Dwarf Fortress Wiki - User contributions [en]

v0.31:Iron man

2010-04-04T00:05:20Z

Greenmeanie: says man shaped, also checked raw and same size as a human adult

{{av}}
Man shaped and the same average size as a adult human. Usually, if not always, leaves behind masterwork statues of random things such as werewolves or marlins. Emits some kind of corrosive or poisonous gas.

40d:Stupid dwarf trick

2010-03-24T00:01:11Z

Greenmeanie:

{{av}}
{{D for Dwarf}}

A '''stupid dwarf trick''' is any project that requires a large amount time and effort - often for little or no practical benefit. They exist only as a challenge for experienced players.

==Adventure Mode Fortress==

Build a fortress specifically for exploring in [[adventure mode]]. You can either make a nasty monster-filled challenge, or a Smörgåsbord of masterpiece steel weapons and armor. Possibly both. A [[chasm]], underground [[river]], or [[hidden fun stuff]] can ensure the fortress is occupied.

'''Difficulty:''' The sky's the limit.

'''Usefulness:''' Not applicable.

==Alarm Clock==
Are your soldiers all sound asleep while blood soaks the walls? No need to deconstruct their beds one by one, ''if'' you bought the Dwarf Wakey 3000! Simply a solitary floor tile balanced on a support, one or more can be toppled with the pull of a lever to produce an earth-shaking racket that'll have them leaping for their axes!

'''Difficulty:''' Low.

'''Usefulness:''' Low.

==Aqueduct Power==
If your river's a long way away from your fortress, building a trans-map axle may be less efficient than building an aqueduct and pump stack driven by waterwheels in the river. The pump stack raises it to the height of your fort, where it flows through the long, long aqueduct and drives waterwheels on the other end. Getting the water pressure just right so it powers your waterwheel without flooding the fort can be [[Fun]]. Diagonal channels make good pressure reducers.

'''Difficulty:''' High. Lots of stone, lots of engineering, lots of dangerous outdoor work, lots of trial-and-error for the receiving waterwheels.

'''Usefulness:''' High. As much water and power as you want, wherever you want, whenever you want.

==Watervator==
By creating a vertical "Hydraulic Elevation and Lowering Platform" chamber (A H.E.L.P. Chamber, so named for the cries of the passenger dwarf) with lever controlled water levels, you can move a dwarf up several z-levels without any stairs. All it takes is the dwarf's ability to swim up to the surface of the water to breathe.

'''Difficulty:''' Medium. Moderate possibility of Fun by way of flooding your fortress. Any dwarves that can't swim will instead experience Fun when using the Watervator. The actual construction time and resource usage is very low. Using the Watervator often leads to unhappy thoughts about drowning

'''Usefulness:''' Low to Medium. The Watervator requires manual micromanaging, while stairs do not. On the other hand, it can be used to create a pathway that most enemies will simply be unable to use. Those that can would still be doing so at great risk of drowning or falling to their death

==Aquifer Power==
Aquifers can be a resource of immense power. If you have two levels of aquifer, you can generate a continuous flow by draining one level of aquifer into another and plant waterwheels above it. One stream can power a lot of wheels.

'''Difficulty:''' High. Anything to do with draining aquifers is very [[Fun]].

'''Usefulness:''' High. The lowly windmill pales in utility compared to a waterwheel.

==Artificial Waterfall==
To keep the waterfall going, you need a [[pump]] stack, preferably powered by a [[windmill]] or [[water wheel]].

'''Difficulty:''' Moderate.

'''Usefulness:''' Dwarves love [[waterfall]]s. Putting a waterfall in your [[meeting hall]] will give your dwarves good [[thought]]s, although it can significantly lower framerate.

==[[Ballista]] Battery==
Overlap a few ballistas to completely cover a narrow corridor. There is an unavoidable risk of your operators wandering into the line of fire.

'''Difficulty:''' Low. If you insist on highly-trained operators with high-quality ballistas, it gets harder.

'''Usefulness:''' A complicated and dangerous way to defend a single corridor. Ultimately extremely effective. Sometimes.

==Bridge-a-pult==
A bridge that opens outwards, to fling enemies away. Ideally, they land in a very nasty place.

'''Difficulty:''' The hard part is the nasty place they get flung to.

'''Usefulness:''' There are a far more effective ways to defend a fortress, but few are as entertaining.

==Dam==
Build a wall across a riverbed to stop the flow of water. Floodgates optional.

Bonus: excavate a reservoir and a lower river valley 
Bonus: build a control center to control the water flow 
Bonus: draw your entire energy from a power station within

'''Difficulty:''' On a map that freezes in the winter, this is easy. Otherwise, very difficult. (See [[dam]], or Moses effect, below. But with the bonuses it gets a bit harder.

'''Usefulness:''' Depends on how many bonuses you fullfill. The Power station is obvious, and with the control room you could build up a nice defense system.

==Doberman Launcher==
Whenever a dog or cat gives birth, stuff all the kittens and puppies in one cage in your entryway. Link this cage to a pressure plate beside it. Should your last lines of defense be breached, goblins will step on it and in the next instant be torn apart by dozens of goblin-seeking hostiles and distracted by dozens of surplus targets. The trap actually going off will probably be very bad for your framerate. Bonus: Train all dogs inside as wardogs when they mature. Super bonus: Make it a Bear Trap. MEGADWARF bonus: Combine with a drowning chamber and carp trap.

'''Difficulty:''' Low.

'''Usefulness:''' Medium, potentially fortress-saving

==Drowning Chamber==
'''Difficulty:''' Moderate.

'''Usefulness:''' You can kill prisoners, useless peasants, irate nobles, hammerers, untrainable animals, or anything else.

==[[Computing|Dwarfputer]] Complex==
A big mess of fluid and/or machine logic full of hatches, floodgates, gears, pumps, etc. and powered by waterwheels, windmills, or useless idle dwarves. Hook it up to doors, bridges, and traps.

