v50 Steam/Premium information for editors
  • v50 information can now be added to pages in the main namespace. v0.47 information can still be found in the DF2014 namespace. See here for more details on the new versioning policy.
  • Use this page to report any issues related to the migration.
This notice may be cached—the current version can be found here.

Editing DF2014:Activity zone

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Warning: You are not logged in.
Your IP address will be recorded in this page's edit history.

You are editing a page for an older version of Dwarf Fortress ("Main" is the current version, not "DF2014"). Please make sure you intend to do this. If you are here by mistake, see the current page instead.

The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.

Latest revision Your text
Line 1: Line 1:
−
{{Quality|Masterwork|12:28, 20 June 2020 (UTC)}}
+
#REDIRECT [[Activity zone]]
−
{{av}}
 
−
'''Activity zones''' are areas to which [[dwarf|dwarves]] are constrained when performing specific tasks, such as [[fishing]], dumping objects, or collecting [[water]]. Activity zones are optional for the performance of certain tasks (fishing, collecting water) but obligatory for certain others (dumping), and are used primarily to keep dwarves out of [[fun|danger]].
 
−
 
 
−
Activity zones can be placed in any [[revealed tile]], including in [[open space]], over a [[river]], or on top of a [[building]] or [[stockpile]]. They are placed in one of three ways: rectangular, flow, or floor flow. From within the Zones [[menu]], ({{k|i}})Pressing {{k|e}} in the Zones menu cycles through each method, and pressing {{k|Enter}} begins designation. Rectangular zones are placed in the same manner as stockpiles, specifying two corners of the rectangle. The numbers in brackets after each type of zone indicate how many selected floor tiles can be used for that type of zone. Flow and floor flow are placed similarly to designating rooms from pieces of furniture using {{k|+}}/{{k|-}} to adjust the size (floor flow excludes walls). After that the zone has to be assigned to one of the listed tasks to become functional, by pressing the proper key. In some cases ([[healthcare|hospital]], pit/pond) additional orders can then be set from the same menu. The location of a zone is only visible while in the Zones menu, and any object lying on the ground will hide the presence of a zone tile. The maximum size of an activity zone is 31×31.
 
−
[[Image:Zones menu v0.44.03.png|right]]
 
−
== Water source ==
 
−
:{{k|w}}
 
−
Dwarves will use these zones to draw water, to satisfy booze-less [[thirst]], to tend to another thirsty dwarf (with the Give Water job), or to fill a [[#Pit/Pond|Pond zone]]. Only tiles ''adjacent'' to water qualify as usable water sources - thus, if you want to place a single-tile zone, place the zone onto a ground tile next to the water, not over the water itself. This zone should ''not'' be used with [[well]]s - this is redundant, as they are already considered their own water source.
 
−
 
 
−
Remember that natural bodies of water usually contain aquatic wildlife, some of which may attack your dwarves, or at least spook civilians, and interrupt their tasks. Often it may be best to simply designate a safe body of water as a water source ({{k|i}}, set area rectangle using {{k|enter}}, {{k|w}}) and then restrict drinking and fishing to that zone ({{k|o|z|d|f|sep=-}}) so dwarves aren't allowed to drink/fish anywhere else.
 
−
 
 
−
Normally, creatures cannot attack any dwarves through a [[well]] so long as the well is not on the same z-level as the top of the lake/river, thus building one will allow your dwarves safe access to water inhabited by vicious animals (as long as those can't climb).
 
−
 
 
−
When dangerous fish are found in the river, one solution is to dig an artificial [[channel]] and place a [[grate]] between it and the river proper, as fish cannot swim through grates, but grates still allow water through. However, beware [[Grate#Bugs|the bug with flow and ''wall'' grates]] - taking water via U-shaped tunnel capped with ''floor'' grates may be safer. If you use a completely isolated smooth reservoir filled with [[pump]]-filtered water, it may still need protection, since the dwarf operating a pump stands right next to its water source tile.
 
−
Placing floor grates over the river or channel may also protect dwarves by preventing them from falling in.
 
