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:Mining"

From Dwarf Fortress Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 
(15 intermediate revisions by 13 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{quality|Fine|07:07, 19 January 2011 (UTC)}}
+
{{Quality|Exceptional|21:32, 24 May 2013 (UTC)}}
 
{{Labor
 
{{Labor
 
| labor      = Mining
 
| labor      = Mining
Line 8: Line 8:
 
{{av}}
 
{{av}}
  
'''Mining''' is an essential part of building a fort in Dwarf Fortress. There are several reasons you might want to mine, such as [[exploratory mining|searching]] for various [[stone|stone types]], or simply to create the basic tunnels and [[room]]s in your fort. It refers to either the [[skill]] that performs mining, the [[labor]] assosciated with it, or simply the task or job of performing said labor.
+
'''Mining''' is an essential part of building a fort in Dwarf Fortress. There are several reasons you might want to mine, such as [[exploratory mining|searching]] for various [[stone|stone types]], [[ore]]s and [[gem]]s, or simply to create the basic tunnels and [[room]]s in your fort. Mining refers to either the [[skill]] that performs mining, the [[labor]] associated with it, or simply the task or job of performing said labor.
  
 
There are several types of jobs associated with this skill:  
 
There are several types of jobs associated with this skill:  
 
* '''Mining''' removes the section of the wall while preserving both the ceiling and the floor.
 
* '''Mining''' removes the section of the wall while preserving both the ceiling and the floor.
* '''Channeling''' removes the section of the wall, the floor and if possible places a ramp one level below.
+
* '''[[Channel]]ing''' removes the section of the wall, the floor, and if possible places a ramp one level below.
* '''Ramps''' replaces the section with a upward ramp, also removing the tile and floor one level above.
+
* '''[[Ramp]]s''' replaces the section with an upward ramp, also removing the tile and floor one level above.
* '''Stairs''' builds upward (or downward) stairs.
+
* '''[[Stairs]]''' carves out upward and/or downward stairs.
  
Mining can only be done in pre-existing stone or soil; built [[wall]], [[stairs]] or [[ramp|ramps]] cannot be mined. These must be removed using the 'remove construction' option ({{K|d}}, {{K|n}})
+
Mining can only be done in pre-existing stone or soil.  Constructed [[wall]], [[stairs]] or [[ramp|ramps]] cannot be mined; these must be removed using the 'remove construction' option ({{K|d}}, {{K|n}})
  
 
== Making a dwarf a miner ==
 
== Making a dwarf a miner ==
Line 22: Line 22:
 
# Specify your dwarf to be a miner via {{K|v}}iew, {{K|p}}ref, {{K|l}}abor.
 
# Specify your dwarf to be a miner via {{K|v}}iew, {{K|p}}ref, {{K|l}}abor.
 
# Select "Mining" using {{K|+}} or {{K|-}}, then press {{K|enter}}.
 
# Select "Mining" using {{K|+}} or {{K|-}}, then press {{K|enter}}.
A [[miner]] also requires an available [[pick]].  A dwarf's agility and mining skill affect how quickly they mine.
+
Dwarves can be miners or woodcutters, but they may not be both at the same time.  To start mining, a [[miner]] requires an available [[pick]].  A dwarf's agility and mining skill affect how quickly they mine.
  
 
Selecting the mining labor will disable the [[wood cutting]] and [[hunting]] labors, as they all involve the usage of different tools.
 
Selecting the mining labor will disable the [[wood cutting]] and [[hunting]] labors, as they all involve the usage of different tools.
Line 39: Line 39:
 
# Move the cursor to another point to define the opposite corners of a rectangle, press {{K|enter}} again. A yellow area should now be highlighted, indicating the area to be mined. The opposite corner can also be placed on a different z-level, designating areas across z-levels for mining. Tiles can also be designated by using the mouse and left-clicking.
 
# Move the cursor to another point to define the opposite corners of a rectangle, press {{K|enter}} again. A yellow area should now be highlighted, indicating the area to be mined. The opposite corner can also be placed on a different z-level, designating areas across z-levels for mining. Tiles can also be designated by using the mouse and left-clicking.
  
==Mining warm and damp stone==
+
==Understanding digging==
When designating any digging operation, warm and damp tiles will flash, indicating magma or water in adjacent tiles. Miners can dig these safely, provided there is an escape route. Channeling and ramping designations involve two operations, and your dwarf will be submerged in the fluid when done. Unskilled swimmers can reach an exit ramp out of water if near enough, but magma will certainly cost your miner's life (the flow from either can knock dwarves off ledges, or naturally [[flood]] the fortress.)
+
Each layer in the three-dimensional Dwarf Fortress map consists of two parts: a wall-part, and a floor-part.  Digging a tunnel removes the wall-part but leaves the floor-part in place.  Channeling removes the floor-part as well, leaving open space above, and if a floor-part exists below, it becomes an upward ramp.
 +
<!--We really need an updated image like the one on 40d:Mining -->
 +
 