'''Difficulty:''' Medium to high, depending on what you want to build. You'll want to build for very high water flow if you have more than a few fluid gates.

'''Usefulness:''' Your mechanics and architects will level up very fast. Manual pumps give something for your haulers to do and makes them stronger. Try and make a clock to trigger different mechanisms in different seasons. See if enemies actually blunder into your intricate traps. Watch all hell break loose as water freezes.

==Dwarven Apartment Complex==
Essentially, one of the many possible [[mega constructions]] dedicated to providing dwarves with rooms so high above the ground they get vertigo. Every floor must have plenty of rooms of at least 2x3 squares, with walls and a door surrounding this. Oh, and it has to go up as many Z-levels as possible. For extra credit, decide on what the top story will be (i.e. as many levels up as you deem possible, minus one so you can build a roof) and turn this into a Royal bedroom for a [[noble]], complete with gem windows, artifact/masterwork components, and untold numbers of armour stands and weapon racks. And then build some shorter but wider apartment buildings nearby to turn your fortress into essentially a giant fist with extended middle finger. Extra points for adding extra useless things for luxury, such as a magma-based heating system, fireplaces in rooms, and a lock-down lever in case of goblin attack. (or a self-destruct lever connected to the main supports, in case your dwarfish tenants are unsatisfied with your 5-star service.

'''Difficulty:''' Low, although the walls around the rooms can be a bit fiddly due to the impossibility of building walls on constructed floors (yes, an extra credit challenge is to do this without using Remove Construction).

'''Usefulness:''' Limited, because you could just dig the things underground and save yourself the hassle. However it is much harder to flood a tower than a cave, in case you're prone to fun by water.

==Execution Tower==
Just a tall tower to chuck your captives to their deaths.

'''Difficulty:''' Easy.

'''Usefulness:''' Lets you dispose of prisoners, and claim expensive silk, meltable iron, and (eventually) useful bones. Also highly amusing.

==Flood the World==
'''Difficulty:''' High danger. Will kill your frame rate.

'''Usefulness:''' Will prevent any sieges, at least. Or anything else, save for the occasional invasion of sociopathic [[Carp]].

==Gladiator Arena==
Station some soldiers at the bottom of a shallow [[Activity_zone#Pit/Pond|pit]] and dump your captives in. You can also use dangerous animals instead of soldiers. For extra points, put the prisoners in cages connected to ramps underneath the arena floor. One lever will open both the cage and a hatch above the ramp.

'''Difficulty:''' Moderate, but time consuming. Some danger depending on the relative skill of your soldiers and the danger of the captive.

'''Usefulness:''' The most difficult way to dispose of prisoners. It does give your soldiers a little bit of experience.

==Glass Ceiling==
Sick of having your dwarfs vomit all the time when they go out to retrieve loot or lumber? Despair no more! Build an almost-infinitely tall tower, and then put a glass floor on the highest level, spanning the entire map. For extra kicks, make a mechanism that will crash the entire thing upon the heads of the one goblin horde that manages to get through all your other deathtraps.

'''Difficulty:''' Medium. Very grueling.

'''Usefulness:''' Low, but potentially fortress-saving. (see above)

==Greenhouse==
A [[greenhouse]] is just a farm with the the ceiling channeled out from above. This lets you grow outdoor plants without venturing above ground. For maximum style, build the greenhouse above ground and cover it with a glass roof to keep your farmers safe.

'''Difficulty:''' Low.

'''Usefulness:''' Surface plants can be grown at any time of the year, and some are more useful than those available underground - for example, [[sun berry|sun berries]] can be brewed into valuable [[Sunshine]], and [[whip vine]]s can be milled into superior quality flour. Having greater food and booze diversity can also keep your dwarves happier.

==Hammer of [[Armok]]==
A gigantic hammer made out of pure steel and/or valuables looming over your fortress entrance ready to smite those foolish enough to lay a siege on you. Also, gives you a psychological advantage over the traders who unload their goods under it. Attach to a lever-linked support for quicksmiting, or any other single-tile collapse mechanism. BONUS: Cover it with blood.

'''Difficulty:''' Low. Depends on size, materials and magma's existence, though. Make it a gold hammer menacing with adamantine spikes, if you're going for high quality.

'''Usefulness:''' Low-medium. 10x10 size is minimum for practical effectiveness. 30x30 hammer extending handles length from your entrance actually works against sieges.

==Ice tower==

Building a huge tower is easy. To make things more [[fun]], make one out of some exotic material, like [[glass]], [[ice]], [[gold]], or [[soap]].

'''Difficulty:''' Low. You need to be on a freezing map to pull off an ice tower.

'''Usefulness:''' None.

=="I dinna say we wurren't crazy!"==

Build a huge room with nothing in it except rock pillars, then dig channels on the levels above and below it until you have a ridiculously huge room ten Z-levels in height. Inspired by Irregular Webcomic.

'''Difficulty:''' Mainly in putting up with the incessant channelling, and avoiding dropping large chunks of ceiling onto the floor from five levels up.

'''Usefulness:''' Negative, due to the insane amounts of space it takes up.

==It's A TRAP!==
It seems that [[traps]] are buildable outside. This provides for numerous opportunities. The first that comes to mind is to trap the entire outside world of your embarkation point. This will make your sieges very amusing, as a hundred high-level goblins rush onto the field and are immediately shredded into ribbons by invisible traps before even seeing one dwarf.

'''Difficulty:''' High. Depending on the size of your embarkation point, this may involve placing thousands of traps. Depending on the type of trap, that may involve making tens of thousands of trap components.

'''Usefulness:''' High. Sieges will be instantaneous, and if you use cage traps, your [[arena]] will never want for combatants, including all those pesky wild animals you no longer need to hunt for.

