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Difference between revisions of "Z-level"

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{{av}}{{Quality|Unrated}}[[File:Z-level.jpg|thumb|300px|right|'''The z-level indicator.'''<br>The number is relative to the bottom of the map space. In this case the embark site is 142 levels above 0.]]
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[[File:elevation_v50_preview.png|thumb|200px|right|Elevation level shown in the [[premium version]] of the game.]]
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:''See also: [[Tile]]''
 
:''See also: [[Tile]]''
'''Z-Level''' describes vertical space (depth or altitude) within Dwarf Fortress, analogous to the [[Z-axis]] in geometry which extends out of the page towards the viewer. Each layer of view is a discrete z-level with a value relative to the bottom of the map space, indicated in the lower right corner of the screen. There is another Z-level display in the upper right corner of the main view which displays the player's z-level viewpoint relative to the surface z-level. The player moves their view from one z-level to another by using {{k|<}} to move up and {{k|>}} to move down.
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[[File:elevation_hud_anim.gif|thumb|200px|right|The elevation indicator, with both standard and ASCII graphics.]]'''Z-Level''', also known as '''elevation''', describes vertical space (depth or altitude) within ''Dwarf Fortress'', analogous to the [[Z-axis]] in geometry which extends out of the page towards the viewer. Each layer of view is a discrete z-level with a value relative to the bottom of the map space, indicated in the lower right corner of the screen. There is another Z-level display in the upper right corner of the main view which displays the player's z-level viewpoint relative to the surface z-level. The player moves their view from one z-level to another by moving the mouse wheel up or down. Alternatively, the player can press {{k|e}} to move up and {{k|c}} to move down.
  
 
The default settings produce levels with around 50 z-levels of land (for an embark with average elevation changes) with an additional 15 z-levels of empty sky space above the highest point of land; mountainous regions can end up with well over a hundred z-levels of caverns. 0 corresponds to sea level.
 
The default settings produce levels with around 50 z-levels of land (for an embark with average elevation changes) with an additional 15 z-levels of empty sky space above the highest point of land; mountainous regions can end up with well over a hundred z-levels of caverns. 0 corresponds to sea level.

Latest revision as of 10:27, 12 February 2024

This article is about the current version of DF.
Note that some content may still need to be updated.

See also: Tile
The elevation indicator, with both standard and ASCII graphics.

Z-Level, also known as elevation, describes vertical space (depth or altitude) within Dwarf Fortress, analogous to the Z-axis in geometry which extends out of the page towards the viewer. Each layer of view is a discrete z-level with a value relative to the bottom of the map space, indicated in the lower right corner of the screen. There is another Z-level display in the upper right corner of the main view which displays the player's z-level viewpoint relative to the surface z-level. The player moves their view from one z-level to another by moving the mouse wheel up or down. Alternatively, the player can press e to move up and c to move down.

The default settings produce levels with around 50 z-levels of land (for an embark with average elevation changes) with an additional 15 z-levels of empty sky space above the highest point of land; mountainous regions can end up with well over a hundred z-levels of caverns. 0 corresponds to sea level.

Numerous factors available in world generation impact the available z-levels, and can alter the depth of the map to a minimum of 6 and a maximum well in excess of 600. (Worldgen has 400 z-levels; maybe one can force 200 levels of sky.)

Reducing the number of z-levels, especially cavern levels, can reduce processor demand and boost framerate. Notably, a common reason players get 100+ Z-level embarks is because "Generate New World" makes ISLAND worlds, and the resulting terrain causes caverns to be a lot taller than usual.

Things affected by gravity will descend z-levels as they would in the real world, while gaseous substances such as miasma or steam are lighter than air, and will ascend z-levels.