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Editing 40d:Stupid dwarf trick

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{{Quality|Masterwork|10:55, 18 May 2015 (UTC)}}
 
 
<!--EDITORS!
 
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For those who don't notice, these are listed in ALPHABETICAL ORDER, so those trying to remember/find a specific SDT (heh) can. Please attempt to follow that pattern, thanks!
 
For those who don't notice, these are listed in ALPHABETICAL ORDER, so those trying to remember/find a specific SDT (heh) can. Please attempt to follow that pattern, thanks!
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{{D for Dwarf}}
 
{{D for Dwarf}}
  
A '''stupid dwarf trick''' is any project that requires a large amount of time and effort - often for little or no practical benefit. They exist only as a challenge for experienced players.  
+
A '''stupid dwarf trick''' is any project that requires a large amount time and effort - often for little or no practical benefit. They exist only as a challenge for experienced players.  
  
 
==Adventure Mode Fortress==
 
==Adventure Mode Fortress==
  
Build a fortress specifically for exploring in [[adventure mode]]. You can either make a nasty monster-filled challenge, or a smörgåsbord of masterpiece steel weapons and armor. Possibly both. A [[chasm]], underground [[river]], or [[hidden fun stuff]] can ensure the fortress is occupied.  
+
Build a fortress specifically for exploring in {{L|adventure mode}}. You can either make a nasty monster-filled challenge, or a smörgåsbord of masterpiece steel weapons and armor. Possibly both. A {{L|chasm}}, underground {{L|river}}, or {{L|hidden fun stuff}} can ensure the fortress is occupied.  
  
 
'''Difficulty:''' The sky's the limit.  
 
'''Difficulty:''' The sky's the limit.  
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'''Usefulness:''' Low.
 
'''Usefulness:''' Low.
 
==Alphabet Cages==
 
[[Image:Cage.gif|right]]
 
Use captured monsters in cages to spell messages.
 
 
'''Difficulty:''' Medium.  Vowels are hard to come by.
 
 
'''Usefulness:''' Absolutely none whatsoever. (Easy reminders in case you're too lazy to use notes?)
 
  
 
==Aqueduct Power==
 
==Aqueduct Power==
If your river's a long way away from your fortress, building a trans-map axle may be less efficient than building an aqueduct and pump stack driven by waterwheels in the river.  The pump stack raises it to the height of your fort, where it flows through the long, long aqueduct and drives waterwheels on the other end.  Getting the water pressure <em>just right</em> so it powers your waterwheel without flooding the fort can be [[Fun]].  Diagonal channels make good pressure reducers.  
+
If your river's a long way away from your fortress, building a trans-map axle may be less efficient than building an aqueduct and pump stack driven by waterwheels in the river.  The pump stack raises it to the height of your fort, where it flows through the long, long aqueduct and drives waterwheels on the other end.  Getting the water pressure <em>just right</em> so it powers your waterwheel without flooding the fort can be {{L|Fun}}.  Diagonal channels make good pressure reducers.  
  
 
'''Difficulty:''' High.  Lots of stone, lots of engineering, lots of dangerous outdoor work, lots of trial-and-error for the receiving waterwheels.
 
'''Difficulty:''' High.  Lots of stone, lots of engineering, lots of dangerous outdoor work, lots of trial-and-error for the receiving waterwheels.
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Aquifers can be a resource of immense power.  If you have two levels of aquifer, you can generate a continuous flow by draining one level of aquifer into another and plant waterwheels above it.  One stream can power a lot of wheels.
 
Aquifers can be a resource of immense power.  If you have two levels of aquifer, you can generate a continuous flow by draining one level of aquifer into another and plant waterwheels above it.  One stream can power a lot of wheels.
  
'''Difficulty:''' High.  Anything to do with draining aquifers is very [[Fun]].
+
'''Difficulty:''' High.  Anything to do with draining aquifers is very {{L|Fun}}.
  
 
'''Usefulness:''' High.  The lowly windmill pales in utility compared to a waterwheel.
 
'''Usefulness:''' High.  The lowly windmill pales in utility compared to a waterwheel.
  
 
==Artificial Waterfall==
 
==Artificial Waterfall==
To keep the waterfall going, you need a [[pump]] stack, preferably powered by a [[windmill]] or [[water wheel]].  
+
To keep the waterfall going, you need a {{L|pump}} stack, preferably powered by a {{L|windmill}} or {{L|water wheel}}.  
  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Moderate.  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Moderate.  
  
