power in the four compass directions on the same z-level' is incorrect, could you provide an example? Because i've observed the statement to be true. For example:
 
(image links)
 
http://imgur.com/Qp5PR6Q
 
this array, with a roller (on rough floor, no less) in the centre, shows these power requirements:
 
http://imgur.com/qCH6eUV
 
 
four gear assemblies, four one-part axles, one roller. A sum of 26. They're all connected, through the roller. The observation also holds true with powered arrays: axles, gear assemblies and other rollers work when they directly touch an active roller on any of its sides.
 
 
Edit: tried this with an older roller, and that one _wouldn't_ transmit power in the 'wrong' direction. After i ripped it out and built it anew (N->S roller, offered power only through an horizontal axle from South, attached a gearbox north to show the effect; this had _not_ worked originally) the roller was active and transmitted power from the axle to the gearbox, visible 'rotation' and all.
 
 
I've no idea what's going on, it might be an effect of the location of the original power source, build order or maybe even saving/restoring causing a roller to delete these transmission options. After saving/restoring, the south-to-north transmitting roller still works and transmits power to the gear assembly. I'll amend the article for "it's weird", o.k.?<small>&ndash; [[template:unsigned|unsigned]] comment by [[User:24.134.31.29|24.134.31.29]]</small>
 
 
:I do recall some issues with components from older versions of DF working inconsistently in v0.34.11, although I don't remember what they were. Was this "old" roller built in a different version (v0.34.08-10)? --[[User:Lethosor|<span style="color:#074">Lethosor</span>]] ([[User talk:Lethosor|<span style="color:#092">talk</span>]]) 16:51, 30 July 2013 (UTC)
 
 
:: It was a current-version fort, but i ran into varying roller connectivity again and now think it's a matter of 'build order': when a roller is constructed, it seems to check neighbouring squares for available power sources, and if only 'perpendicular' sources are available, it will only accept and transmit power in that direction. If there are (also) 'parrallel' power sources available, it will transmit power in all four directions. Building or demolishing constructions offering or demanding power after the roller has been finished appears to have no effect.<small>&ndash; [[template:unsigned|unsigned]] comment by [[User:24.134.31.29|24.134.31.29]]</small>
 
 
:::It looks like you are right, something is going on, good catch. Here's my theory after a short testing: 1 tile rollers behave just like gear assemblies, they are directionless and can connect to anything in their neighboring tiles, even to the "invalid" edge of other rollers. I was able to reproduce this quirk consistently with 1 tile rollers acting as a power connection, but not with anything longer. Can you confirm this? --[[User:Fricy|Fricy]] ([[User talk:Fricy|talk]]) 09:51, 31 July 2013 (UTC)
 
 
::::Now that you mention it, yes, the one-tile rollers seem to be reliable in that respect. Well-spotted, that's half of the issue adressed actually. What's quite confusing to me is that i've built several longer rollers that transmit in both directions, but haven't yet nailed down the cause of that behaviour. Something to look into when i next end up playing with rollers. EDIT: yes, it appears to be a build order/build constellation issue. I've built an eight-length and a ten-length roller, both of which transfer power through their 'parallel' ends. The trick was building the 'connected' machinery - axles and gearboxes - _before_ building the roller. Long chains of lenghtwise-connected rollers would presumably not work, because each would require the other to be built first to give/take power. They could probably be connected through 1x1 rollers, though. It'd be grand if someone else could try this out and see if my observations can be confirmed/debunked/refined.<small>&ndash; [[template:unsigned|unsigned]] comment by [[User:91.64.63.223|91.64.63.223]]</small>
 
 
Update: 1x1 rollers, as pointed out above, reliably transmit power in all four cardinal directions.
 