−
 
 
−
[[Carp]] and other non-[[vermin]] fish suffocate if they are not in water, so in some situations it might be possible to pump the water out of a lake or pond. Conversely, an open water body (river or sea) not only cannot be subjected to temporary drainage, but even if there isn't anything dangerous right now, it may arrive later.
 
−
 
 
−
== Fishing zone ==
 
−
:{{k|f}}
 
−
Dwarves will preferably use these zones when [[fishing]], using them up until their supply is exhausted before moving on to the next water source (and exclusively if designated as such by [[standing orders]]: {{k|o}}-{{k|z}}). As with water sources, only tiles ''adjacent'' to water qualify as usable tiles. Far-flung fisherdwarves fishing in a distant [[river]] or [[pool]] are a serious defensive liability in case of an attack, so designating a safer fishing zone and, optionally, restricting non-zone fishing in the [[standing orders]] menu will help keep your fisherdwarves safe. Dwarves can fish through a [[grate]] or even a [[well]], provided there is water in the tile 1 z-level below the activity zone.
 
−
 
 
−
The [[Captured live fish|capture live fish]] job can ''only'' be carried out at a designated fishing zone.
 
−
 
 
−
== Gather/Pick Fruit ==
 
−
:{{k|g}}
 
−
This will automate plant-gathering jobs in this area, necessary if you want your dwarves to collect fruit from the floor or trees. If there are fruit-bearing trees in the designated area, a dwarf will fetch a [[stepladder]] to climb into the tree. The ladder-using dwarf will drop harvested fruit to the ground for others to collect and haul. The details can be set in a sub-menu.
 
−
 
 
−
== Garbage dump ==
 
−
{{main|Garbage dump}}
 
−
:{{k|d}}
 
−
Garbage dump zones are areas in which dwarves will throw items marked for dumping - either with by using {{k|k}}-{{k|d}} (one item at a time), or {{k|d}}-{{k|b}}-{{k|d}} (bulk dumping; note that this designates ''all'' items on the tiles for dumping, even built [[furniture]] and items inside [[container]]s). Garbage dumps are ''not'' the same as [[Refuse#Refuse|refuse]] stockpiles, which can be designated to accept specific type(s) of refuse, such as animal [[corpse]]s or [[bones]], and then are automatically filled by haulers whenever the items appear on the map. Despite the name, garbage dump zones are useful for many things beyond [[garbage disposal]]; they can create [[quantum stockpile]]s, transport materials to a job site, send items to the [[trade depot]] when no caravan is present, [[trap design#Falling_debris_trap|drop rocks]] on enemies below, and numerous other uses.
 
−
 
 
−
The garbage dump may be inappropriately named, as it's more of a matter compression zone. The specifics are beyond human understanding; however, dwarves are in fact capable of compressing an infinite amount of matter into only one tile, as long as it is specified as a garbage dump. If for some reason [[Main:Urist|Urist]] is yet again incapable of locating his favorite pair of cave troll leather socks, he should think to look among the black hole of matter that is the nearest garbage dump, as they could be snugly lodged between a few billion rocks.
 
−
 
 
−
Be aware that if a garbage zone is designated beside a cliff or hole (any open space, either natural or dwarf-made), garbage will be thrown into the open space. If a dump is designated over a [[ramp]] to the next level down, some dwarves may walk down the ramp to dump their items, while others may just toss their items down from above and onto those dwarves, injuring or killing them.
 
−
 
 
−
== Pen/Pasture ==
 
−
{{main|Pasture}}
 
−
:{{k|n}}
 
−
 
 
−
A pen or a pasture is used to contain tame animals. Once one is created, animals must be assigned to it individually by pressing {{k|N}} from the zone information screen. Dwarves will drag the assigned animals to the pen or pasture automatically. Domestic animals tend to aggregate at [[meeting area]]s instead, as will herbivorous ones, which will lead to probably starvation unless your meeting area is overgrown with [[grass]] or fungi for some reason. Any tame creature with the "grazer" token in the raws should be assigned to a pasture.  This includes mules, cows, goats, horses, yaks, unicorns etc.  Animals will not typically wander out of their assigned pasture even if it is not walled in, however animals will abandon their posts and will have to be dragged back to them if they are threatened by enemies, and an exposed pasture may lead to premature slaughter at the hands of invaders. Since pets can be assigned to pen/pastures and a zone can be created under a [[dwarven atom smasher]], this is one of the easiest ways to prevent [[catsplosion]]s.
 