'''Usefulness:''' Dwarves love [[waterfall]]s. Putting a waterfall in your [[meeting hall]] will give your dwarves good [[thought]]s, although it can significantly lower framerate.
+
'''Usefulness:''' Dwarves love {{L|waterfall}}s. Putting a waterfall in your {{L|meeting hall}} will give your dwarves good {{L|thought}}s, although it can significantly lower framerate.
  
==[[Ballista]] Battery==
+
=={{L|Ballista}} Battery==
 
Overlap a few ballistas to completely cover a narrow corridor. There is an unavoidable risk of your operators wandering into the line of fire.  
 
Overlap a few ballistas to completely cover a narrow corridor. There is an unavoidable risk of your operators wandering into the line of fire.  
  
'''Difficulty:''' Low. If you insist on highly trained operators with high-quality ballistas, it gets harder.  
+
'''Difficulty:''' Low. If you insist on highly-trained operators with high-quality ballistas, it gets harder.  
  
 
'''Usefulness:''' A complicated and dangerous way to defend a single corridor.  Ultimately extremely effective.  Sometimes.
 
'''Usefulness:''' A complicated and dangerous way to defend a single corridor.  Ultimately extremely effective.  Sometimes.
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Bonus: draw your entire energy from a power station within
 
Bonus: draw your entire energy from a power station within
  
'''Difficulty:''' On a map that freezes in the winter, this is easy. Otherwise, very difficult. (See [[dam]], or Moses effect, below.  But with the bonuses it gets a bit harder.
+
'''Difficulty:''' On a map that freezes in the winter, this is easy. Otherwise, very difficult. (See {{L|dam}}, or Moses effect, below.  But with the bonuses it gets a bit harder.
  
 
'''Usefulness:''' Depends on how many bonuses you fulfill. The Power station is obvious, and with the control room you could build up a nice defense system.
 
'''Usefulness:''' Depends on how many bonuses you fulfill. The Power station is obvious, and with the control room you could build up a nice defense system.
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==Drowning Chamber==
 
==Drowning Chamber==
A room which you can fill with [[water]] (e.g. from a [[river]] or [[aquifer]]) and subsequently drain (using [[screw pump]]s or [[floor grate]]s).
+
BONUS: Fill it with tame Carp, see IT'S A CRAP below.
 
 
 
'''Difficulty:''' Moderate.  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Moderate.  
  
 
'''Usefulness:''' You can kill prisoners, useless peasants, irate nobles, hammerers, untrainable animals, or anything else.
 
'''Usefulness:''' You can kill prisoners, useless peasants, irate nobles, hammerers, untrainable animals, or anything else.
  
==[[Computing|Dwarfputer]] Complex==
+
=={{L|Computing|Dwarfputer}} Complex==
 
A big mess of fluid and/or machine logic full of hatches, floodgates, gears, pumps, etc. and powered by waterwheels, windmills, or useless idle dwarves.  Hook it up to doors, bridges, and traps.
 
A big mess of fluid and/or machine logic full of hatches, floodgates, gears, pumps, etc. and powered by waterwheels, windmills, or useless idle dwarves.  Hook it up to doors, bridges, and traps.
  
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==Dwarven Apartment Complex==
 
==Dwarven Apartment Complex==
Essentially, one of the many possible [[mega constructions]] dedicated to providing dwarves with rooms so high above the ground they get vertigo. Every floor must have plenty of rooms of at least 2x3 squares, with walls and a door surrounding this. Oh, and it has to go up as many Z-levels as possible. For extra credit, decide on what the top story will be (i.e. as many levels up as you deem possible, minus one so you can build a roof) and turn this into a Royal bedroom for a [[noble]], complete with gem windows, artifact/masterwork components, and untold numbers of armour stands and weapon racks. And then build some shorter but wider apartment buildings nearby to turn your fortress into essentially a giant fist with extended middle finger. Extra points for adding extra useless things for luxury, such as a magma-based heating system, fireplaces in rooms, and a lock-down lever in case of goblin attack. (or a self-destruct lever connected to the main supports, in case your dwarfish tenants are unsatisfied with your 5-star service.
+
Essentially, one of the many possible {{L|mega constructions}} dedicated to providing dwarves with rooms so high above the ground they get vertigo. Every floor must have plenty of rooms of at least 2x3 squares, with walls and a door surrounding this. Oh, and it has to go up as many Z-levels as possible. For extra credit, decide on what the top story will be (i.e. as many levels up as you deem possible, minus one so you can build a roof) and turn this into a Royal bedroom for a {{L|noble}}, complete with gem windows, artifact/masterwork components, and untold numbers of armour stands and weapon racks. And then build some shorter but wider apartment buildings nearby to turn your fortress into essentially a giant fist with extended middle finger. Extra points for adding extra useless things for luxury, such as a magma-based heating system, fireplaces in rooms, and a lock-down lever in case of goblin attack. (or a self-destruct lever connected to the main supports, in case your dwarfish tenants are unsatisfied with your 5-star service.
  
