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v0.31:Flow
| This article is about an older version of DF. |
Template:Human
Flow is a game mechanic used to simulate the motion of fluids. The two fluids that exist in dwarf fortress currently are Template:L and Template:L. Flow can be identified by looking for a tile that is blinking between ≈ and ~ tiles. Fluids that are not blinking are not considered to be flowing. In order to power a Template:L you must have flowing water at a depth of 4/7 or greater.
- Note: In the current release flow does not seem to appear in magma. [Verify]
Fluid Depth
Fluids can have a depth anywhere from 1 to 7. To see the depth of a tile of fluid you can look at it with k which will reveal the depth in the text at the right. Alternatively you can enable Template:L which will replace the ≈ and ~ tiles with a numerical representation of the depth at all times. Turning on Template:L does come with the drawback that you will no longer be able to see if a tile is flowing or not.
Fluid Motion
Water and Template:L both move in much the same way following a fairly simple set of rules. The only difference between the motion of Template:L and water is that magma behaves differently with regards to Template:L.
Fluids behave mostly as one might expect: Trying to move down and spreading out to the sides until they fill any available area. Fluids can also be under Template:L, which allows them to be pushed back up by the weight of fluid in another area. Fluids can move in 10 directions, which are the 8 directions on the same z-level, and directly up or down. Fluids cannot move diagonally up or down. When fluids have a choice of where to move they select a destination randomly.
Fluid motion follows a fairly simple set of rules. First fluids try to move down into the tile directly below them. If there is available open space below it will be filled very quickly. Fluids always try to move down before attempting to move in other directions.
If there is a floor below or if all space below is already filled with fluid, than any fluid at a depth of 2/7 or greater will instead flow to one of the 8 adjacent side tiles. Fluid at a depth of 1/7 can only move down and will not attempt to move to the side.
The last potential direction for a fluid to move is up, which can only occur if a fluid is under Template:L. Any time fluids move they will generate flow. This flow is found in the tile they moved from (if any fluid remains) as well as the tile they move to. This flow will remain for a short time.
- Fluids move down
- Fluids move to the sides
- Pressurized fluids may move up
Fluid Teleportation
This is an aspect of fluid motion that causes a great deal of confusion. Fluids do not just move to adjacent tiles, they also trace a path through other full tiles of fluid trying to move to more distant tiles. Fluid teleportation can occur at any of the three steps of fluid motion. When fluids move by teleportation flow is not created in the tiles that water skips past only in the actual source and destination tiles which can create a number of situations where flow does not appear contrary to expectations.
Obstructions
Water can be stopped by most solid tiles. These include Template:L and Template:L as well as closed Template:L, Template:L, and Template:L. Exceptions are Template:L, Template:L and Template:L which will allow fluids to pass freely.
Evaporation
Fluids that remain at a depth of 1/7 for long enough will evaporate. Evaporated fluids are simply removed from the game. In hot or scorching environments murky pools can evaporate at greater depths.