Bridge - Revision history

Quietust: /* Notes */ 1-tile-thick issue is ASCII-specific; also mention the DFHack "tweak" I wrote specifically for this purpose

2026-03-17T21:09:57Z

Notes: 1-tile-thick issue is ASCII-specific; also mention the DFHack "tweak" I wrote specifically for this purpose

Thecrazybee at 17:29, 17 March 2026

2026-03-17T17:29:09Z

108.85.197.99: capitalization

2026-02-14T22:14:36Z

capitalization

108.85.197.99: /* Notes */

2026-02-14T17:19:39Z

Notes

108.85.197.99: /* Notes */ minor format to indent graphic, no /txt changes

2026-02-14T17:18:54Z

Notes: minor format to indent graphic, no /txt changes

108.85.197.99: /* Materials */

2026-01-20T09:40:08Z

Materials

108.85.197.99: /* Materials */

2026-01-20T09:39:53Z

Materials

108.85.197.99: bullet points for examples

2026-01-20T09:36:17Z

bullet points for examples

GeloMor: /* Raising and retracting bridges */

2026-01-01T23:55:23Z

Raising and retracting bridges

GeloMor: /* Raising and retracting bridges */

2026-01-01T23:50:44Z

Raising and retracting bridges

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 A raised bridge cannot be linked to a lever from the inside - the mechanic must be able to access the center tile of the bridge when lowered.
-If you aren't sure whether or not a 1 tile thick bridge is raised or lowered, try to build a piece of furniture, like a statue, on it. If it says blocked, the bridge is raised, if it says building present, it is lowered. You can also link another (longer) drawbridge to the same lever, to use as a visual indicator of the other bridge's status. Since this takes additional time and mechanisms, this is best reserved for when it's especially important that you know at a glance whether that bridge is blocking things.
+In ASCII mode, bridges which are only 1 tile thick look exactly the same whether they are raised or lowered. If you aren't sure which state such a bridge is in, try to build a piece of furniture, like a statue, on it - if it says "blocked" then the bridge is raised, and if it says "building present" then it is lowered. You can also link another (longer) drawbridge to the same lever, to use as a visual indicator of the other bridge's status. Since this takes additional time and mechanisms, this is best reserved for when it's especially important that you know at a glance whether that bridge is blocking things.
 ==Uses==

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 ===Waste disposal===
 {{Main|Dwarven atom smasher}}
-Lowering raised bridges can be used as [[waste disposal]] for unwanted stones, [[refuse]], [[goblin]]s (dead or alive), legendary [[cheese]] makers and [[nobles]], to name a few. Even fluids get destroyed. Note, however, that lowering a drawbridge onto a sufficiently large creature (such as a [[forgotten beast]]) simply causes the bridge to deconstruct.
+The bridge's tendency to destroy whatever is below it upon being lowered can be exploited, creating a simple but effective trash compactor. Thus, lowering raised bridges can be used as [[waste disposal]] for unwanted stones, [[refuse]], [[goblin]]s (dead or alive), legendary [[cheese]] makers and [[nobles]], to name a few. Even fluids get destroyed. Note, however, that lowering a drawbridge onto a sufficiently large creature (such as a [[forgotten beast]]) simply causes the bridge to deconstruct. Dwarves are also susceptible to being atom smashed, so caution must be excercised when using it.
 ===[[Trap_design#Bridge_and_drop_traps|Traps]]===