−
 
 
−
== Pit/Pond ==
 
−
:''See also: [[Mass pitting]]''
 
−
:{{k|p}}
 
−
 
 
−
{{TipBox2|titlebg=#c00|textbg=#ffd|[[File:warning_icon.png|25px]] Warning!|There have been multiple reports of hostile creatures escaping confinement while pitting. In previous versions, only "thief" type creatures, flyers, or large creatures like titans would escape using this system. The 0.40 behavior is still being investigated. Use of forbidden tightly closed hatches above every hole appears to prevent escape. See [[Mass pitting]] for more. If there are walls under the hole's edges rather than open space, they will allow [[Climber|grabbing and climbing]], so you may want to dig out an overhang, or at least [[Smoothing|smooth]] these walls.
 
−
}}
 
−
 
 
−
A Pit/Pond requires a [[ramp]] or hole with adjacent flooring on which a dwarf can stand.  Designate the zone from the top of the ramp or hole, such that the zone designation is floating in the open space above the floor of the pit/pond.  By default, the zone will be a pit.  To change it to a pond, press {{k|P}} then {{k|f}}.  It can be changed back to a pit the same way. Creatures can be assigned to a pit/pond through the {{k|P}} menu. If the creature is [[cage]]d, a dwarf will release it from the cage (rather than bringing the cage to the pit). The dwarf will lead the beast to the pit and throw it in. If the pit is a ramp rather than a hole, the creature will then wander back out, as it will if the pit has some other exit path (which would include straight back up the hole for flying creatures). Note that some (or possibly all?) hostile creatures may escape on being released from their cage, possibly attacking the dwarf who opened the cage. See [[Mass pitting]] for more information on pit design involving hostile creatures. Additionally, dwarves refuse to pit dwarves, hostile or not.
 
−
 
 
−
The only real difference between a pit and a pond is that dwarves will attempt to fill a pond with [[water]], carried by [[bucket]] from a water source.  They will stand on the floor adjacent to the top of the ramp or hole, and toss the water onto the ramp or into the hole.  This works even if there is a forbidden [[floor hatch]] covering the hole.  Each bucketful increases the depth of the water in the tile below by 1/7.  Once the water is dumped from the bucket, the dwarf will either drop the bucket and perform a different task, or choose to fill a pond zone tile again using the bucket (s)he currently holds. Dwarves will stop scheduling the Fill Pond job when the water depth reaches 6/7. Specifying a pond zone is one technique used for [[irrigation]], in order to make [[mud]] for [[farming]] on areas without soil. Currently, no matter how large the designated pond area, only one dwarf at a time will try to fill the pond. In order to fill a large area quickly, it is necessary to designate multiple smaller pond zones (or several zones overlapping the same area).
 
−
 
 
−
To make obsidian or cleanse stagnant water with fresh water, the pond zone must be designated an extra tile above the magma/stagnant pool, so that the water falls for a full tile before contacting the surface.
 
−
 
 
−
If you have more than one pond designated as a water source, your dwarves may endlessly try to fill each pond with the other pond's water, making a loop of useless duty; this may be undesirable, although otherwise-idle dwarves performing this task won't be making any friends.  Only dwarves with the [[Hauling#Water_hauling|Water hauling]] labor enabled will fill ponds.
 
−
 
 
−
Artificial ponds are considered to be the same as Murky Pools - you'll only catch pond fish from them (i.e. turtles). If you want to catch river fish, you must fish from the river's original tiles (or perform some DFHack trickery to mark your new tiles as being part of the river).
 