  
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'''Difficulty:''' High danger. Will kill your frame rate.  
 
'''Difficulty:''' High danger. Will kill your frame rate.  
  
'''Usefulness:''' Will prevent any sieges, at least. Or anything else, save for the occasional invasion of sociopathic [[Carp]].  
+
'''Usefulness:''' Will prevent any sieges, at least. Or anything else, save for the occasional invasion of sociopathic {{L|Carp}}.  
  
 
==Gladiator Arena==
 
==Gladiator Arena==
Station some soldiers at the bottom of a shallow [[Activity_zone#Pit/Pond|pit]] and dump your captives in. You can also use dangerous animals instead of soldiers. For extra points, put the prisoners in cages connected to ramps underneath the arena floor.  One lever will open both the cage and a hatch above the ramp.
+
Station some soldiers at the bottom of a shallow {{L|Activity_zone#Pit/Pond|pit}} and dump your captives in. You can also use dangerous animals instead of soldiers. For extra points, put the prisoners in cages connected to ramps underneath the arena floor.  One lever will open both the cage and a hatch above the ramp.
  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Moderate, but time consuming. Some danger depending on the relative skill of your soldiers and the danger of the captive.
 
'''Difficulty:''' Moderate, but time consuming. Some danger depending on the relative skill of your soldiers and the danger of the captive.
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==Greenhouse==
 
==Greenhouse==
A [[farming|greenhouse]] is just a farm with the ceiling channeled out from above. This lets you grow outdoor plants without venturing above ground. For maximum style, build the greenhouse above ground and cover it with a glass roof to keep your farmers safe.
+
A {{L|farming|greenhouse}} is just a farm with the the ceiling channeled out from above. This lets you grow outdoor plants without venturing above ground. For maximum style, build the greenhouse above ground and cover it with a glass roof to keep your farmers safe.
  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Low.  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Low.  
  
'''Usefulness:''' Surface plants can be grown at any time of the year, and some are more useful than those available underground - for example, [[sun berry|sun berries]] can be brewed into valuable [[Sunshine]], and [[whip vine]]s can be milled into superior quality flour. Having greater food and booze diversity can also keep your dwarves happier.
+
'''Usefulness:''' Surface plants can be grown at any time of the year, and some are more useful than those available underground - for example, {{L|sun berry|sun berries}} can be brewed into valuable {{L|Sunshine}}, and {{L|whip vine}}s can be milled into superior quality flour. Having greater food and booze diversity can also keep your dwarves happier.
  
==Hammer of [[Armok]]==
+
==Hammer of {{L|Armok}}==
 
A gigantic hammer made out of pure steel and/or valuables looming over your fortress entrance ready to smite those foolish enough to lay a siege on you. Also, gives you a psychological advantage over the traders who unload their goods under it. Attach to a lever-linked support for quicksmiting, or any other single-tile collapse mechanism. BONUS: Cover it with blood.
 
A gigantic hammer made out of pure steel and/or valuables looming over your fortress entrance ready to smite those foolish enough to lay a siege on you. Also, gives you a psychological advantage over the traders who unload their goods under it. Attach to a lever-linked support for quicksmiting, or any other single-tile collapse mechanism. BONUS: Cover it with blood.
  