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 ==Building bridges==
-When first built, any bridge is just a static walkway, often (but not necessarily) over open space. They can be used as is, and use less materials than a [[construction|constructed]] floor of the same size serving the same purpose. if you want them to raise or lower, they must be linked to a trigger (see [[Bridge#Raising and retracting bridges|below]]).
+When first built, any bridge is just a static walkway, often (but not necessarily) over open space. They can be used as is, and use less materials than a [[construction|constructed]] floor of the same size serving the same purpose. If you want them to raise or lower, they must be linked to a trigger (see [[Bridge#Raising and retracting bridges|below]]).
 Bridges can be built ({{menu icon|b|n|b}}) of [[metal]], [[stone]] or [[wood]]. They are designed and built by a specialist worker in the material used* (e.g. a [[mason]] for a stone bridge, etc.). The size of the bridge can be altered using the mouse to expand from the initially selected point while placing it, up to a maximum size of 31 squares in each direction (31×31)**.
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 Big bridges can take weeks or even months to complete. You can shorten construction time by moving the materials to the site before starting construction, and by using blocks instead of stones. The material-gathering time is somewhat shorter for blocks due to their lesser weight, and the actual construction is three times faster for blocks.
-'''Warning:''' while bridges do not provide structural [[support]], the game will still allow you to place [[construction]]s adjacent to them. Any construction that is completed when attached only to a bridge will cause an immediate [[cave-in]], often tossing the unlucky mason off the edge, to <s>a horrible death</s> any bystanders' great entertainment. However, a construction that connects to an existing supported construction when completed will not cause a cave-in, even if it is also adjacent to a bridge. To build constructions next to a bridge safely, ensure that ''all'' unbuilt constructions adjacent to a bridge are also adjacent to a construction that has already been completed. When building large constructions, it may be useful to [[suspend]] all tiles adjacent to a bridge until the neighboring constructions have been completed.
+'''Warning:''' While bridges do not provide structural [[support]], the game will still allow you to place [[construction]] orders adjacent to them. Any construction that is completed when attached only to a bridge will cause an immediate [[cave-in]], often tossing the unlucky mason off the edge, to <s>a horrible death</s> any bystanders' great entertainment. However, a construction that connects to an existing supported construction when completed will not cause a cave-in, even if it is also adjacent to a bridge. To build constructions next to a bridge safely, ensure that ''all'' unbuilt constructions adjacent to a bridge are also adjacent to a construction that has already been completed. When building large constructions, it may be useful to [[suspend]] all tiles adjacent to a bridge until the neighboring constructions have been completed.
 <br>
 : '''Example:'''

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 '''Warning:''' while bridges do not provide structural [[support]], the game will still allow you to place [[construction]]s adjacent to them. Any construction that is completed when attached only to a bridge will cause an immediate [[cave-in]], often tossing the unlucky mason off the edge, to <s>a horrible death</s> any bystanders' great entertainment. However, a construction that connects to an existing supported construction when completed will not cause a cave-in, even if it is also adjacent to a bridge. To build constructions next to a bridge safely, ensure that ''all'' unbuilt constructions adjacent to a bridge are also adjacent to a construction that has already been completed. When building large constructions, it may be useful to [[suspend]] all tiles adjacent to a bridge until the neighboring constructions have been completed.
-<br>'''Example:'''
+<br>
-: {| class="wikitable"
+: '''Example:'''
 |-
 |Will cause a cave-in

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 '''Warning:''' while bridges do not provide structural [[support]], the game will still allow you to place [[construction]]s adjacent to them. Any construction that is completed when attached only to a bridge will cause an immediate [[cave-in]], often tossing the unlucky mason off the edge, to <s>a horrible death</s> any bystanders' great entertainment. However, a construction that connects to an existing supported construction when completed will not cause a cave-in, even if it is also adjacent to a bridge. To build constructions next to a bridge safely, ensure that ''all'' unbuilt constructions adjacent to a bridge are also adjacent to a construction that has already been completed. When building large constructions, it may be useful to [[suspend]] all tiles adjacent to a bridge until the neighboring constructions have been completed.
 <br>'''Example:'''
-{| class="wikitable"
+: {| class="wikitable"
 |-
 |Will cause a cave-in

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 ::* A 3-tile bridge (or smaller) takes {3 tiles/4 = 3/4 -> 0} +1 = 1 building material.
 ::* A 4-tile bridge takes {4 tiles/4 = 1} +1 = 2.
-::& A 7-tile bridge takes (7 tiles/4 = 1 3/4 -> 1} +1 = 2.
+::* A 7-tile bridge takes (7 tiles/4 = 1 3/4 -> 1} +1 = 2.
 ::* A 2x5 bridge, 10 tiles, would take {10 tiles/4 = 2 1/2 -> 2} +1 = 3.
 ::* A 5×10 bridge, 50 tiles, would require {50 tiles/4 = 12 1/2 -> 12} +1 = 13 (and so on).

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 : Examples:
-::* A 3-tile bridge takes {3 tiles/4 = 3/4 -> 0} +1 = 1 building material.
+::* A 3-tile bridge (or smaller) takes {3 tiles/4 = 3/4 -> 0} +1 = 1 building material.
 ::* A 4-tile bridge takes {4 tiles/4 = 1} +1 = 2.
 ::* A 2x5 bridge, 10 tiles, would take {10 tiles/4 = 2 1/2 -> 2} +1 = 3.
-::* A 5×10 bridge, 50 tiles, would require {50 tiles/4 = 12 1/2 -> 12} +1 = 13, and so on.
+::* A 5×10 bridge, 50 tiles, would require {50 tiles/4 = 12 1/2 -> 12} +1 = 13 (and so on).
 The "core" material of the bridge is the one (1) single ''oldest'' individual building material used out of any/all required (i.e. the first item that was created in the fortress or that entered the map).{{cite forum|134816}} This single core material determines the color, style, description, and [[value]] of the bridge, as well as the [[labor]] required for construction (in the case that different metal/stone/wood/glass/clay materials are mixed).