==It's A CRAP!==
CRAP: Carp trap...wait, why are you laughing? Anyway, here what you do.

Capture some carp in terrarium cage trap. If you don't die instantly, tame them. Then dump them in your moat and breed them.
All the little goblins (or Orcs) coming toward you in a massive siege must be directed into your moat. When they fall in, they
become (goblin chunk). Laugh maniacally.

BONUS: Edit the raws to make carps eat their kills.

'''Difficulty''': Like going within two tiles of a carp infested river and surviving.
'''Usefulness''': Questionable

==Journey to the Center of the Earth==

Construct a sturdy vessel hanging over the top of a magma pipe or volcano, outfitted with everything your intrepid crew might need for their journey of exploration - food, booze, sleeping quarters and a bridge a must, but depending on the amount of effort it can include other items such as a recreation deck, water reservoir and trade depot for dealing with the natives. When all is ready, lock the explorers inside and send them on their way. Bonus points if you can detach it from inside so you can use it in Adventure mode later.

'''Difficulty:''' Moderate to High, depending on the size of the ship. For bonus points, carve the entire thing out of existing rock overhanging a magma pipe and engrave it with messages. The main problem is getting the whole crew inside at the same time - separate sleeping quarters help here.

'''Usefulness:''' Negative. For some reason, no explorers have returned. Of course, if you select only the [[Nobles | Best and Brightest]] for the ship's crew...

==Labyrinth==

A maze of twisty little passages, all alike. [[Trap]]s and dangerous animals are essential. You can have a retracting bridge drop invaders in, or just have a labyrinth as a back door.

'''Difficulty:''' It's a lot of mining. Having a bridge drop invaders inside is more difficult, but more useful.

'''Usefulness:''' It makes a nice element of fortress defense, and you can dump your prisoners inside it. Also makes a great place to explore in [[adventure mode]].

*BONUS: Generate a world with large mountain [[cave]]s. Instead of using the labyrinth as your backdoor, use it as your fortress.

==Magma Chamber==
'''Difficulty:''' Dangerous as any magma project.

'''Usefulness:''' It's like a drowning chamber, but any non-iron items carried by the victim will be destroyed. Depending on your style of play, this may be a good thing.

==Magma Cannon==
[http://www.bay12games.com/forum/index.php?topic=33837.0 It can be done!] It uses a row of pumps to pressurize the magma in a chamber with only one exit. When the floodgate opens, the magma flies out a short distance.

'''Difficulty:''' Very high. You need [[metal]] (or [[glass]]) [[screw pump]]s to make it work, [[magma-safe]] floodgates and mechanisms, plus a big above-ground construction.

'''Usefulness:''' Marginal. But very cool.

==Magma Mausoleum==
This trick involves dripping water on to the middle of a magma pool until you have a column of obsidian, then channeling down into the obsidian ''more than'' one Z level, and putting a burial receptacle there. This probably won't work in magma tubes or Volcanos since the created obsidian would fall into the bottomless pit. The trick is getting the water to fall onto the magma in a controlled manner. Bonus points for each additional level down you manage to place the coffin.

'''Difficulty:''' High. Requires certain resources from the start, plus lots of setup. And your dwarves tend to erupt into dwarf steam occasionally.

'''Usefulness:''' None, since an obsidian lined room with the exact same furniture somewhere else will please your nobles just as much.

==Magma Pumping==
It's a lot like pumping water, only more dangerous, and requires the [[screw pump|pumps]] to use [[magma-proof]] pipes and screws in their construction.

'''Difficulty:''' The difficult part is making all those [[iron]] or [[steel]] pumps and [[bauxite]] [[floodgate]]s. Very high risk.

'''Usefulness:''' Magma is fun, but also [[Fun]].

==Mega/Water Drowning Trap-Thing==
This is basically a channel above some pressurized water with a short tunnel leading to a door. The door needs to be connected to a lever somewhere in a safe part of the fortress. Position the door facing the main stairs into your fortress (for multiple stairs use multiple traps). When enemies come down the stairs, pull the lever and make them drown. (It helps to seal off the rooms).

'''Difficulty:''' Medium. Needs flowing water under pressure and levers.

'''Usefulness:''' Medium. Depends on the size of your fortress/defences/amount of attackers. Works well with fire demons to create a sauna.

==Monumental Statue==

'''Difficulty:''' Depends on how big you want the statue to be. If you are feeling really masochistic, cast it out of obsidian using magma and water.

'''Usefulness:''' None.

*BONUS:Make the statue hollow and have dwarves live inside it.

==Moses Effect==
With enough pumps, you can pull water out of a square faster than it flows in. This can create a reverse waterfall, or a dry spot in the middle of a flowing river. The effect is like Moses parting the Red Sea.

'''Difficulty:''' Surprisingly easy.

'''Usefulness:''' You can use this trick to create a waterfall or drowning chamber. It is also important if you want to pass through an [[Aquifer]], although that is far more difficult.

==[[Obsidian]] factory==
You need one reservoir of water, and one of magma. Mix, cool, mine, and repeat as necessary.

'''Difficulty:''' Medium.

'''Usefulness:''' Obsidian is 50% more valuable than [[flux]] and 3 times as valuable as ordinary stone, making it ideal for your [[mason]]s and [[stone crafter]]s. Done properly, it can also serve as a magma chamber ''and'' a drowning chamber.

==Pit o' Doom==
Combine with an Execution Tower for maximum z-level executions! Spike traps are a must.

'''Difficulty:''' Low. You want it nice and deep though.

'''Usefulness:''' Dispose of prisoners, execute nobles, gruesome fatal injuries, laugh maniacally.

==Pressure Washer==
A huge tower with floodgates at the bottom on one side. When opened, the pressurized water fires out and pushes anything in the way of the flow away. Depending on size, can be surprisingly powerful. You can see an example tower [http://mkv25.net/dfma/map-7485-griffonwind here]

'''Difficulty:''' Medium, construction technique takes some consideration.