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==Ice tower==
 
==Ice tower==
  
Building a huge tower is easy. To make things more [[fun]], make one out of some exotic material, like [[glass]], [[ice]], [[gold]], or [[soap]].  
+
Building a huge tower is easy. To make things more {{L|fun}}, make one out of some exotic material, like {{L|glass}}, {{L|ice}}, {{L|gold}}, or {{L|soap}}.  
  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Low. You need to be on a freezing map to pull off an ice tower.  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Low. You need to be on a freezing map to pull off an ice tower.  
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==It's A TRAP!==
 
==It's A TRAP!==
It seems that [[trap]]s are buildable outside. This provides for numerous opportunities. The first that comes to mind is to trap the entire outside world of your embarkation point. This will make your sieges very amusing, as a hundred high-level goblins rush onto the field and are immediately shredded into ribbons by invisible traps before even seeing one dwarf.
+
It seems that {{L|traps}} are buildable outside. This provides for numerous opportunities. The first that comes to mind is to trap the entire outside world of your embarkation point. This will make your sieges very amusing, as a hundred high-level goblins rush onto the field and are immediately shredded into ribbons by invisible traps before even seeing one dwarf.
  
 
'''Difficulty:''' High. Depending on the size of your embarkation point, this may involve placing thousands of traps. Depending on the type of trap, that may involve making tens of thousands of trap components.
 
'''Difficulty:''' High. Depending on the size of your embarkation point, this may involve placing thousands of traps. Depending on the type of trap, that may involve making tens of thousands of trap components.
  
'''Usefulness:''' High. Sieges will be instantaneous, and if you use cage traps, your [[arena]] will never want for combatants, including all those pesky wild animals you no longer need to hunt for.
+
'''Usefulness:''' High. Sieges will be instantaneous, and if you use cage traps, your {{L|arena}} will never want for combatants, including all those pesky wild animals you no longer need to hunt for.
  
 
==It's A CRAP!==
 
==It's A CRAP!==
CRAP: Carp trap...wait, why are you laughing? Anyway, here's what you do.
+
CRAP: Carp trap...wait, why are you laughing? Anyway, here what you do.
  
 
Capture some carp in terrarium cage trap. If you don't die instantly, tame them. Then dump them in your moat and breed them.
 
Capture some carp in terrarium cage trap. If you don't die instantly, tame them. Then dump them in your moat and breed them.
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'''Difficulty:''' Moderate to High, depending on the size of the ship. For bonus points, carve the entire thing out of existing rock overhanging a magma pipe and engrave it with messages. The main problem is getting the whole crew inside at the same time - separate sleeping quarters help here.   
 
'''Difficulty:''' Moderate to High, depending on the size of the ship. For bonus points, carve the entire thing out of existing rock overhanging a magma pipe and engrave it with messages. The main problem is getting the whole crew inside at the same time - separate sleeping quarters help here.   
  
'''Usefulness:''' Negative. For some reason, no explorers have returned. Of course, if you select only the [[Noble|Best and Brightest]] for the ship's crew...
+
'''Usefulness:''' Negative. For some reason, no explorers have returned. Of course, if you select only the {{L|Nobles |Best and Brightest}} for the ship's crew...
  
 
==Labyrinth==
 
==Labyrinth==
  
A maze of twisty little passages, all alike. [[Trap]]s and dangerous animals are essential. You can have a retracting bridge drop invaders in, or just have a labyrinth as a back door.  
+
A maze of twisty little passages, all alike. {{L|Trap}}s and dangerous animals are essential. You can have a retracting bridge drop invaders in, or just have a labyrinth as a back door.  
  
 
'''Difficulty:''' It's a lot of mining. Having a bridge drop invaders inside is more difficult, but more useful.  
 
'''Difficulty:''' It's a lot of mining. Having a bridge drop invaders inside is more difficult, but more useful.  
  
'''Usefulness:''' It makes a nice element of fortress defense, and you can dump your prisoners inside it. Also makes a great place to explore in [[adventure mode]].
+
'''Usefulness:''' It makes a nice element of fortress defense, and you can dump your prisoners inside it. Also makes a great place to explore in {{L|adventure mode}}.
  
*BONUS: Generate a world with large mountain [[cave]]s. Instead of using the labyrinth as your backdoor, use it as your fortress.
+
*BONUS: Generate a world with large mountain {{L|cave}}s. Instead of using the labyrinth as your backdoor, use it as your fortress.
 +
 
 +
This should be titled Maze not Labyrinth, a maze has twisting passages that branch off with dead ends, a Labyrinth has no turns and just twists in on itself in patterns repetitively.
  
 
==Magma Chamber==
 
==Magma Chamber==
A room which you can fill with [[magma]] and subsequently drain.
 
