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Editing v0.31:Caverns
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− | + | '''Caverns''' are ''huge'' natural underground tunnel systems, inhabited by strange and dangerous creatures. They go up, down, left, right, and about anywhere else. Vanilla worlds provide three cavern layers. Number, size and z-position can be altered in the {{L|world generation}} parameters. | |
− | + | The caverns will usually have open map edges, allowing all sorts of {{L|creatures}} to migrate into and from the cavern. By exploring the caverns in adventure mode it is possible to travel large distances below the surface - the caverns effectively connect all sites that access them. | |
− | '''Caverns''' are ''huge'' natural underground tunnel systems, inhabited by strange and dangerous creatures. They go up, down, left, right, and about anywhere else. Vanilla worlds provide three cavern layers. Number, size and z-position can be altered in the | ||
− | The caverns will usually have open map edges, allowing all sorts of | ||
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''In subterranean biomes, Chasm, water, and lava mean land, water (pool), and magma (pipes) respectively.'' | ''In subterranean biomes, Chasm, water, and lava mean land, water (pool), and magma (pipes) respectively.'' | ||
==Geography== | ==Geography== | ||
− | The | + | The first cavern usually resides about 15 z-levels below the surface. {{Verify}} |
− | Each cavern layer spans multiple z-levels, and is filled with | + | Each cavern layer spans multiple z-levels, and is filled with {{L|water}} to a certain degree. This can range from a few pools at the bottom level (rarely even no water at all) to the whole layer being submerged, forming a gigantic underground sea, including {{L|fish}} and possibly camps of {{L|olmman|olmmen}} and other {{L|fun}} aquatic creatures. |
The average amount of water cavern layers feature depends on your world generation settings, specifically | The average amount of water cavern layers feature depends on your world generation settings, specifically | ||
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[CAVERN_LAYER_WATER_MAX:100] | [CAVERN_LAYER_WATER_MAX:100] | ||
− | + | Underlying cavern layers tend to have more water than those above them. {{Verify}} | |
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− | + | Beneath the third layer lies the {{l|magma sea}}. | |
− | ==Other | + | ==Other Features== |
Exploring the underground world, you may find a variety of special geographical features. When your dwarves discover a feature, an announcement window will let you know of it. | Exploring the underground world, you may find a variety of special geographical features. When your dwarves discover a feature, an announcement window will let you know of it. | ||
− | '''Deep pits:''' | + | '''Deep pits:''' deep pits are... deep pits, they go from one cavern level to the next, and they are a fixed shape, when they hit the next cavern level they end up 'merging' into it (''no other way to explain it''), and the top z-level, the z-level it hits the next cavern level, is un-muddied rough rock floor where the the normal space of the deep pit and the random rock spires of the cavern collide. |
− | + | '''Magma pipes:''' Magma pipes are tubes extending from the {{l|magma sea}} and their shape is fixed, it's really random if you find one, it could extend to the top cavern, or even just a few z-levels. | |
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− | '''Magma | ||
'''Passages:''' | '''Passages:''' | ||
− | Passages are natural tunnels connecting two layers by ramps and short, twisted tunnel sections | + | Passages are natural tunnels connecting two layers by ramps and short, twisted tunnel sections. |
==Vegetation== | ==Vegetation== | ||
Caverns will, from the topmost to the deepest, feature the following vegetation: | Caverns will, from the topmost to the deepest, feature the following vegetation: | ||
− | '''Level one''': a benign (or as nice as caverns get) level, it has shrubs, | + | '''Level one''': a benign (or as nice as caverns get) level, it has shrubs, Tower-caps, and Fungi wood. |
− | '''Level two''': a level filled with, in addition to the above, | + | '''Level two''': a level filled with, in addition to the above, Goblin-caps, Spore trees, Black-caps, and Tunnel tubes. |
− | '''Level three''': a level lacking the trees the first level had, while still having those the second introduced, also has | + | '''Level three''': a level lacking the trees the first level had, while still having those the second introduced, also has, Nether-caps, and Blood thorns. |
− | + | Plants from recently discovered layers will also start sprouting in your artificially muddied areas (but not on the already muddied areas that the caverns are generated with). | |
==Dangers== | ==Dangers== | ||
− | There are many, many dangerous | + | There are many, many dangerous {{l|animal}}s in a cavern, including {{l|bugbat}}s, {{l|giant olm}}s, {{l|troll}}s, {{l|giant cave swallow}}s, and others. |