'''Usefulness:''' Medium-High. Tested with 50 recruits standing infront of it when the floodgates opened, killed 46 of them, including ones not pushed into the pit.

BONUS: Fill it with Magma instead (though Magma doesn't pressurize).

==Self Destruct Lever==
A mechanism that, for example, could flood your fort with magma, or release a trapped megabeast. For bonus points, build the whole fort on a single [[support]].

'''Difficulty:''' Very high. Extremely dangerous.

'''Usefulness:''' None, by definition, but highly amusing.

==[[Swimming]] pool==
It's a reservoir that fills to 4/7 exactly. Station soldiers inside, lock them in, and fill. This way they gain [[swimming]] skill.

'''Difficulty:''' Low. It's just a pair of reservoirs.

'''Usefulness:''' The swimming skill is only slightly useful. This is most useful if the entrance to your fort has narrow walkways/moats surrounded by water, and you station your soldiers there. It does help gain attributes though.

==[[Tower-cap]] Farm==
You absolutely need to break into an underground river or lake. Make some muddy floors over a big area and wait.

'''Difficulty:''' Moderate. More information on it can be found [[Tower-cap|here]]

'''Usefulness:''' Depends on size - bigger is better.

==Town Destroyer==
Start your fortress in an area with an existing settlement. Create a channel all the way around it, then dig out everything on the Z-level below and watch it obliterate itself (and probably your framerate).

'''Difficulty:''' Low to medium. It's not hard, just very time-consuming.

'''Usefulness:''' Very low.

==Underground Perpetual Motion Power Plant==
Combine with a use for the power and you either have an awesome setup, or a ticking time bomb.

'''Difficulty:''' High. Maintaining the correct water level is annoying difficult at times.

'''Usefulness:''' Depends on size of plant and what it's connected to. Also useful as a puzzle for adventurers.

==Underwater Statue room==
A simple room filled with statues that just also happens to be flooded. Simply dig a room near to a water soure smooth and engrave the walls and floors than fill with statues. Dig a tunnel to the water source and a separate escape route. seal both off with floodgates pull the levers in the right order and bam underwater statue room. For added effect make the meeting room a room directly above with a glass floor.

'''Difficulty:'''Low.

'''Usefulness:''' Absolutely positively none.

==Vomitorium==
Prevents [[cave adaption]]. It's like the greenhouse, only instead of a farm, it's [[meeting hall]] or [[barracks]]. Since you can't build [[table]]s or [[bed]]s outside, build the room and [[channel]] down to it, or build a [[bridge]] or two over the top.

'''Difficulty:''' Low.

'''Usefulness:''' Low. Make sure to wall the pit in or it will become very [[Fun]] once [[goblin]] archers become involved.

==U.R.I.S.T. Artificial Intelligence==
Basically, a dwarf in a bunker that controls your fortress. Being that there are no supercomputers in DF at the moment, we'll have to use the closest substitute, a dwarf. Seal your dwarf in a room full of levers that activate various floodgates, bridges, doors, hatch covers, traps, etc. Make sure this room has no exits or entrances, but it needs a luxurious bedroom and dining area, and you must include a chute for dropping in <s>food</s> biomass and <s>alcohol</s> coolant fluid. Profile the levers so that they can only be used by the A.I. dwarf.

It would be a good idea to make the system into two rooms. The food/drink/bed room and the lever room. Should you need to add more levers, you can lock the A.I. dwarf outside the lever room and have your mechanics set up more levers without interacting with or releasing the A.I.

You can make the lodging room suited for the particular dwarf by adding furniture made from their favorite materials, and smoothing and engraving everything. Use quantum stockpiling to give them 10+ years of food and drink. Make sure the A.I. is unable to communicate with other dwarves. His/her mood must not be affected by the deaths of the walking meat-bags who tried to befriended him/her.

You must also make a snazzy/lame acronym name for your AI, here are some examples:
<ul>
<li>U.R.I.S.T. - Underground Reasonably Intelligent Settlement Technologist</li>
<li>N.O.B.L.E. - Narcissistic Obnoxious Boastful Laughable Excrement </li>
<li>M.A.G.M.A. - Massively Alcoholic Gear-Machine Assembly</li>
<li>A.R.M.O.K. - All-Reaching Master Of Killing</li>
<li>A.S.S. - Almost-autonomous Systems Selector</li>
<li>D.I.E.D. - Dedicated Irrigation and Everything else Device</li>

</ul>

'''Difficulty:''' Medium. Setting up all the levers and lodgings can be a micromanagement hassle. Further research is required as to how well the A.I. will fit into a dwarven economy.

'''Usefulness:''' High. Having a dwarf dedicated to pulling levers will ensure that they are pulled on time. Additionally, you will have a constantly-ecstatic dwarf who is virtually invulnerable to all threats. Should your fortress be slaughtered by invaders or drowned by flooding or tantrum spiraled, your fortress will be preserved until more migrants arrive, or the AI runs out of food.

==Day Care==
A room where you put all your dwarf children so they cannot be kidnapped by snatchers. Make a suicide booth setup that drops the child into a room with beds and tables and stuff. Remember to include a food chute to quantum stockpile a huge amount of food and alcohol on a 1x1 stockpile (so it doesn't rot) in the room. Note that the children will no longer be able to perform certain useful tasks like crop harvesting and deconstruction, and will not level up their skill in various professions like an otherwise kidnappable child, but this is a small tradeoff if they usually get kidnapped before maturing anyway.

'''Difficulty:''' Low but annoying. You may have to micromanage to get every child into the room, and it'll be a hassle to get the grown ones out without releasing all of them.