 
 
'''Difficulty:''' Dangerous as any magma project.  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Dangerous as any magma project.  
  
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[http://www.bay12games.com/forum/index.php?topic=33837.0 It can be done!] It uses a row of pumps to pressurize the magma in a chamber with only one exit. When the floodgate opens, the magma flies out a short distance.  
 
[http://www.bay12games.com/forum/index.php?topic=33837.0 It can be done!] It uses a row of pumps to pressurize the magma in a chamber with only one exit. When the floodgate opens, the magma flies out a short distance.  
  
'''Difficulty:''' Very high. You need [[metal]] (or [[glass]]) [[screw pump]]s to make it work, [[magma-safe]] floodgates and mechanisms, plus a big above-ground construction.  
+
'''Difficulty:''' Very high. You need {{L|metal}} (or {{L|glass}}) {{L|screw pump}}s to make it work, {{L|magma-safe}} floodgates and mechanisms, plus a big above-ground construction.  
  
 
'''Usefulness:''' Marginal. But very cool.
 
'''Usefulness:''' Marginal. But very cool.
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'''Difficulty:''' High.  Requires certain resources from the start, plus lots of setup.  And your dwarves tend to erupt into dwarf steam occasionally.
 
'''Difficulty:''' High.  Requires certain resources from the start, plus lots of setup.  And your dwarves tend to erupt into dwarf steam occasionally.
  
'''Usefulness:''' None, since an obsidian lined room with exactly the same furniture somewhere else will please your nobles just as much.
+
'''Usefulness:''' None, since an obsidian lined room with the exact same furniture somewhere else will please your nobles just as much.
  
 
==Magma Pumping==
 
==Magma Pumping==
It's a lot like pumping water, only more dangerous, and requires the [[screw pump|pumps]] to use [[magma-proof]] pipes and screws in their construction.  
+
It's a lot like pumping water, only more dangerous, and requires the {{L|screw pump|pumps}} to use {{L|magma-proof}} pipes and screws in their construction.  
  
'''Difficulty:''' The difficult part is making all those [[iron]] or [[steel]] pumps and [[bauxite]] [[floodgate]]s. Very high risk.  
+
'''Difficulty:''' The difficult part is making all those {{L|iron}} or {{L|steel}} pumps and {{L|bauxite}} {{L|floodgate}}s. Very high risk.  
  
'''Usefulness:''' Magma is fun, but also [[Fun]].  
+
'''Usefulness:''' Magma is fun, but also {{L|Fun}}.  
  
 
==Mega/Water Drowning Trap-Thing==
 
==Mega/Water Drowning Trap-Thing==
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*BONUS:Make the statue hollow and have dwarves live inside it.
 
*BONUS:Make the statue hollow and have dwarves live inside it.
*MEGADWARFBONUS:Make the hollow statue for the dwarves to live in out of obsidian.
 
  
 
==Moses Effect==
 
==Moses Effect==
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'''Difficulty:''' Surprisingly easy.  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Surprisingly easy.  
  
'''Usefulness:''' You can use this trick to create a waterfall or drowning chamber. It is also important if you want to pass through an [[Aquifer]], although that is far more difficult.
+
'''Usefulness:''' You can use this trick to create a waterfall or drowning chamber. It is also important if you want to pass through an {{L|Aquifer}}, although that is far more difficult.
 
 
==Nuclear Fallout Bunker==
 
Build a mini fortress with everything your dwarves could need deep underground. Stock it with enough food, drinks, and materials to last your small band of survivors for years or alternatively make it self-sufficient with its own food production. Lastly add a bridge that allows you to seal off the bunker from the rest of the world.
 
 
 
'''Difficulty:''' Easy-Medium depending on the relative luxury of the bunker and how many dwarves you intend to shelter form the apocalypse.
 
 
 
'''Usefulness:''' High. If your fort is threatened by some particularly nasty disaster (be it tantrum spiral or Bronze Colossus) simply rush your best and brightest dwarves down to the Nuclear Fallout Bunker and raise the bridge, sealing it off from the rest of the world.
 
  
==[[Obsidian]] factory==
+
=={{L|Obsidian}} factory==
 
You need one reservoir of water, and one of magma. Mix, cool, mine, and repeat as necessary.
 
You need one reservoir of water, and one of magma. Mix, cool, mine, and repeat as necessary.
  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Medium.  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Medium.  
  