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 Bridges require stone, logs, and/or [[block]]s - they can be mixed - with blocks being placed significantly faster during the actual construction.  The formula for the number of building materials needed is: number of tiles in the bridge divided by four, rounded down, plus one, or {size/4, rounded down}+1.
-So, for example, a 3-tile bridge takes {3 tiles/4=3/4 -> 0} +1 = 1 building material. A 4-tile bridge takes {4/4=1} +1 = 2. A 5×10 bridge would require {50/4=12 1/2 -> 12} +1 = 13, and so on.
+: Examples:
-The "core" material of the bridge is the ''oldest'' individual building material used (i.e. the first item that was created in the fortress or that entered the map).{{cite forum|134816}} The core material determines the color, style, and description of the bridge, as well as the labor required for construction.
+The "core" material of the bridge is the one (1) single ''oldest'' individual building material used out of any/all required (i.e. the first item that was created in the fortress or that entered the map).{{cite forum|134816}} This single core material determines the color, style, description, and [[value]] of the bridge, as well as the [[labor]] required for construction (in the case that different metal/stone/wood/glass/clay materials are mixed).
-Care should be taken when choosing materials for bridges that will be exposed to [[fire]] or [[magma]]: Bridges built with non-[[magma-safe]] materials will heat up and eventually melt if the center tile (with bias towards the northwest if the center doesn't fall on a single tile) gets covered in magma or exposed to fire, whether the bridge is raised, lowered, or even retracted. The ability of a bridge to withstand heat is limited by the ''least'' fire-resistant item involved - a single non-magmaproof building block or mechanism will cause the whole bridge to deconstruct when exposed to sufficient heat. [[Dragonfire]] almost immediately melts nearly all bridges ([[slade]] being the prime exception).
+Care should be taken when choosing materials for bridges that will be exposed to [[fire]] or [[magma]]: Bridges built with ''any'' non-[[magma-safe]] materials will heat up and eventually melt if the center tile (with bias towards the northwest if the center doesn't fall on a single tile) gets covered in magma or exposed to fire, whether the bridge is raised, lowered, or even retracted. The ability of a bridge to withstand heat is limited by the ''least'' fire-resistant item involved - a single non-magmaproof building block or mechanism will cause the whole bridge to deconstruct when exposed to sufficient heat. [[Dragonfire]] almost immediately melts nearly all bridges ([[slade]] being the prime exception).
 ==Raising and retracting bridges==

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 When designating a bridge to be built, you can choose to make it "retracting" or "raising" (the default). A retracting bridge disappears when it is "up" and become invisible, and a raising bridge is a "drawbridge", forming a visible wall when it's up. The "wall" is always just 1 z-level high x 1 tile thick (and as wide as the bridge is wide), no matter how long the "drawbridge" is when it's down. For raising bridges, you select which direction you want it to raise when you designate it to be built.  This cannot be changed later, which would require deconstructing and rebuilding a new bridge.
-All bridges can be either raised or retracted by linking it to a trigger with [[mechanism]]s - this requires a dwarf with the [[mechanics]] labor activated. Once the trigger (either a [[lever]] or [[pressure plate]]) is in place, click on that trigger and select "Link lever"/"Link plate". Find a built bridge you want to link on your map and click on it, and then select the 2 specific mechanisms you want to use to link the bridge. Quality of mechanism has no effect on the raising/lowering of the bridge, nor the time to install the mechanisms.
+All bridges can be either raised or retracted by linking it to a trigger with [[mechanism]]s - this requires a dwarf with the [[mechanics]] labor activated. Once the trigger (either a [[lever]] or [[pressure plate]]) is in place, click on that trigger and select "Link lever"/"Link plate". Find a built bridge you want to link on your map and click on it, and then select the specific mechanism you want to use to link the bridge. Quality of mechanism has no effect on the raising/lowering of the bridge, nor the time to install the mechanisms.
 Any bridge, retracting or raising, of any size, will respond to the trigger signal 100 [[Time|tick]]s after the signal is sent. You can link more than one bridge to the same trigger and they will all respond simultaneously.