'''Usefulness:''' Low. Protecting the children may be more trouble than it's worth

40d Talk:Stupid dwarf trick

2010-03-24T00:00:25Z

Greenmeanie:

== Magma pumping ==
Thanks for the update [[user:Cizra|Cizra]], I've modified it to be more encyclopedic. :) I think more research/verification of which parts of [[screw pump|pumps]] need to be magma-proof is warranted. --[[User:Raumkraut|Raumkraut]] 17:23, 2 August 2008 (EDT)

== Obsidian Factory ==
Any ideas on how I would get started with this? I actually have a magma pipe near some natural lakes. Do I have the makings of an Obsidian Factory? -- [[User:Ehertlein|Ehertlein]] 10:59, 20 August 2008 (EDT)
:So you have an unlimited supply of magma. Is your water supply also unlimited? If not, you may want to save some for other things. But yes, that's really all you need, water and magma. It also helps to have bauxite and steel. You have two options: bring the magma to the water (via floodgates or pumps) or to bring the water to the magma (by pumps or floodgates or even buckets -which may be recommended it you have a less plentiful supply of water, as even one bucket of water will turn a square of magma into obsidian). Just be careful not to flood your fortress with anything or leave magma lying around where dwarves will foolishly walk on it and catch on fire before fleeing to their bed in the barracks to "recover". Other safety tips from my experiments with obsidian farming: Magma flows up in magma pipes up to the top of the pipe, so watch out if you're filling in, then mining out the pipe. If you are trying to drop water from a bucket onto magma, it needs to be at least two z-levels above, not just one; this is just the way it works. Good luck. Soon your giant tower made of obsidian blocks will rise majestically into the sky, I'm sure. --[[User:Zombiejustice|Zombiejustice]] 11:48, 20 August 2008 (EDT)
::You don't actually need any bauxite or adamantine to start an obsidian factory. What I did was: build a pump on top of the magmapimp to take magme out of the pipe and pump it into the wall. In this wall create a tunnel to an underground area that is at least 2z levels high. (Use channel to channel through one floor. Ideally the bottom of this area should be one z-level above your sourced water (a brook in my case). The pump only needs the screw and the pipes of iron or steel, everything else can be stone. Don't make the magma tunnel too long since magma will be very slow. Create one or more windmills (depending on wind strength) above and connect one axle to a switch far a way (preferable in your fort), turn the axle of and connect the windmill(s) with the pump. Shield the pump with walls, so the magma will only run into the tunnel and nothing else aruond. Build a pump on the water source, create a channel for the water into the underground area, connect the pump with a waterwheel (but also turned of yet by a lever). Make a water exit with a floodgate, so the water can run back into the river if you open that, connect the floodgate also to a lever in your for (you should have 3 levels in your fort). Shield the whole area from dwarven acess by walls/moats/doors so once you got it ready and every dwarf is outside you can lock it. So no dwarf runs there to drink (like mine did) and catch fire. Pull the water pump level, fill the area with water. Turn the pump of. Pull the magma pump level, let some magma drop down into that area, as the first tiles will transform to obsidian, having a 2 level space will allow the magma to travel over it to more water further away. Never have too much magma, or you could end up with a permanent magma pool on top of the obsidian, you don't want that. So turn the magma pump soon enough off (get some experience, how much magma you can take in one shot)... wait until there are only 1/7 magma tiles left, wait further until everything is cooled down. Push the 3rd level attached to the floodgate to remove access water (there is likely some resevoir on the far end from the pipe left), wait for the water to be gone. Now you can open acess to dwarves, you might wand to channel some obsidian blocks to free some locked water. Or you just can let some of it it be trapped to be reused for the next go. Mine all obsdian. Rinse and repeat. However I found once I started to mine around to create my obsidian factory, I found so much obsidian in that area, I question how useful the whole construction is after all. --[[User:Catpaw|Catpaw]] 10:06, 22 September 2008 (EDT)

One advantage to molding a building as opposed to building it from the ground up is that as it's technically considered earth, you can smooth and engrave the rock, before building even more valuable floors on top of it; the obsidian produced from the mining will still be useful for making swords/doors/other valuable items.

=="I dinna say we wurren't crazy!"==
Instead of digging channels, dig fields of ramps. Its safe to dig an entire flat field of ramps at once, and very quick to remove the ramps(with 'd' 'z') after. Do that for a few layers and you'll end up with a pit containing untold rocks stacked on top of each other. Put a mason shop down there and a legendary mason'll make blocks faster than you'll believe. --[[User:Corona688|Corona688]] 19:09, 6 July 2009 (UTC)

Still need to channel out the floors. Unless you start with the second highest floor and work downwards. Ramps remove the floor above the square designated for carving.

==It's a Trap==
Who honestly considers this Stupid Dwarf Trick worthy? After I alphabetized it in properly I noticed that it really seems to not fit with the concept of a Stupid Dwarf Trick. Okay, so you get a little excessive building traps on Every single tile? It's not useless, and it's not exceedingly hard. So what makes it stupid? [[User:Shardok|Shardok]] 23:09, 30 October 2009 (UTC)

I'm sad you think that this idea is something easy to do that is reasonable and provides more utility than an alternative (such as posting guards or only trapping the entrance to your fortress). Taking the time and effort to build hundreds, perhaps thousands, of mechanisms and trap components, followed by designating each tile of your local map as a trap, and waiting for your dwarves to get up, go outside, and build them seems like more work than you are giving it credit for.

But whatever. Remove it if you want.
[[Special:Contributions/68.102.237.253|68.102.237.253]] 02:32, 30 November 2009 (UTC)

== HIgh usefulness useless? ==

"A stupid dwarf trick is any project that requires a large amount time and effort, for little or no practical benefit. They exist only as a challenge for experienced players."

