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Difference between revisions of "Channel"

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A '''channel''' is a hole dug in the ground or wall which will mine out the [[z-level]] below too. You can use long channels to act as [[moat]]s, to move liquids such as [[water]] and [[magma]] from one point to another, and other creative purposes. With this option it is possible to either select floor tiles or 'full' tiles. When channeled out, the floor (as well as a wall if it exists) on your layer will be removed and the tile on the layer below will be [[mine]]d out. Creating a channel could be described as "strip mining".
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[[File:channel_v50_anim.gif|thumb|146px|right|Many dwarves channeling a 4×4 designated area.]]A '''channel''' is a hole dug in the ground or wall, which will mine out the [[z-level]] below, too. The [[designations menu]] can be accessed at the bottom of the screen. You can use long channels to act as [[moat]]s, to move liquids such as [[water]] and [[magma]] from one point to another, and other creative purposes. With this option it is possible to either select floor tiles or wall (solid or "full") tiles. When channeled out, the floor (as well as a wall if it exists) on your layer will be removed and the tile on the layer below will be [[mine]]d out. Creating a channel could be described as "strip mining".
  
In layman's terms: mining an area will carve out a tunnel in the rock to crawl through, whereas channelling an area will also remove the bottom of that tunnel and make a second tunnel one level below, creating a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trench Trench] of sorts.
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In layman's terms: mining an area will carve out a tunnel in the rock to crawl through, whereas channelling an area will also remove the bottom of that tunnel, and make a second tunnel one level below - a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trench trench] of sorts.
  
Digging a channel creates a [[ramp]] on the level below. The bottom ramp can be removed with {{K|d|z}}.  Channels dug above a layer that has been dug out will not create ramps.
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Digging a channel creates a [[ramp]] on the level below (indicated by {{Raw Tile|▼|#FFFFFF|#000000}} on the current level). It can be removed with {{K-|m|u}}.  Channels dug above a dug-out area will not create ramps.
  
One consequence is that the dwarf can now channel straight down for as far as he likes.  This ''will'' happen even if you don't intend it - the dwarf will walk down into the channel he's just made, and dig the next channel down, seemingly in preference to digging a tunnel to access that next channel from the side as perhaps you'd intended.  As there is (usually) no surface adjacent to the channel, the dwarf stands atop it and digs under his feet ''(though this depended on psychiatric "confidence" in 0.28.x.x - does it still?{{verify}})'', usually falling to the next level down, usually leaving him stunned, sometimes bruised, but not greatly harmed.  This can lead to [[fun]], and it also gets your elevator shaft dug in a hurry, with the dwarf emerging at the bottom atop an absurdly large pile of stones.  (Pity they haven't invented the elevator...)
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A miner can channel straight down for a variable but low number of Z-levels (five or less) before climbing out due to grabbing a wall/being interrupted by needs, and deeper when they're digging ramps instead, as that doesn't prompt them to climb{{verify}}.  This ''will'' happen even if you don't intend it - the dwarf will walk down into the channel they've just made, and dig the next channel down, seemingly in preference to digging a tunnel to access that next channel from the side as perhaps you'd intended.  As there is (usually) no surface adjacent to the channel, the dwarf stands atop it and digs under their feet.  This can get your 'elevator shaft' dug in a hurry, with the dwarf emerging at the bottom atop an absurdly-large pile of stones.  (Pity they haven't invented the elevator...). However, the miner can become seriously injured if the shaft intersects a [[cavern]] or another open area underground.
  
Channels, once the ramps have been removed, can be used to create moats which non-flying enemies will be unable to cross.
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Note that, if you designate a large area for channeling, most ramps in the middle will be automatically removed, while the ramps at the edges will remain to be removed manually, allowing you to very quickly build large artificial lakes.
Note that if you designate a large area for channeling the ramps in the middle will be automatically removed while the ramps at the edges will remain to be removed manually. This allows you to very quickly build large artificial lakes.
 
  
 
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'''Removing ramps''':
 
'''Removing ramps''':
[[Image:Rampremoval.png|thumb|154px|Support and floor collapse removing a ramp (cross section)
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[[Image:Rampremoval.png|thumb|154px|Support and floor collapse removing a ramp (cross section). Not shown: clouds of lethal dust and a hole punched through to your dining area]]
  
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:If you want a channel with no exits at all, then you will have difficulty, as dwarves will only be able to remove the exit stairs/ramps from inside the channel. The easy option is to wall off a separate exit area.  If this offends your aesthetic sense and you are willing to go to the effort, there is another solution: Make a constructed ramp to get your miners out, then collapse a tile of constructed floor to reduce the ramp to rubble (which you can then hide).
  
Not shown: clouds of lethal dust and a hole punched through to your dining area]]
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Another way to create a channel with no exit is to use a staircase in the center of the moat not adjacent to the edge but accessible by a floor tile or a bridge. Remove, raise, or accordingly retract it, after your last miner has left.
  
