40d Talk:Flux

Maps without flux?

Where might I find flux? I've been digging quite extensive shafts but have yet to hit on any at all - instead it's all shale, granite, magnetite and mica. --Theory 14:53, 10 March 2008 (EDT)

Before you embark, check the map screen. It will list the different stone layers available in each biome in your selected embark area. Use F1-F8 to flip through all available biomes in your embark area, noting the stone layers in each to the right. If one of the flux stones shows up in that list in one (or more) of the biomes in your embark area, you will have that flux available. You can also tell where it will be based on the stone list and the selected biome. If it lists gabbro, then chalk, then obsidian in a biome which is in the southwest corner of your embark area, you can use that to find it. Dig into the southwest corner and pay attention to the stone type you're digging in. If you're digging in gabbro, the chalk is some z-levels below; likewise, if you're digging in obsidian, the chalk will be some z-levels above.

If you've already embarked to an area without paying attention to that, it's very likely that you don't have any flux available; it can be rather sparse throughout the world. Still, you have a couple of options. First, you could generate another world using the same seed and find the spot you embarked to again to note the stone layers. Otherwise, you could use the Reveal.exe utility on a copy of your current world to reveal all stone layers and hunt around for some flux.

EDIT: also, if you have no flux available on your map, you can always make a trade agreement with another civilization to have them bring you flux stone with their trade caravans. --Janus 22:37, 10 March 2008 (EDT)

Can somebody confirm that flux stones should be available for trade because it seems I cannot get chalk, limestone, marble etc although I can get bituminous coal, magnetite etc.GarrieIrons 09:53, 13 June 2008 (EDT)

I trade for them all the time. It does depend on the dwarven civ you trade with, though- I know one of my dwarf civs only has one kind of flux, while another has three or four. And of course, you can only get it from the dwarven caravans. --Zombiejustice 10:46, 13 June 2008 (EDT)

I've had many maps where I could trade for flux, but I just got a map with no flux in it and no flux listed in the embark screen under stone or in the dwarven caravan's trade request list. I guess steel will have to be an import in maps like that. Psion 07:33, 4 August 2008 (EDT)

Civilisations will only bring flux if they have access to it. You can check on the world map if their cities are on Flux layers. If not, you never have access to flux.Qwertyu 10:04, 5 March 2009 (EST)

I believe the stones you can bring on embark are also representative of what the civilization has available. That is, if there's no flux available on the embark screen, then the traders won't have any. Incidentally, the same would go for bauxite as well. --LegacyCWAL 12:15, 5 March 2009 (EST)

I've been having some trouble importing flux. The merchants are happy to bring marble blocks, but for some reason my smelters aren't giving me the option to make pig iron. Can I use blocks as a flux material, or does it have to be rough stones? I have all of the other ingredients I need so I can't think what else the problem could be. Aosher 04:56, 5 March 2009 (EST)

Blocks can not be used as flux AFAIR, you need the real stones.Qwertyu 10:04, 5 March 2009 (EST)

I'm pretty sure that you are correct: you need raw stones, not blocks. FWIW, modding can provide ways to counteract the problem of only being able to get blocks from the traders and not the raw stones. --LegacyCWAL 12:15, 5 March 2009 (EST)

If you can only trade for flux if you mod the game, then shouldn't that be noted in the article? At the moment ti's slightly misleading. Aosher 05:48, 6 March 2009 (EST)

i had the same problem; asked for chalk blocks from the caravan, traded for chalk blocks, and found myself lacking the 'make pig iron' option. fortunately, i've asked for some chalk stones (not blocks - it is possible. check the 'materials' tab, i think, when the liaison appears) from the next dwarven caravan - let's see if they're delivered :D – unsigned comment by DJDevil

also, it should be stated that blocks cant be used as flux on the flux page; anyone wanna edit it? x] – unsigned comment by DJDevil

For the record, I do not believe that "this can be changed by modding" should be in any article except for the most dire of bugs and oversights. Otherwise, we would have to say as much on a very, VERY large number of pages despite it being completely irrelevant to the unmodded game. --LegacyCWAL 12:20, 6 March 2009 (EST)

Seconded. You mod at your own risk. --Edward 12:50, 6 March 2009 (EST)

yeah, they brought some flux stone (the caravans after i asked 'em). all 8 pieces, lol. two of each, minus dolomite. they even brought a (yes, singular) lignite block (so i'm not sure if it can be used), but it was only 5! :D
how do you get them to bring more? put it to the highest priority in the negotiations thing? all i asked for was chalk and some meat! :/ --DJ Devil

I often started on maps without flux, and as far as I know, the traders never bring many stones. There are some ways to go around the problem, though. First of all, you should keep in mind that there is very little use in steel items. A fully clad platemail dwarf needs ten bars, and iron is almost as good as steel (definitely enough for "light infantry"). When starting a new fort, you can therefore try to take a lot of flux with you, as it is relatively cheap (6 points). Furthermore, you can trade with the caravan for steal items and melt them down. This is most often no problem, since you output tons of trade goods after 1-2 years. Finally, you can order steel bars and pig iron bars with highest priority, which might give less flux, but should always be a net gain. Humans can also bring pig iron bars.Qwertyu 17:13, 12 March 2009 (UTC)

Flux Capacitor?

So dwarves will be able to travel back in time? In a DeLorean? --AlexFili 05:59, 16 June 2008 (EDT)

Yes, but you have to generate 1.21 Gigawatts with windmills and water wheels.

My Niggling doubt says otherwise