− | Cavern level one is as good as things get, and the following levels will | + | Cavern level one is as good as things get, and the following levels will {{l|Cave Dragon|only}} {{l|Voracious cave crawler|be}} {{l|Magma crab|worse}}. If you can't stand level one, you wont be able to stand level two or three. |
− | + | {{l|Giant cave swallow|Flying creatures}} can {{l|Fun|ruin your day}} if your main stairwell leads directly into the cavern (the bottom of up-down/down stairs can be passed by flying creatures). | |
− | Also, any cavern of sufficient size will be inhabited by | + | Also, any cavern of sufficient size will be inhabited by {{l|giant cave spider}}s, which can be both {{l|Silk|benefit}} and hazard. |
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==Benefits== | ==Benefits== | ||
Caverns provide ever regenerating resources in form of underground forests, animals to hunt, and fish. | Caverns provide ever regenerating resources in form of underground forests, animals to hunt, and fish. | ||
On breaching a cavern layer, a variety of ores and gems lining its walls will be revealed. | On breaching a cavern layer, a variety of ores and gems lining its walls will be revealed. | ||
− | The cavern floors are always | + | The cavern floors are always {{l|Farming#Underground Farming|muddied}}, providing soil to a variety of underground {{l|plant}}s. |
− | Also, underground caverns and the water they provide can be used in constructions and traps. Throwing your prisoners into a damp hellhole filled with ravaging beasts is a nice addition, too | + | Also, underground caverns and the water they provide can be used in constructions and traps. Throwing your prisoners into a damp hellhole filled with ravaging beasts is a nice addition, too. |
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==When should I start exploring?== | ==When should I start exploring?== | ||
[[Image:Cavern.png|thumb|right|A cavern found underground.]] | [[Image:Cavern.png|thumb|right|A cavern found underground.]] | ||
− | + | Likely the best time is when you get your first migrant wave, and have a military. The first cavern usually has few hazardous monsters, apart from the occasional giant olm or toad and is pretty safe. The subsequent caverns will become increasingly {{L|fun}}, so don't dig too deep without making adequate preparation. As you can handle what tries to attack, presuming you don't have a {{L|siege}} to worry about. | |
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You can of course explore a cavern without a military, but you will likely get a bunch of dwarves killed. | You can of course explore a cavern without a military, but you will likely get a bunch of dwarves killed. | ||
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==Methods of Exploration== | ==Methods of Exploration== | ||
− | There are many different methods of exploring, some | + | There are many different methods of exploring, some safer than others. |
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− | + | '''Dwarf team''': The most '''FUN''' method, you can have dwarves manually explore the cavern by foot. If you use this method, it is recommended that you equip your dwarves well. This can be done by ordering your {{l|squads}} into the cavern with move orders. | |
− | '''Fortifications''': as dwarves can see through | + | '''Fortifications''': as dwarves can see through fortifications, you can carve out a fortification near the edge of the explored area to safely discover more of the cavern. This prevents wildlife and megabeasts from entering your fort, as an added benefit. This method does not work for exploring the magma layers - or rather, it ''does'' work, but for a very, very brief time in which there is much screaming. |
− | '''Digging and walling''': Instead of | + | '''Digging and walling''': Instead of smoothing a wall and then carving a fortification, it can be quicker to just dig out the wall and then blocking off the opening with a constructed wall. The disadvantage over the fortification method is that if any dangerous creatures are lurking unseen near edge of the explored area they might get to your dwarf before the wall can be put up. |
'''Digging from above''': The only method that works in the magma layers, this method requires you to dig a hole from above the caverns into the cavern. It is advisable to seal the hole afterwards if you wish to prevent flying or magma creatures from entering your fort. | '''Digging from above''': The only method that works in the magma layers, this method requires you to dig a hole from above the caverns into the cavern. It is advisable to seal the hole afterwards if you wish to prevent flying or magma creatures from entering your fort. | ||
− | + | '''Suicide mission''': Only possible on maps with volcanoes. Knock a dwarf into the open pit, and they will rapidly plummet. Despite being unconscious, they will report everything they see for as long as they are alive. | |
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− | '''Suicide mission''': | ||
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− | + | [[File:Suicide Exploration.jpg]] |