:If you want a channel with no exits at all, then you will have difficulty, as dwarves will only be able to remove the exit stairs/ramps from inside the channel. The easy option is to wall off a separate exit area. If this offends your aesthetic sense and you are willing to go to the effort, there is another solution: Make a constructed ramp to get your miners out, then collapse a tile of constructed floor to reduce the ramp to rubble (which you can then hide). Another way to create a channel with no exit is to use a staircase in the center of the moat not adjacent to the edge but accessible by a floor tile or a bridge. Remove, raise or accordingly retract it after your last miner has left.  
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Most types of constructed stairs or ramps can also be removed, with more style, by flooding the channel with [[magma]]. If the channel is flooded (1/7) depth or less, the magma will eventually evaporate, leaving behind an empty channel.
  
 
'''Preventing channel access''':
 
'''Preventing channel access''':
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:Unsupervised channeling of large areas tends to cause cave-ins. Like a cartoon character that unthinkingly saws the branch he's sitting in, your dwarves will happily punch through the only remaining wall or floor supporting the area he's standing on. This can ''mostly'' be avoided by mining from the top down, one level at a time, but when channeling floors that have already been mined under, further micromanagement may be needed.   
 
:Unsupervised channeling of large areas tends to cause cave-ins. Like a cartoon character that unthinkingly saws the branch he's sitting in, your dwarves will happily punch through the only remaining wall or floor supporting the area he's standing on. This can ''mostly'' be avoided by mining from the top down, one level at a time, but when channeling floors that have already been mined under, further micromanagement may be needed.   
  
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{{Translation
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| dwarven = catten
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| elvish  = teze
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| goblin  = osnaz
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| human  = innah
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}}
  
{{category|designations}}
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{{category|designations}}[[ru:Channel]]

Latest revision as of 16:33, 17 February 2024

This article is about the current version of DF.
Note that some content may still need to be updated.

Many dwarves channeling a 4×4 designated area.

A channel is a hole dug in the ground or wall, which will mine out the z-level below, too. The designations menu can be accessed at the bottom of the screen. You can use long channels to act as moats, to move liquids such as water and magma from one point to another, and other creative purposes. With this option it is possible to either select floor tiles or wall (solid or "full") tiles. When channeled out, the floor (as well as a wall if it exists) on your layer will be removed and the tile on the layer below will be mined out. Creating a channel could be described as "strip mining".

In layman's terms: mining an area will carve out a tunnel in the rock to crawl through, whereas channelling an area will also remove the bottom of that tunnel, and make a second tunnel one level below - a trench of sorts.

Digging a channel creates a ramp on the level below (indicated by on the current level). It can be removed with m-u. Channels dug above a dug-out area will not create ramps.

A miner can channel straight down for a variable but low number of Z-levels (five or less) before climbing out due to grabbing a wall/being interrupted by needs, and deeper when they're digging ramps instead, as that doesn't prompt them to climb[Verify]. This will happen even if you don't intend it - the dwarf will walk down into the channel they've just made, and dig the next channel down, seemingly in preference to digging a tunnel to access that next channel from the side as perhaps you'd intended. As there is (usually) no surface adjacent to the channel, the dwarf stands atop it and digs under their feet. This can get your 'elevator shaft' dug in a hurry, with the dwarf emerging at the bottom atop an absurdly-large pile of stones. (Pity they haven't invented the elevator...). However, the miner can become seriously injured if the shaft intersects a cavern or another open area underground.

Note that, if you designate a large area for channeling, most ramps in the middle will be automatically removed, while the ramps at the edges will remain to be removed manually, allowing you to very quickly build large artificial lakes.


Some notes on dealing with channels:

Removing ramps:

Support and floor collapse removing a ramp (cross section). Not shown: clouds of lethal dust and a hole punched through to your dining area
If you want a channel with no exits at all, then you will have difficulty, as dwarves will only be able to remove the exit stairs/ramps from inside the channel. The easy option is to wall off a separate exit area. If this offends your aesthetic sense and you are willing to go to the effort, there is another solution: Make a constructed ramp to get your miners out, then collapse a tile of constructed floor to reduce the ramp to rubble (which you can then hide).

Another way to create a channel with no exit is to use a staircase in the center of the moat not adjacent to the edge but accessible by a floor tile or a bridge. Remove, raise, or accordingly retract it, after your last miner has left.

Most types of constructed stairs or ramps can also be removed, with more style, by flooding the channel with magma. If the channel is flooded (1/7) depth or less, the magma will eventually evaporate, leaving behind an empty channel.

Preventing channel access:

The miner will not be able to access the ramp from a floor tile (cross section)
You will sometimes want to dig a channel without risking your dwarves entering it (e.g. fun with magma). This can be achieved if you (ab)use the ramp access rules. If the tiles adjacent to the critical channeling tile are either impassable or have empty space below, then the ramp will not be accessible after being dug, so your dwarf will remain safely on the upper level.
A solid tile allows the miner to reach the level below (cross section)

Be careful of cave-ins

Unsupervised channeling of large areas tends to cause cave-ins. Like a cartoon character that unthinkingly saws the branch he's sitting in, your dwarves will happily punch through the only remaining wall or floor supporting the area he's standing on. This can mostly be avoided by mining from the top down, one level at a time, but when channeling floors that have already been mined under, further micromanagement may be needed.
"Channel" in other Languages Books-aj.svg aj ashton 01.svg
Dwarven: catten
Elven: teze
Goblin: osnaz
Human: innah