 +
==Mineral production (profit!)==
 +
When the wall-part is removed from a stone tile, there is a 25% chance that a single [[stone]] (also known as a boulder) will be left behind.  Minerals which are found in [[vein]]s have a 33% chance of leaving ore, and minerals found in [[vein|small clusters]] (or individual tiles) have a 100% chance of leaving a stone or rough gem behind. Finally, any "deep" material (i.e. [[adamantine]] or [[slade]]) has a 100% chance of leaving a usable stone (though the latter is normally undiggable).
 +
 
 +
When tunnels are dug in soil, nothing is left from the wall-part. The floor-part will remain, if it wasn't channeled, and might be suitable for [[farming]] or [[sand]] collection.
 +
 
 +
In older versions, higher mining skill would lead to more boulders being dug out. As of v0.34.08, the standard drop rate for boulders is 25% and skill gain only decreases the amount of time it takes to mine each tile. Also as of v0.34.08, the [[mason's workshop]] creates four [[block]]s from one boulder instead of the previous one block. This means that for the purpose of constructions or buildings there is just as much stone available as before, although an extra processing step has been added. The same goes for ores, one piece of ore will produce 4 bars at a [[smelter]]. Tasks that use stone as a raw material, however, now have much fewer materials to work with (such as [[flux]] for [[steel]] production).
  
 
==Training mining==
 
==Training mining==
Mining skill allows miners to dig faster. Dwarves gain mining experience for each tile mined, be it stone, ore, gem, or soil. Soil is mined extremely quickly and is one of the fastest ways to train miners. Since the skill of mining also is used in combat, a dwarf with mining enabled that is carrying a pick will increase their mining skill through combat drills. This process is much faster than learning by digging through stone, but not nearly as fast as learning by digging through soil.
+
Dwarves gain mining experience for each tile mined, be it stone, ore, gem, or soil. Soil is mined extremely quickly and is one of the fastest ways to train miners. Since the skill of mining also is used in combat, a dwarf with mining enabled that is carrying a pick will increase their mining skill through combat drills. This process is much faster than learning by digging through stone, but not nearly as fast as learning by digging through soil.
  
 
The fastest way to train mining is to first dig out upstairs, then remove the upstairs. Removing upstairs (even rock ones) is extremely quick and still provides mining experience.
 
The fastest way to train mining is to first dig out upstairs, then remove the upstairs. Removing upstairs (even rock ones) is extremely quick and still provides mining experience.
 +
 +
==Mining warm and damp stone==
 +
When designating any digging operation, warm and damp tiles will flash, indicating magma or water in adjacent tiles. Miners can dig these safely, provided there is an escape route ( ''"Safely"'' here implies only the short term survival of the digging dwarf, your fortress may well be flooded as a result, even many levels above the digging level, ''eventually'' killing your dwarf ).
 +
 +
Channeling and ramping designations involve two operations, and your dwarf will be submerged in the fluid when done. Unskilled swimmers can reach an exit ramp out of water if near enough, but magma will certainly cost your miner's life (the flow from either can knock dwarves off ledges, or, naturally, [[flood]] the fortress.)
 +
 +
Wall tiles ''above'' magma will flash 'warm', and designations will be cancelled even if an entirely safe tunnel is being dug. This is rather annoying when carving out rooms above the magma sea, although there is a way around it. Designating a channel two levels above the magma will mine out the warm wall immediately above the magma, and the designation won't be cancelled because it's not in the area of the warm stone.
  
 
==How to cancel a mining operation==
 
==How to cancel a mining operation==
Line 62: Line 77:
 
* [[Stone]] &ndash; A list of different types of stones and ores left behind from mining.
 
* [[Stone]] &ndash; A list of different types of stones and ores left behind from mining.
 
* [[Smoothing]] &ndash; Increase fortress value and dwarf happiness by improving the quality of your rough-stone mineshafts.
 
* [[Smoothing]] &ndash; Increase fortress value and dwarf happiness by improving the quality of your rough-stone mineshafts.
 +
 +
{{labors}}

Latest revision as of 04:14, 20 May 2015

Mining
Skills used
Tasks
  • Dig
This article is about an older version of DF.

Mining is an essential part of building a fort in Dwarf Fortress. There are several reasons you might want to mine, such as searching for various stone types, ores and gems, or simply to create the basic tunnels and rooms in your fort. Mining refers to either the skill that performs mining, the labor associated with it, or simply the task or job of performing said labor.

There are several types of jobs associated with this skill:

  • Mining removes the section of the wall while preserving both the ceiling and the floor.
  • Channeling removes the section of the wall, the floor, and if possible places a ramp one level below.
  • Ramps replaces the section with an upward ramp, also removing the tile and floor one level above.
  • Stairs carves out upward and/or downward stairs.

Mining can only be done in pre-existing stone or soil. Constructed wall, stairs or ramps cannot be mined; these must be removed using the 'remove construction' option (d, n)

Making a dwarf a miner[edit]

  1. Specify your dwarf to be a miner via view, pref, labor.
  2. Select "Mining" using + or -, then press enter.

Dwarves can be miners or woodcutters, but they may not be both at the same time. To start mining, a miner requires an available pick. A dwarf's agility and mining skill affect how quickly they mine.

Selecting the mining labor will disable the wood cutting and hunting labors, as they all involve the usage of different tools.