'''Usefulness:''' Obsidian is 50% more valuable than [[flux]] and 3 times as valuable as ordinary stone, making it ideal for your [[mason]]s and [[stone crafter]]s. Done properly, it can also serve as a magma chamber ''and'' a drowning chamber.
+
'''Usefulness:''' Obsidian is 50% more valuable than {{L|flux}} and 3 times as valuable as ordinary stone, making it ideal for your {{L|mason}}s and {{L|stone crafter}}s. Done properly, it can also serve as a magma chamber ''and'' a drowning chamber.
  
 
==Pit o' Doom==
 
==Pit o' Doom==
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==Rehabilitation Centre==
 
==Rehabilitation Centre==
Had any problems with dwarves charging brainlessly towards the enemy, getting slaughtered, and then starting a tantrum spiral that will destroy your fortress? Turn your prison into a luxurious room full of things that make dwarves happy. Add artifact furniture, beds, a booze stockpile, chains made of gold (or anything valuable,) a waterfall, creatures in cages, etc. Hopefully they will return to society as a happy, more productive dwarf.
+
Had any problems with dwarves charging brainlessly towards the enemy, getting slaughtered, and then starting a tantrum spiral that will destroy your fortress? Turn your prison into a luxurious room full of things that make dwarves happy. Add artifact furniture, beds, a booze stockpile, chains made of gold (or anything valuable,) a waterfall, creatures in cages, etc. Hopefully they will return to society as a happy, productive dwarf.
  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Low-Medium. Acquiring valuable items and setting up the waterfall can be annoying sometimes. Also you need guards to actually put them in jail. And it can be a real pain when those ungrateful sobs destroy the nice furniture you give them.
 
'''Difficulty:''' Low-Medium. Acquiring valuable items and setting up the waterfall can be annoying sometimes. Also you need guards to actually put them in jail. And it can be a real pain when those ungrateful sobs destroy the nice furniture you give them.
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==Self Destruct Lever==
 
==Self Destruct Lever==
A mechanism that, for example, could flood your fort with magma, or release a trapped megabeast. For bonus points, build the whole fort on a single [[support]].  
+
A mechanism that, for example, could flood your fort with magma, or release a trapped megabeast. For bonus points, build the whole fort on a single {{L|support}}.  
  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Very high. Extremely dangerous.  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Very high. Extremely dangerous.  
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'''Usefulness:''' None, by definition, but highly amusing.
 
'''Usefulness:''' None, by definition, but highly amusing.
  
==[[Swimming]] pool==
+
=={{L|Swimming}} pool==
It's a reservoir that fills to 4/7 exactly. Station soldiers inside, lock them in, and fill. This way they gain [[swimming]] skill.  
+
It's a reservoir that fills to 4/7 exactly. Station soldiers inside, lock them in, and fill. This way they gain {{L|swimming}} skill.  
  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Low. It's just a pair of reservoirs.  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Low. It's just a pair of reservoirs.  
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'''Usefulness:''' The swimming skill is only slightly useful. This is most useful if the entrance to your fort has narrow walkways/moats surrounded by water, and you station your soldiers there.  It does help gain attributes though.
 
'''Usefulness:''' The swimming skill is only slightly useful. This is most useful if the entrance to your fort has narrow walkways/moats surrounded by water, and you station your soldiers there.  It does help gain attributes though.
  
==[[Tower-cap]] Farm==
+
=={{L|Tower-cap}} Farm==
 
You absolutely need to break into an underground river or lake. Make some muddy floors over a big area and wait.  
 
You absolutely need to break into an underground river or lake. Make some muddy floors over a big area and wait.  
  
'''Difficulty:''' Moderate. More information on it can be found [[Tower-cap|here]]
+
'''Difficulty:''' Moderate. More information on it can be found {{L|Tower-cap|here}}
  
 
'''Usefulness:''' Depends on size - bigger is better.
 
