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40d:Stone management
Stonestonestonestonestones....
Stones and ores come in abundance and overflow in your fortress. So how do you get rid of them?
Techniques
These techniques are developed by players throughout the history of dwarf fortress playing.
-Catapult it!
Build a catapult (or three), and assign a dwarf (or three) to keep firing stones into walls. The stones will shatter and be gone from your sight!
-Stockpile it!
This is not a recommended method due to space-requirements. Build a large stockpile for stone away from your fortress. Dwarves will carry stones out to the stockpile, and it atleast be away from your fortress. The stockpile needs to be placed somewhere without stones, because only 1 stone will be placed per tile, and will result in long hauling trips.
-Dump it!
This is a preferred method due to the nature of its usefulness. However, it could easily be considered an exploit, and might not work in later versions of dwarf fortress.
How to do it
-Make a zone ('i') of 1x1 or 1x2 tiles (preferably near your stone-needy workshops), and mark it as a garbage dump. -Press 'k' and find a stone. Press 'd', and will will be marked for dumping. -A dwarf with refuse-hauling will come by, and take the stone to the garbage dump.
Why is this so great?
No matter how many stones you mark for dumping, they will all be placed on the same tiny garbage tile! So basically, mark all the stones you want dumped and they will be dumped. You are now able to place ALL the stones and ores in the fortress on 1 tile!!
Important
Every dumped stone will be marked as "Forbidden", and will not be used in stone-production. If you want to use the dumped stones, you must press 'k', find the pile of stones, and press 'f' on every stone on the list (using +/- to navigate through the list).
Rock shute
You can dig a channel, and make a zone over it. Mark it as a garbage dump, and dwarves will dump stones down the channel. The stones will end up in the bottom tile.
-Craft it!
Build a craftsworkshop or masons workshop in a stonefilled area. Then add alot of repeat jobs like making stone crafts, or doors. (A fortress can never get enough doors) You can always trade away the crafts. A crafted stone counts towards the fortress value instead of being a worthless stone. The workshops will craft stones that are nearby, and soon the immediate area around the workshop will be cleared.
-Add your own technique!
Have you got a nice technique you use to cope with the enormous amounts of stone? Share it here! Register and press 'edit' on the top of this page to share it with the world!
Why remove?
-Stockpiles
On some stockpiles, you will be unable to use the tiles that contain a stone. It will therefore be a good thing to clear up room for the things you want to stockpile.
-You cant see the floor!
Personally I find the fortress more enjoyable to watch if it looks nice and uniform. Random stones lying about is, in my opinion, uglier to look at than a nice smooth clear floor.
-Yeah, why remove?
You actually don't need to remove stones at all, except for the stockpile thing. Clearing out the fortress for stone is more of a personal priority rather than an essential need or requirement. But people have had a tendency to ask about and discuss this specific subject, so here you are. A guide to stone management.