−
 
 
−
== Sand collection ==
 
−
{{main|Glass industry#Collecting sand}}
 
−
:{{k|s}}
 
−
A '''sand collection''' zone allows dwarves with the [[item hauling]] labor active to fill an unused [[bag]] with [[sand]] for use in the [[glass industry]]. The 'collect sand' task is created at a [[glass furnace]].
 
−
 
 
−
== Clay collection ==
 
−
{{main|Ceramic industry#Clay collection}}
 
−
:{{k|c}}
 
−
A '''clay collection''' zone allows dwarves with the [[item hauling]] labor active to create [[clay]] for use in the [[ceramic industry]]. The 'collect clay' task is created at a [[kiln]].
 
−
 
 
−
== Meeting area ==
 
−
:{{k|m}}
 
−
Meeting area zones are zones in which idle dwarves and animals will congregate, similar to [[meeting hall]]s. Additionally, [[immigration|immigrants]] will collect at a meeting area until their "migrant" status wears off. Note that the [[wagon (embark)|wagon]] you [[embark|arrive with]] constitutes a meeting area until you designate the first meeting area of your own. If you start in hostile surroundings, it is important to do so, so as to get your dwarves and animals out of danger quickly. It is a good idea to have at least one meeting area of one form or another: It allows you to make off-duty dwarves and animals gather in an area where they are not vulnerable within the fortress. A meeting area filled with dwarves increases the [[social skill]]s of idlers. It makes idle dwarves a little less idle. Because almost every dwarf visits a meeting area at least occasionally, it's an ideal place to site valuable objects and buildings.  A meeting area exposed to sunlight will additionally prevent dwarves from becoming [[cave adaptation|cave-adapted]]. Note that having dwarves socialize will often result in them forming [[relationship]]s.
 
−
 
 
−
It is not advisable to have animals mill around in crowded meeting areas for a prolonged time, as they will pick fights with dwarves and other animals. While this may be negligible in the case of a hen, it also applies to your [[Dog#War dogs|war dogs]] (although this can be partly beneficial, since all your dwarves will get combat experience from being bitten occasionally, especially the children, who mill around constantly). Designating a meeting area is done via the zone menu; type {{k|i}}, set up a zone, and mark it both "active" and "meeting".
 
−
 
 
−
== Hospital ==
 
−
{{main|Healthcare#Setting_up_a_hospital}}
 
−
:{{k|h}}
 
−
 
 
−
A hospital zone allows [[wound]]ed dwarves to rest and receive care and [[healthcare|treatment]]. Dwarves can be rested and (mostly) treated in any free fortress bed but [[traction bench]]es can only be used in hospital zones and designating a zone allows healthcare to reserve healthcare supplies: [[plaster powder]], [[splint]]s, [[crutch]]es, [[thread]], [[cloth]], [[soap]], and [[bucket]]s so long as [[container]]s are available in the zone. The limits of storage in containers can be set in the zones menu by using ({{k|i}}) selecting the hospital zone and then {{k|H}}.
 
−
 
 
−
== Animal training ==
 
−
{{main|Animal trainer}}
 
−
:{{k|t}}
 
−
 
 
−
An animal training zone allows [[Animal trainer|animal training]]. Animals cannot be trained unless they are in a training zone or [[pasture]] or on a [[restraint]].
 
−
To be tamed, they must be in a [[cage]]. For making an animal training zone, it is advisable to create a small room with a [[Door|tightly shut door]]. The training zone should be combined with a pasture to keep in wild animals. This will make sure your animals don't escape when they are not being trained.
 
−
 
 
−
{{Category|Fortress mode}}
 
−
[[ru:Activity zone]]
 

Please note that all contributions to Dwarf Fortress Wiki are considered to be released under the GFDL & MIT (see Dwarf Fortress Wiki:Copyrights for details). If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly and redistributed at will, then do not submit it here.
You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource. Do not submit copyrighted work without permission!

To protect the wiki against automated edit spam, we kindly ask you to solve the following CAPTCHA:

Cancel Editing help (opens in new window)

Templates used on this page:

This page is a member of 1 hidden category:

Retrieved from "https://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2014:Activity_zone"