By this definition, surely anything with "High" usefulness doesn't belong here?--[[Special:Contributions/198.54.202.154|198.54.202.154]] 08:39, 13 February 2010 (UTC)

==Rehabilitation Center==
I'm going to remove rehabilitation center, as it isn't a stupid dwarf trick due to it actually a) being usefull and b) not being that hard to do. If anyone objects object here.-[[User:Greenmeanie|Greenmeanie]] 00:00, 24 March 2010 (UTC)

Dwarf Fortress Wiki:Request for Adminship/Aescula

2010-03-01T05:46:51Z

Greenmeanie: /* Support */

==Administrator Candidacy Questionnaire==
===Why would I be a good Administrator?===
I know I'm not too well known, but I am an avid Wiki-er, wholly believe in the system, and have even created and administrated a small Wiki of my own. Unfortunately, I was not able to keep up hosting payments, and thus cannot show it, as it's been deleted, probably purged from their systems.

Either way, I know the system, I know the process, I even know a little about the software, both DF's and MediaWiki.

====Supporting Evidence====
*[[Special:Contributions/Aescula]].
*(As for knowledge of the DF system) [[User:Aescula]]

==Public Q&A==
*'''Q''': What was your wiki about, and what kinds of things did you do with it (besides contributing content and watching RC) that would make you good as an admin? [[User:Mason11987|Mason11987]] 11:57, 22 February 2010 (UTC)
*'''A''': It was an idea that I called "Wikiverse". It thought of it because I have a friend who delights in building worlds, designing races, and so forth, it was designed to allow people to write about and show any other world they would have liked, without having to also think of storylines and dialogue. In that one, I was a primary template-maker, and honestly had enough on my paws with all of the financial issues and technical issues I was having. However, I did learn a good amount about the MediaWiki software, and know how to do things such as identifying and banning spammers, and so forth, and even successfully fended off a troll attack before it could do lasting damage to the target's reputation.--[[User:Aescula|Aescula]] 04:00, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

:'''Q''': Great, thanks. Sounds similar to my experience, follup up: Did you have any work on using the wikipedia "qif" template or a similar type of template, or using parser functions? I think there is some opportunity here for organization in this wiki with infoboxes for items and world builder gens, or a lot of other things, and those are often really useful for that kind of work. [[User:Mason11987|Mason11987]] 21:19, 23 February 2010 (UTC)
:'''A''': I remember building text boxes, similar to the ones that we have here for metals, stone, and workshops. Also, I'm one who, while not the most innovative, am very adaptive, and can usually come to understanding a language, like MediaWiki's, over a very small span, and then can work it as needed. --[[User:Aescula|Aescula]] 23:22, 23 February 2010 (UTC)

*'''Q''':Would you care to make a comment on the recent situation? [[User:VengefulDonut|VengefulDonut]] 14:40, 26 February 2010 (UTC)
::recent situation? What recent situation? [[User:Mason11987|Mason11987]] 20:52, 28 February 2010 (UTC)
*'''A''':Oh, you mean all those votes against me because I'm a Furry? Yeah, sure. One simple comment. Don't listen to stereotypes. Those things lead you to believe that every black guy is gonna steal your car (false, I know many very pleasant and helpful black guys), and that every German is a Nazi (Again false, lots of nice Germans out there. Notice a pattern?) Thank you for your time and consideration. --[[User:Aescula|Aescula]] 23:59, 28 February 2010 (UTC)

==Public Discussion==
It's clear that this person inspires an irrational hatred in others. Why doesn't matter. For a lot of you, your instinct in this kind of situation is to root for the underdog, and in general that may not be a bad idea. But think of this case in specific. We are trying to select a person for a position of authority in the wiki community. You want someone who can smooth over conflicts, and based on how we've seen Aescula deal with the situation (that is, by not responding to it in any way) it's pretty fair to say Aescula's competence in this regard is lacking. Pity is not in the best interest of the wiki. [[User:VengefulDonut|VengefulDonut]] 18:31, 28 February 2010 (UTC)

:I'd like to suggest that this NOT be a position of authority. Admins shouldn't be "in charge" they should be people who have a very small amount more abilities then the average registered user. They should be given these abilities not because they are good with people or not good with people, they should be given these abilities ONLY if they might provide more benefit to the community with them then without them. I'd like to believe that Aescula is relatively trustworthy. His edits seem like he has an intention of improving the wiki. His comments about his previous experience prove to me that at least he knows what he's talking about and he can provide slightly more use to the community with the admin powers.
:I'm not disagreeing with you on what abilities Aescula may or may not have with regard to personal interactions. In fact I'm not even commenting on them. I'm stating the fact that he isn't disruptive means that giving him a handful more tools means the site will be able to improve incrementally, and that's reason enough to do it. [[User:Mason11987|Mason11987]] 20:58, 28 February 2010 (UTC)

::Although the position gives no real power over other users, the larger set of privileges serves to make a person look more important. This makes it a position of authority, The kind of person we should have there should be one with good skills at interacting with other people, not a social pariah. [[User:VengefulDonut|VengefulDonut]] 21:37, 28 February 2010 (UTC)

:::I don't think you are suggesting Aescula is a "social pariah", but regardless...
:::You suggest that it makes the person look more important. I'm simply stating that is a matter of perception which we can simply change by declaring it is not accurate. If we all agree that admins aren't '''more important''' then this becomes a much simpler discussion and the wiki will benefit more because of it. I'm fine with having Briess be an "arbiter" if such a thing is necessary, which I'm skeptical of with such a small community. If we leave it at that then admins are just people who could provide more value because of the options they have been given. [[User:Mason11987|Mason11987]] ([[User talk:Mason11987|T]]-[[Special:Contributions/Mason11987|C]]) 21:45, 28 February 2010 (UTC)

