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.

Difference between revisions of "v0.34:Fire"

From Dwarf Fortress Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Importing content from v0.31 (192/614))
 
 
(37 intermediate revisions by 22 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{av}}{{Quality|Fine}}
+
{{quality|Exceptional|16:04, 18 February 2013 (UTC)}}{{av}}
 +
[[Image:Running around on fire.gif|thumb|250px|''(click to enlarge)''<br />'''‼'''Dwarves'''‼''' on fire (flashing red/yellow), and trailing [[smoke]].]]
 +
'''Fire''', like its real-life counterpart, is an immensely [[fun|destructive]] force. In-game, entities on the map which are on fire flash red and yellow. In item lists, anything which is on fire will also be surrounded by double exclamation marks, like ‼THIS‼. Fire will burn [[grass]], [[shrub]]s, [[log]]s, [[clothes]], [[dwarves]] (and generally all creatures that are not composed of [[fire-safe]] materials), wooden [[furniture]], wooden [[building]]s and wooden [[road]]s, [[lignite]] and [[bituminous coal]] rocks, and bars of [[charcoal]] and [[coke]].  Except for dragonfire, fire won't burn rock, metal or trees. Constructions (wall, floor, etc.) will never burn, no matter what.
  
'''Fire''', like its real-life counterpart, is an immensely [[fun|destructive]] force. In-game, entities on the map which are on fire flash red and yellow. In item lists, anything which is on fire will also be surrounded by double exclamation marks, like ‼THIS‼. Fire will burn [[grass]], [[shrub]]s, [[log]]s, wooden [[furniture]], wooden [[building]]s and wooden [[road]]s, mined out [[lignite]] and [[coal]], and bars of [[charcoal]] and [[coke]].  Except for dragonfire, fire won't burn rock, metal, trees, unmined lignite or coal, constructions made from wood (wall, floor, etc), or floor [[bars]], vertical bars made from charcoal, or ignite floor fungus and cave moss in the [[cavern]]s.
+
Fires burning in the environment (e.g. burning [[grass]]) start at a temperature of {{ct|10508}} and quickly heat up to {{ct|10708}}, while burning items rapidly heat up to 200 degrees above their ignition point (but stay slightly below that, because the surrounding air cools them a bit). Items experience rapid [[wear]]-based damage while burning, and continue to degrade until entirely destroyed. [[Fire-safe]]ty for any material is defined as being stable at a [[temperature]] of {{ct|11000}}.
  
Despite [[fire-safe]]ty being defined as stability at a [[temperature]] of 11000°U, actual burning items rapidly heat up to several degrees below 11640°U (due to being cooled by the surrounding air).
+
== Cause ==
  
A few ways in which fires can be started:
+
A fire can stem from several sources, for example:
*[[Dragon]]s breathe dragonfire, which can set things on fire, at anything hostile they see. The fire spreads out in a conical shape and burns anything it touches.
+
*[[Dragon]]s breathe [[#dragonfire|dragonfire]], which can set most organic things on fire and melt fire-safe stone, at anything hostile they see. The dragonfire spreads out in a conical shape and ignites anything it touches. It is not the same as regular fire.
*A [[Fire imp]] can throw fireballs, which may set things alight.
+
*A [[fire imp]] can throw fireballs, which may set things alight.
 
*[[Magma]] can and will burn anything flammable it touches. However, any item set alight by this method will likely just be doused in magma until it is completely destroyed.
 
*[[Magma]] can and will burn anything flammable it touches. However, any item set alight by this method will likely just be doused in magma until it is completely destroyed.
 +
*[[Magma mist]] burns stuff just as well as magma.
 
*Some [[titan]]s, [[forgotten beast]]s, and [[demon]]s can breathe fire/throw fireballs, too.
 
