40d:Fortification

Fortifications are arrow slits used in the defense of your fortress. They are probably most commonly used along the outside walls of your fortress and on the upper levels of constructed watchtowers so that marksdwarves and siege engines can fire at enemies from within your walls. Much like real world embrasures on battlements, their utility is limited if the enemy is close and at the same height; their true power lies in shooting from above and at distance, as it is possible to shoot at targets on other z-levels.

Fortifications allow ranged attacks (including siege weapons), fireballs/breath, water, magma, steam, etc. to pass through. Archers firing through fortifications must pass a skill test of some sort if they are not standing directly next to the fortification.^[Verify] This test is more difficult from further distances.^[Verify]

Building fortifications

Fortifications can be carved from wood or stone walls or built like any other construction.

Carving

Once you have chosen the wall you want to carve, smooth the stone along its length using d -> s. After it has been smoothed, re-designate the same wall for fortifications using d -> a. Stone smoothing and fortification require a dwarf with the Engraver labor.

Built walls do not require smoothing before carving fortifications, regardless if they are smooth block walls (built from stone blocks) or rough block walls (build from raw stone).

Damaged rock cannot be used for fortifications.

Construction

Fortifications can also be constructed from metal, wood, or stone (in lump or block form) using b -> C -> F. They must be built tile by tile as there is no way to build more than one at a time. Construction of wooden fortifications require the Carpentry skill, fortifications made of stone require the Masonry skill, and those made of metal require Metalsmithing.

As of version 38c, building fortifications does not include the floor on the level above. Constructing a wall and carving fortifications out of it does, however.

Uses and strategies

Fortifications are designed to allow your marksdwarves to make pincushions of your enemies without exposing themselves to the dangers of melee, and providing them with cover from return fire. Obviously, their utility is derived entirely from their placement. It's a good idea to place fortifications above the Z-level that they will be defending, because otherwise ranged enemies could conceivably stand directly outside them and receive no penalty from them. Raising them above ground makes them inaccessible to enemies.

It's helpful to make the room that the fortifications look out of a barracks or archery range, along with an ammo stockpile, to insure that there are always military dwarves milling about at all times, ready to fire upon any attackers that threaten the fortress.

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