::I agree that if we all agree, we can squash the idea of importance imparted by admin status. However, I don't agree that we're likely to come to such an agreement :). Changing the perception of a large group of people is a big task. Also, the key role of an administrator on a wiki is an arbiter. The "administrative tools" mainly consist of deleting and locking, and those are practically married to arbitration. What else would you expect an administrator to do? [[User:VengefulDonut|VengefulDonut]] 22:00, 28 February 2010 (UTC)
::Also, "social pariah" may have been a slight exaggeration, but I don't think it's too much of a stretch. Openly declaring oneself a member of a commonly despised group is an act of severe ineptitude. The only exceptions to this are acts of protest intended to engineer a higher status for that group. I am certain this is not one of those exceptions. [[User:VengefulDonut|VengefulDonut]] 22:12, 28 February 2010 (UTC)
:::I think you misunderstand Aesc. If you look, she doesn't scream "I'm a furry!" It's mentioned once on her user page. She isn't hiding it, but she isn't making a big deal of it. It's the other idiots who are. It would be like if I said something like "I play DF because basketball is too hard for us whiteboys." and then everyone started hating me because I'm white. (As a couple caveats, I am in fact white, I don't usually get hate for being white, and that's not the greatest example. You get my point though.) Saying stuff like being a "modding hyena" is just who Aesc is. And, I should point out, that is exactly what ''user''pages are for. Who you are. I mean, [[User:Waladil|my userpage]] has various languages included on it, because I am interested in linguistics. It's who I am, and we shouldn't be eschewing people like Aesc because its who they are. That is just modern-day racism. --[[User:Waladil|Waladil]] 23:45, 28 February 2010 (UTC)

::Being a furry is not "who you are". It's an association people make by choice. Unlike race and gender, it's not genetically coded into you. Unlike religion, it's not fueled by deep rooted conviction. It's an arbitrary and ultimately meaningless label that people can choose either to attach or not attach to themselves on a whim. [[User:VengefulDonut|VengefulDonut]] 00:11, 1 March 2010 (UTC)

:Also, it kind of matters as to what kind of a conflict-resolver Aesc is. Wikis need all sorts, from the kind of person who always is there keeping people in line to the kind of person who will wait for people to bicker themselves out, as long as it doesn't cause any real problems. Given that this is an opinion page, things that may be defamatory towards furries here can be seen as acceptable because they're opinions. Stupid and bigoted, yes, but so is every political pundit on Fox News. Moreover, I think it says a lot about Aesc that she isn't getting involved in this argument, because that means that she can keep her peace while other people poke fun at her. If people were saying those same things about me, I'd have deleted the comments, followed their IP's, and stabbed them in their faces. See why I'm not an admin? --[[User:Waladil|Waladil]] 21:27, 28 February 2010 (UTC)

:VengefulDonut, care to give an example of my "inspiring irrational hatred"? Or is that just you trying to get me shut down? All I do is try to resolve things peacefully, update information as it's incorrect, add in what I think would be helpful, and otherwise, do my own thing in my own space. I've felt no hatred on this wiki whatsoever, until I looked at your post here. If it's because I'm a Furry, as Waladil pointed out, then that's just unjust hate on your part, as it's not like I go around screaming yiff, do I? I keep things professional. Anyways, if you can provide an example of that hate, then I'll consider this statement as based in fact, and not wild hate-speech. --[[User:Aescula|Aescula]] 23:53, 28 February 2010 (UTC)

::I think it's pretty obvious that [[user:Freakazoid|Freakazoid]]'s behavior was irrational and was motivated by hatred. He hated you after learning things about you that he severely disliked. This is an example of "inspiring irrational hatred". Is this the kind of fact you were looking for? Also, I don't know where you got the impression that I hate you. I don't know you nearly well enough to have any sort of emotional response regarding you. I just think you're not qualified to hold the position you're seeking. [[User:VengefulDonut|VengefulDonut]] 00:09, 1 March 2010 (UTC)

:::Please note that Freakazoid and HugeShield were not bashing me, but rather were bashing Furries in general. I'm sorry for misunderstanding the comments you made here, but I saw this part before the votes, and so reacted on the defensive. The reason I'm so open about being a Furry in a situation like this is so I can work on reducing this sort of stereotype. Prove that we don't really do that. That's all. I mean, if you've seen me following it, running around shouting like an idiot and asking for sex every 23 seconds, then sure, you can hate me for that. But don't do it because I call myself a hyena, and say "paws" for "hands". It's just how I prefer to be. If you (and anyone else reading this section) would look at the Q&A, aside from the last question, and at my contributions and skills, instead of watching this drama, you'd see what matters here. This is, in fact, my first encounter with such hatespeech, and I'm dealing with it as best I can, and *really* trying to be peaceful, professional, and trying to defuse it instead of blowing it out of proportion. Yes, those two were being irrational. But that's the point. They were being irrational, and what matters in looking at qualifications is rationality, logic, and actual merit, not "OMG FURRY RUN FER YER LIF". It's basically discrimination, and one that won't be taken up by courts. Not yet, anyway. Kinda like saying "Yeah... You'd do well... But you're black. That'll cause all sorts of irrational hatred. I'm sorry, but I can't hire you." Again, no offense to blacks out there, I mean absolutely no disrespect, just using the most famous example. --[[User:Aescula|Aescula]] 00:18, 1 March 2010 (UTC)

::::This is nothing like racism. Race isn't just a mask a person can shrug on and off. "Furry" is. The common stereotypes are completely irrelevant to this conversation. Why are you even mentioning them? I consider you socially inept because despite the prevalent hatred against furries, you still choose to wear that mask. [[User:VengefulDonut|VengefulDonut]] 00:26, 1 March 2010 (UTC)

:::::It's pretty close. It's an Internet version of it, really. Everything online is "just a mask you can shrug on or off" as you put it. I do wear the mask despite the hatred known around the internet, but not because I'm socially inept, but because I feel twenty times more comfortable in fur than in skin, and because I'm not a coward who hides behind the whim of the mob, I prefer doing my own thing. If my thing is being Furry, then why should that close doors to me that are open to others? That fact should help me in this, not hurt me, because instead of cowardice and succumbing to social pressures, I stick to my principles. If the social pressure is suddenly to write this whole wiki in 1337, then who would you want as administrators? --[[User:Aescula|Aescula]] 00:34, 1 March 2010 (UTC)

