v0.34:Fortification

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v50.12 · v0.47 · v0.34.11 · v0.31 · v0.28 · v0.23 This article is about an older version of DF. More Info · V

Fortifications allow the passage of projectiles [in and out] and liquids, mist, steam, webs, fire and smoke, but not creatures, making them an important part in a fortress's defense. An archer must have a skill level of accomplished or higher to shoot through fortifications from a distance; otherwise they must stand directly next to the fortification to shoot through it.

Fortifications allow liquids to pass through in any direction except vertically -- they implicitly include a floor (even when constructed over empty space) so liquids will not fall out their bottom. They also cancel pressure -- water that flows through a fortification will never push already-present water upward (much like a screw pump.) This can be useful to create pools and water sources in low floors of a fortress without risk of overflowing.

Flying creatures can of course fly over fortifications (but not through). If there is open space above your defense positions, you can build floor tiles on the Z-level above that act as a roof against fliers. This is generally sound advice as dwarves don't like rain anyway and strange accidents can cause the weirdest things to fall from above. Note that fliers can diagonally bypass a fortification if the tile above the fortification doesn't have a floor.

Enemy archers may also fire back through your fortifications. Enemies that stand directly next to your fortifications can fire inward, therefor it's recommended to build a moat around your fortifications, or elevate them from the ground level. Enemy elite bowmen and crossbowmen have sufficient skill to fire through your fortifications from any distance within their range and they will shoot right through every time and (likely) decimate your forces. Elite bowman can be defended against without compromising the usefulness of a fortification network by constructing a thin 1-tile wide raising bridge just outside the fortification. Attach each bridge to a lever and pull the lever if an elite goblin poses a threat. The blocking bridge will cut off line of sight and prevent bolts from penetrating your defenses.

Curiously, a fortification carved into a tile at the very edge of the map will allow water or magma to drain through it and off of the map.

In adventurer mode you can throw any item (such as bows, arrows, axes, hammers, shields, body armour, severed limbs, corpses, etc.) through a fortification, but you cannot climb through them.

Building Fortifications

Fortifications can be built one of two ways. Firstly, they can be carved from constructed walls or smoothed natural walls by pressing designation and then Carve Fortifications. The second way is through the construction menu: First press b, then C followed by Fortifications. As with most buildings, this will require one unit of wood, stone, metal, or glass. Note that constructed fortifications do not have walkable floors above them, while carved fortifications do.

Carved fortifications must be carved by a dwarf with the Stone detailing labor enabled. Constructed fortifications must be built by a dwarf with a corresponding labor to the material used.

Bugs

• Fully submerged (i.e. 7/7 depth) fortifications will not block the passage of creatures that swim in water (or magma) - wall grates and vertical bars work, but they are vulnerable to building destroyers.^Bug:3327
• A partially-submerged fortification (even with 6/7 depth) completely blocks the passage of creatures, despite the fortification being invisible, however if the water is flowing, it can push creatures through fortifications, even if they are not fully submerged (that is at least true at 2-3/7 depth). ^Bug:5458
• Additionally, there are other conditions that may allow a creature to pass through a fortification, such as being thrown by a wrestler, tossed by a bridge, or dropped from above. Should a creature end up in a fortification tile, it can path and move out of the fortification to any adjacent passable tile. If a creature is killed by an attack which knocks it into a fortification, its corpse and equipment will become lodged inside, requiring mining or deconstructing the fortification to remove the items.

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