Designating the area to be mined[edit]

  1. Press designate to bring up the Designations Menu.
  2. Highlight the requested action by pressing:
    • d for mining
    • h for channeling
    • r for an upward ramp
    • u for stairs towards the upper level
    • j for stairs towards the lower level
    • i for stairs in both directions
  3. Move the cursor to the starting point, then press enter. You should see a green flashing cross symbol indicating that it's in Selection Mode.
  4. Move the cursor to another point to define the opposite corners of a rectangle, press enter again. A yellow area should now be highlighted, indicating the area to be mined. The opposite corner can also be placed on a different z-level, designating areas across z-levels for mining. Tiles can also be designated by using the mouse and left-clicking.

Understanding digging[edit]

Each layer in the three-dimensional Dwarf Fortress map consists of two parts: a wall-part, and a floor-part. Digging a tunnel removes the wall-part but leaves the floor-part in place. Channeling removes the floor-part as well, leaving open space above, and if a floor-part exists below, it becomes an upward ramp.

Mineral production (profit!)[edit]

When the wall-part is removed from a stone tile, there is a 25% chance that a single stone (also known as a boulder) will be left behind. Minerals which are found in veins have a 33% chance of leaving ore, and minerals found in small clusters (or individual tiles) have a 100% chance of leaving a stone or rough gem behind. Finally, any "deep" material (i.e. adamantine or slade) has a 100% chance of leaving a usable stone (though the latter is normally undiggable).

When tunnels are dug in soil, nothing is left from the wall-part. The floor-part will remain, if it wasn't channeled, and might be suitable for farming or sand collection.

In older versions, higher mining skill would lead to more boulders being dug out. As of v0.34.08, the standard drop rate for boulders is 25% and skill gain only decreases the amount of time it takes to mine each tile. Also as of v0.34.08, the mason's workshop creates four blocks from one boulder instead of the previous one block. This means that for the purpose of constructions or buildings there is just as much stone available as before, although an extra processing step has been added. The same goes for ores, one piece of ore will produce 4 bars at a smelter. Tasks that use stone as a raw material, however, now have much fewer materials to work with (such as flux for steel production).

Training mining[edit]

Dwarves gain mining experience for each tile mined, be it stone, ore, gem, or soil. Soil is mined extremely quickly and is one of the fastest ways to train miners. Since the skill of mining also is used in combat, a dwarf with mining enabled that is carrying a pick will increase their mining skill through combat drills. This process is much faster than learning by digging through stone, but not nearly as fast as learning by digging through soil.

The fastest way to train mining is to first dig out upstairs, then remove the upstairs. Removing upstairs (even rock ones) is extremely quick and still provides mining experience.

Mining warm and damp stone[edit]

When designating any digging operation, warm and damp tiles will flash, indicating magma or water in adjacent tiles. Miners can dig these safely, provided there is an escape route ( "Safely" here implies only the short term survival of the digging dwarf, your fortress may well be flooded as a result, even many levels above the digging level, eventually killing your dwarf ).

Channeling and ramping designations involve two operations, and your dwarf will be submerged in the fluid when done. Unskilled swimmers can reach an exit ramp out of water if near enough, but magma will certainly cost your miner's life (the flow from either can knock dwarves off ledges, or, naturally, flood the fortress.)

Wall tiles above magma will flash 'warm', and designations will be cancelled even if an entirely safe tunnel is being dug. This is rather annoying when carving out rooms above the magma sea, although there is a way around it. Designating a channel two levels above the magma will mine out the warm wall immediately above the magma, and the designation won't be cancelled because it's not in the area of the warm stone.

How to cancel a mining operation[edit]

If you placed a designated area for mining but want to cancel the mining (for example if you approached damp stone) simply go to Designations d and select Remove Designation x. Then select the starting point of the area you want to cancel with enter, move to the ending point and confirm again with enter.

Notes[edit]

To create a channel with no downward ramps, you have to mine out the area underneath the channel first, or manually designate the ramps created for removal afterwards d -> z. If you wish for these channels to be completely inaccessible from the outside, channel out the access-point (downward staircase). Another (more complicated) way of removing any access to the moat is to replace the dug out ramps with constructed ones and creating a cave-in with constructed floors. Rampless channels are an effective substitute for walls against melee enemies that cannot fly, and they can be dug out far faster than a wall can be built. However, channels offer no defense against archers or dragonbreath.

When digging or removing upward ramps, watch out for loose stone or other items that might be in the way, as falling objects can now injure the unfortunate miner.

See also[edit]

  • Map tiles – Different types of walled, floor and open spaces.
  • Caverns – Large underground tunnel systems.
  • Exploratory mining – Mining focused on finding valuable stone.
  • Soil – A list of soil types.
  • Stone – A list of different types of stones and ores left behind from mining.
  • Smoothing – Increase fortress value and dwarf happiness by improving the quality of your rough-stone mineshafts.
Mining
Woodworking
Stoneworking
Hunting/Related
Healthcare
Farming/Related
Fishing/Related
Metalsmithing
Jewelry
Crafts
Engineering
Hauling
Other jobs