::::I think that individualism and shrugging off social pressure are strong virtues that enable a person to enjoy their own life to the fullest. But they are also traits that damage your ability to blend in with a community and smooth over conflict. The way an admin might be expected to. The courage to disregard what other people want from you does not help you give other people what they want from you. [[User:VengefulDonut|VengefulDonut]] 00:46, 1 March 2010 (UTC)
::::Comparing how furries are treated to real social injustice is an insult to the civil rights movement. There are people who have had real problems that they couldn't escape from. They were stuck dealing with poor treatment their entire lives just because of who they are. They had to fight just to gain the right to live normal lives. You, on the other hand.. if you were so inclined, you could stop that sort of thing whenever you wanted. What exactly are you fighting for? You can't seriously expect to be able to say whatever you want about yourself and have everyone accept you. [[User:VengefulDonut|VengefulDonut]] 00:56, 1 March 2010 (UTC)

:Oh, and as for my not responding to the sudden outburst of comments, I'm sorry, I've been just a little bit busy. I apologize for not psychically realizing that something was happening online and jumping to action. Furry or not, I'm still just human. --[[User:Aescula|Aescula]] 00:04, 1 March 2010 (UTC)

==Votes==
===Support===
# '''SUPPORT''': I stand in support of Aesc. I've known her for years, and I can vouch for her determination and, above all else, how much time she has on her hands. She'll make a good admin, because, if nothing else, she can always keep an eye on things. --[[User:Waladil|Waladil]] 13:08, 21 February 2010 (UTC)
# '''SUPPORT''': Aescula has my support for admin. She's been all sorts of help whenever I hit a snag with DF. I introduced her to the game long ago, and she's taken to it like a fish to water. Already doing things I didn't know possible. Her eagerness to learn, and determination to master would make her as fine an admin as any. She already has much more technical know how with computers that I couldn't even give a proper name to. A vote for Aescula is a vote for (Insert home country here). --[[User:Iaru|Iaru]] 19:21, 23 February 2010 (EST)
# '''SUPPORT''': Would support anyways (as it sounds like she would make a good admin), but mainly im voting to counteract huge sheild calling her a furry with no evidence and voting against her for that. --[[User:Greenmeanie|Greenmeanie]] 08:15, 25 February 2010
#* Honestly, Greenmeanie, it's true that I am a Furry. It's basically stated on my user page, and I'm not ashamed of it. But still, thanks for the support, since at least it's counteracting the people who claim that FUrries cause drama and ruin everything. So not true.
#**Obviously furries don't cause drama, as none of this drama was caused by you, but rather other people, with your actions having almost no impact on what they said. Looking at your page for the first time, I read it you saying that you mod heyenas (not that that makes much sense thinking about it), not a modding heyena. I have no problem with you being a furry, was just a bit annoyed that they would accuse you of being one without any evidence (although as it turns out their is lots of evidence), hoping to avoid any drama, not very successfully as it would turn out.-[[User:Greenmeanie|Greenmeanie]] 05:46, 1 March 2010 (UTC)
#* '''SUPPORT''': Not for Aesc, I already voted in support of her, but for Greenmeanie for helping fight the stupid rumors about furries! --[[User:Waladil|Waladil]] 10:15, 25 February 2010 (UTC)
# '''SUPPORT''': I may not have much prior knowledge of who Aescula is, but she sounds like she'd know what she's doing, especially on the technical side of things, and I can't see how that'd be bad. --Kydo 15:21, 28 February 2010 (UTC)
# '''Support''' A person who makes useful edits and isn't disruptive should be given the tools if we have reason to believe they would be more useufl with them. Aescula comments here and contributions convinces me that Adminship could be a good thing. [[User:Mason11987|Mason11987]] 21:00, 28 February 2010 (UTC)
# '''SUPPORT''' I've known Aescula for years, and was the next most active participant and a moderator of Wikiverse. She is quite Wiki-wise, and enjoys Dwarf Fortress a good deal. I believe she will be a very helpful administrator. Her furry status means little to me, and I don't feel she fits the stereotypes people would (rightfully) attach to a lot of furries. --[[User:DarthCloakedDwarf|DarthCloakedDwarf]] 02:30, 1 March 2010 (UTC)

===Oppose===
*# <s>'''OPPOSE''': Candidate said, "had enough on my paws," as we all know, furries ruin everything.{{verify}} --[[User:HugeShield|HugeShield]] 10:41, 24 February 2010 (UTC)</s> Striked by current administrative staff. If you want to actually vote OPPOSE, you are welcome to - don't be ludicrous and offensive. --[[User:Briess|Briess]] 02:42, 26 February 2010 (UTC)
*#*If "don't be a dick" isn't a rule here, it should be![[User:GarrieIrons|Gar]][[User Talk:GarrieIrons|rie]] 11:03, 25 February 2010 (UTC)
*# <s>'''OPPOSE''': Furries cause drama.{{verify}} Last thing any wiki needs is more empowered furries.{{verify}} [[User:Freakazoid|Freakazoid]] 17:45, 25 February 2010 (UTC)</s> Striked by current administrative staff. If you want to actually vote OPPOSE, you are welcome to - don't be ludicrous and offensive. --[[User:Briess|Briess]] 02:42, 26 February 2010 (UTC)
# '''Oppose''': I don't want to put up with this kind of shit, so I'm going to act out of self interest here and try to bury the issue. [[User:VengefulDonut|VengefulDonut]] 14:13, 28 February 2010 (UTC)

===Neutral===
# '''NEUTRAL''', but bites all the furry-bashers --[[User:MathFox|MathFox]] 18:29, 25 February 2010 (UTC)