*Some [[titan]]s, [[forgotten beast]]s, and [[demon]]s can breathe fire/throw fireballs, too.
*[[Fire man|Fire men]] and [[magma man|magma men]], as well as other beasts composed of flame, have high fixed body temperatures, causing them to spread fires (and [[fun]]) in their path.
+
*[[Fire man|Fire men]] and [[magma man|magma men]], as well as other procedurally generated beasts composed of flame, have high fixed body temperatures, causing them to spread fires (and [[fun]]) in their path.
  
 
Note that it is currently difficult to safely start (and then control) a fire. Fire is most easily started by either [[magma]] or a fire breathing attack. An area enclosed by [[water]], metal, stone or Z-level difference can be used to start a fire which can be used as a way of increasing [[FPS]] by removing objects or can be used as part of a complex trap, though this may lead to [[fun]] when something comes out burning which then sets the rest of the fort on fire.  Players of modded DF can have fire-breathing (fire spell casting) [[goblin]] castes.
 
Note that it is currently difficult to safely start (and then control) a fire. Fire is most easily started by either [[magma]] or a fire breathing attack. An area enclosed by [[water]], metal, stone or Z-level difference can be used to start a fire which can be used as a way of increasing [[FPS]] by removing objects or can be used as part of a complex trap, though this may lead to [[fun]] when something comes out burning which then sets the rest of the fort on fire.  Players of modded DF can have fire-breathing (fire spell casting) [[goblin]] castes.
  
Fire does not spread up or down z-levels by itself. The only way for a fire to move from one z-level to another is if something mobile (such as a ‼[[Dwarf]]‼) catches on fire and then moves up or down. Digging channels, therefore, is one way to stop the spread of fire in fortress mode. Walls with trapped passages block the fire too. Trees and shrubs will not catch fire, but you can set them on fire in Adventure Mode.
+
== Spread ==
 +
Fire will not spread across Z-Levels by itself. Walls with trapped passages block the fire too. Trees and shrubs will not catch fire, but you can set them on fire in Adventure Mode.
 +
 
 +
== Ghosts ==
  
 
One thing to note is that dwarves that burn to death do not leave remains and will produce ghosts even if buried in a coffin. Be sure to engrave a memorial to all dwarves that burn to ashes, unless of course you want a ghost infestation.
 
One thing to note is that dwarves that burn to death do not leave remains and will produce ghosts even if buried in a coffin. Be sure to engrave a memorial to all dwarves that burn to ashes, unless of course you want a ghost infestation.
 +
 +
== Dragonfire ==
 +
 +
[[Dragonfire]] is a very powerful form of fire that is capable of igniting or melting many fire-safe materials. Specifically, organic materials ignite (including [[nether-cap]]), and non-flammable stones melt and boil away. Metals are apparently immune to dragonfire, even non-fire-safe metals like [[tin]].
 +
 +
Objects ignited by dragonfire burn at their standard combustion temperature - only the initial blast of dragonfire is able to destroy [[fire-safe]] materials.
 +
 +
Dragonfire can only naturally be emitted by [[dragon]]s.
 +
 +
== Artifacts ==
 +
 +
Artifacts constructed from a flammable base material can burn. As Artifacts don't wear away fire does no damage. Artifacts will burn endlessly without being destroyed. So long as the artifact is not stored in a bin water will extinguish them. If a flammable artifact is used as part of a building it can still burn.
 +
 +
== Dangers ==
 +
 +
The main problem with fire is that dwarves tend to ignore fire, up to and past the point where they become ‼Dwarves‼. As such, typical dwarven activities will be carried out despite the fact the dwarf is both burning to death, and will spread the fiery destruction to his peers. This will not only kill your dwarves but also incinerate a good many useful items. Dwarves will not path through smoke reliably, so if you see a bunch of job cancellations due to pathing issues, a fiery dwarf is probably running around (or other [[fun]] is afoot).  And don't, for Armok's sake, let the flaming dwarves anywhere near the booze. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't ''explode'' (and never did), but it ''will'' boil away into nothing, which is always [[fun#No_Booze|fun]].
 +
{{Category|Physics}}

Latest revision as of 21:21, 31 January 2022

This article is about an older version of DF.
(click to enlarge)
Dwarves on fire (flashing red/yellow), and trailing smoke.