 
Longer rollers always transmit power along their sides. They will also transmit power through their front and back ends to power-accepting buildings (gearboxes, pumps, horizontal axles...) which were built/made connective ''before'' the roller was constructed. They will not transmit to such buildings which were constructed ''after'' the roller, and they lose connectivity with gear assemblies when the assembly gets disengaged. It seems pretty clear that there's some bug here, either the possibility of transmission in parallel is unintended, or (less likely) the transmission loss or failure to transmit is a bug.--[[User:Larix|Larix]] ([[User talk:Larix|talk]]) 21:27, 26 October 2013 (UTC)
 
 
== Collision damage? ==
 
 
What effects the damage caused by minecart-creature collisions? Weight, speed, quality, angle, etc? - [[User:AnnanFay|AnnanFay]] ([[User talk:AnnanFay|talk]]) 22:30, 3 August 2013 (UTC)
 
 
Weight (including cargo) definitely. Speed almost certainly. For the rest, i don't know.
 
--[[User:Larix|Larix]] ([[User talk:Larix|talk]]) 00:37, 10 October 2013 (UTC)
 
 
== Dumping clothes on minecart tracks ==
 
 
Dwarfs always dump their old clothes the moment they start "pickup equipment". This applies to _all_ cases where they just finished a job. Dwarfs can dump their clothes on minecart tracks after ending a ride, after pushing a cart, after building a track ramp, after engraving a track tile etc. I keep having this very problem all the time, and it's never connected to _riding_ minecarts.
 
And i find the hatch cover suggestion extremely vague, rather like you have some very specific construction/layout in mind that's not at all explained by this single sentence. --[[User:Larix|Larix]] ([[User talk:Larix|talk]]) 19:01, 4 April 2014 (UTC)
 
 
:Sure. But in most cases that is only a mild inconvenience; when combined with minecarts it becomes deadly. (I see a significant similarity to the baby-dropping bug--minecart rides are not the only time a dwarf loses their baby, but it's certainly one of the most problematic.) Counter to your experience, I have *only* had problems with clothing and ridden minecarts--but that's because I set up an automated [[User:Loci#Swimming_track|swimming track]]. Incidentally, you can find an example of my hatch-cover workaround at that link too. But, ultimately, this wiki is intended as a guide for players; which article do you think a player is going to consult after receiving a report of an inexplicable minecart collision, [[minecart]] or [[clothing]]?--[[User:Loci|Loci]] ([[User talk:Loci|talk]]) 19:34, 4 April 2014 (UTC)
 
 
:: I'm not at all against referencing the problem here, i just find that mentioning _only_ riding of minecarts is wrongly specific; dwarfs dumping their clothes on minecart tracks and later diving under the wheels to save their socks is a general dwarfs+carts problem. Many people have the same type of problem but may find that the description doesn't apply to them because they (including myself) almost never set routes to ride.
 
 
:: I suggest phrasing it more generally - dwarfs have a habit of dropping old clothes on minecart tracks after performing minecart-related jobs. --[[User:Larix|Larix]] ([[User talk:Larix|talk]]) 20:33, 4 April 2014 (UTC)
 
 
:::Is that not how it is now? I left your generalized warning, but added back a specific warning and workaround for ridden minecarts. I don't consider a generic warning sufficient because, except for ridden minecarts, all the other cases can be worked around quite easily. You can manually check the tracks for any discarded clothing after construction, and know that no new clothing will be added without further construction. By separating your departure and arrival track stops, there is little risk when discarded clothing accumulates on a push stop. Guided stops may accumulate clothing, but guided carts aren't dangerous. Only when riding in minecarts do dwarves *always* drop their clothing on a tile that minecarts are guaranteed to travel to.--[[User:Loci|Loci]] ([[User talk:Loci|talk]]) 20:52, 4 April 2014 (UTC)
 
 
::::It still came off to me as saying that lack of traffic safety concerns is a problem ''because '''minecart riders''' drop clothes on track''. It may not have been your intent, but the wording suggested it to me. I have had and keep having problems with my dwarfs calmly walking into speeding carts to clean, go on break or haul stone; never because of dropped clothes after riding.
 
::::I can see that an "always ride instantly" short track will be particularly plagued with dropped clothes, but that manifestation of the problem (and the solution) is very specific to this type of application, while the general problem occurs and is a headache in all uses of free-running carts. I edited the phrasing (including a link to your swimming track); i hope you're okay with that.--[[User:Larix|Larix]] ([[User talk:Larix|talk]]) 14:42, 9 April 2014 (UTC)
 

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