'''Usefulness:''' Depends on size - bigger is better.
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==U.R.I.S.T. Artificial Intelligence==
 
==U.R.I.S.T. Artificial Intelligence==
Basically, a dwarf in a bunker that controls your fortress. Being that there are no supercomputers in DF at the moment, we'll have to use the closest substitute, a dwarf. Seal your dwarf in a room full of levers that activate various floodgates, bridges, doors, hatch covers, traps, etc. Make sure this room has no exits or entrances, but it needs a luxurious bedroom and dining area, and you must include a chute for dropping in <s>food</s> biomass and <s>alcohol</s> coolant fluid. Alternatively, you can set up farms in the bunker for a self-sustaining, infinite source of food and booze, although you may want to seal multiple dwarves in the bunker to ensure that there is always a dwarf ready to pull a lever. Profile the levers so that they can only be used by the A.I. dwarf(s).
+
Basically, a dwarf in a bunker that controls your fortress. Being that there are no supercomputers in DF at the moment, we'll have to use the closest substitute, a dwarf. Seal your dwarf in a room full of levers that activate various floodgates, bridges, doors, hatch covers, traps, etc. Make sure this room has no exits or entrances, but it needs a luxurious bedroom and dining area, and you must include a chute for dropping in <s>food</s> biomass and <s>alcohol</s> coolant fluid. Profile the levers so that they can only be used by the A.I. dwarf.
  
 
It would be a good idea to make the system into two rooms. The food/drink/bed room and the lever room. Should you need to add more levers, you can lock the A.I. dwarf outside the lever room and have your mechanics set up more levers without interacting with or releasing the A.I.
 
It would be a good idea to make the system into two rooms. The food/drink/bed room and the lever room. Should you need to add more levers, you can lock the A.I. dwarf outside the lever room and have your mechanics set up more levers without interacting with or releasing the A.I.
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==Vomitorium==
 
==Vomitorium==
Prevents [[cave adaption]]. It's like the greenhouse, only instead of a farm, it's a [[meeting hall]] or [[barracks]]. Since you can't build [[table]]s or [[bed]]s outside, build the room and [[channel]] down to it, or build a [[bridge]] or two over the top.
+
Prevents {{L|cave adaption}}. It's like the greenhouse, only instead of a farm, it's {{L|meeting hall}} or {{L|barracks}}. Since you can't build {{L|table}}s or {{L|bed}}s outside, build the room and {{L|channel}} down to it, or build a {{L|bridge}} or two over the top.
  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Low.  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Low.  
  
'''Usefulness:''' Low. Make sure to wall the pit in, or it will become very [[fun]] once [[goblin]] archers become involved.
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'''Usefulness:''' Low. Make sure to wall the pit in or it will become very {{L|Fun}} once {{L|goblin}} archers become involved.
  
==Destroy the world==
 
Make a huge pump that can destroy the entire world save for a bit of hostiles-free land to be happy with forever. Have the all-important stop-the-pump-it's-enough-now device be timer that stops the flood once McDoomed ceases to go thru a certain pressure plate regularly while hauling rocks back and forth.
 
  
Bonus: use magma instead of water, and release hell while your utopia under a sealed glass dome is safe and entertained by the demons outside. Claim it's all in the interest of destroying the one ring (before someone finds it) by bringing the volcano to it! Laugh maniacally until they realize you had the one ring safely in your pocket since embark!!
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'''Difficulty:'''
  
Extra bonus if done to finish off a cat explosion problem. This is the reason I've done it.
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'''Usefulness:'''
  
'''Difficulty:''' High due to micromanagement - such as walling the world.
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'''Usefulness:''' What do you mean it's not awesome??? Oh, right, you can no longer really LOSE so you're bored? I guess you're volunteering for the pressure plate work, McDoomed...
 
 
==Split fortresses==
 
 
Make 2 or more independent fortresses.
 
 
Bonus points for a great wall of china type thing to keep invaders from sieging both at the same time.
 
 
'''Difficulty:''' Medium once you have a timer open the doors on alternate years to one fortress or the other. You can have drop-chutes to give stuff to the other fortress if need be, it helps with fey moods.
 
 
'''Usefulness:''' Whatever FUN happens, you have a backup. Except when the dragon decided to go thru my inter-fortress chute to reach in the closed-this-year fortress and burned everything, but you should usually get +250 years of FUN out of it before it's all over from synchronized disasters, very major disasters, or something like a catsplosion in a very far corner of the map killing framerates.
 
  
 
==Break the Dam==
 
==Break the Dam==
Line 424: Line 394:
 
'''Difficulty:''' Low
 
'''Difficulty:''' Low
  
'''Usefulness:''' Instantaneous death to all sieges!!
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'''Usefulness:''' Instantaneous death to all sieges
 
 
{{Category|Design}}
 

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