Fire, like its real-life counterpart, is an immensely destructive force. In-game, entities on the map which are on fire flash red and yellow. In item lists, anything which is on fire will also be surrounded by double exclamation marks, like ‼THIS‼. Fire will burn grass, shrubs, logs, clothes, dwarves (and generally all creatures that are not composed of fire-safe materials), wooden furniture, wooden buildings and wooden roads, lignite and bituminous coal rocks, and bars of charcoal and coke. Except for dragonfire, fire won't burn rock, metal or trees. Constructions (wall, floor, etc.) will never burn, no matter what.

Fires burning in the environment (e.g. burning grass) start at a temperature of 10508 °U and quickly heat up to 10708 °U , while burning items rapidly heat up to 200 degrees above their ignition point (but stay slightly below that, because the surrounding air cools them a bit). Items experience rapid wear-based damage while burning, and continue to degrade until entirely destroyed. Fire-safety for any material is defined as being stable at a temperature of 11000 °U .

Cause[edit]

A fire can stem from several sources, for example:

  • Dragons breathe dragonfire, which can set most organic things on fire and melt fire-safe stone, at anything hostile they see. The dragonfire spreads out in a conical shape and ignites anything it touches. It is not the same as regular fire.
  • A fire imp can throw fireballs, which may set things alight.
  • Magma can and will burn anything flammable it touches. However, any item set alight by this method will likely just be doused in magma until it is completely destroyed.
  • Magma mist burns stuff just as well as magma.
  • Some titans, forgotten beasts, and demons can breathe fire/throw fireballs, too.
  • Fire men and magma men, as well as other procedurally generated beasts composed of flame, have high fixed body temperatures, causing them to spread fires (and fun) in their path.

Note that it is currently difficult to safely start (and then control) a fire. Fire is most easily started by either magma or a fire breathing attack. An area enclosed by water, metal, stone or Z-level difference can be used to start a fire which can be used as a way of increasing FPS by removing objects or can be used as part of a complex trap, though this may lead to fun when something comes out burning which then sets the rest of the fort on fire. Players of modded DF can have fire-breathing (fire spell casting) goblin castes.

Spread[edit]

Fire will not spread across Z-Levels by itself. Walls with trapped passages block the fire too. Trees and shrubs will not catch fire, but you can set them on fire in Adventure Mode.

Ghosts[edit]

One thing to note is that dwarves that burn to death do not leave remains and will produce ghosts even if buried in a coffin. Be sure to engrave a memorial to all dwarves that burn to ashes, unless of course you want a ghost infestation.

Dragonfire[edit]

Dragonfire is a very powerful form of fire that is capable of igniting or melting many fire-safe materials. Specifically, organic materials ignite (including nether-cap), and non-flammable stones melt and boil away. Metals are apparently immune to dragonfire, even non-fire-safe metals like tin.

Objects ignited by dragonfire burn at their standard combustion temperature - only the initial blast of dragonfire is able to destroy fire-safe materials.

Dragonfire can only naturally be emitted by dragons.

Artifacts[edit]

Artifacts constructed from a flammable base material can burn. As Artifacts don't wear away fire does no damage. Artifacts will burn endlessly without being destroyed. So long as the artifact is not stored in a bin water will extinguish them. If a flammable artifact is used as part of a building it can still burn.

Dangers[edit]

The main problem with fire is that dwarves tend to ignore fire, up to and past the point where they become ‼Dwarves‼. As such, typical dwarven activities will be carried out despite the fact the dwarf is both burning to death, and will spread the fiery destruction to his peers. This will not only kill your dwarves but also incinerate a good many useful items. Dwarves will not path through smoke reliably, so if you see a bunch of job cancellations due to pathing issues, a fiery dwarf is probably running around (or other fun is afoot). And don't, for Armok's sake, let the flaming dwarves anywhere near the booze. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't explode (and never did), but it will boil away into nothing, which is always fun.