v0.31:Cage

xTATTEREDx  · +FINE+  · *SUPERIOR*  · ≡EXCEPTIONAL≡  · ☼MASTERWORK☼

v50.14 · v0.47 · v0.34 · v0.31.25 · v0.28 · v0.23 This article is about an older version of DF. More Info · V

Cage

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Construction
Materials		Workshops		Labors
Wood Metal Glass		Carpenter's workshop Metalsmith's forge Glass furnace		Carpentry Blacksmithing Glassmaking
Rooms
Template:L (if metal)

For cage traps, see traps.

Cages are used in Template:Ls, Template:Ls, and zoos, Template:Ls and aquariums.

A glass cage is called a terrarium or, if filled with water for holding Template:L live Template:L, an aquarium.

Cages are stored on the Animal Stockpile.

Building and using a cage

Cages can be constructed from Template:L at a Template:L, from Template:L at a Template:L, and from Template:L at a Template:L.

You can then either build them to a tile via b - j (this is needed for linking a lever to them, or assigning a pet to it) or simply keep them stockpiled so they can be used to load cage Template:Ls.

When building a cage, you can use a cage that already has something inside. To precisely choose which cage to use, you can expand the list of the cages of a certain type via x.

Creature containment

To assign creatures to a cage, press q and move the cursor over the cage. Use + and - to scroll up and down the list of Template:L, and Enter to assign them to the cage. A major change in version .31.19 is that grazing creatures will starve if left in cages. Grazing creatures require access to Template:L, Template:L or Template:L for survival, which can be achieved by assigning them to a Template:L that has plenty of tasty grass/moss.

Multiple creatures can be assigned to the same cage with no penalty. It is completely possible to fit hundreds of Template:L in a cage with dozens of Template:Ls with no ill effects or a Template:L, a thousand cats plus more, leading some players to conclude that cages include some sort of hidden "cage space" that allows infinitely tight packing of creatures.

There is no particular labor for releasing creatures in cages. Use q to examine the cage (it must first be "built," not just stored), a to assign, and then use enter to toggle the animal(s) currently inside (animals assigned to the cage will have a green "+" next to them). Any available dwarf will perform the job, so beware of pitting untamed or hostile creatures with a weak dwarf. For more information, see Template:L.

You can get details about the creatures which are in a built cage by pressing t and then enter. There, you can scroll the list of creatures and get details, for example, you can tell whether a Donkey is male or female, which is interesting if your intention is to keep milkable animals near a farmer's workshop.

Prisons

To set a cage as a Template:L, query the cage, designate it as a room, and then set it to be used for justice. Only Template:L cages may be used in this way, despite Template:Len cages being strong enough to hold Template:Ls.

Dwarves in cages must be fed by other dwarves.

Remotely Opening Cages

A built cage can be linked to a Template:L to remotely open it. When the cage opens, the occupant(s) inside are released, the cage and Template:L deconstruct and can be returned to their respective stockpiles. Note that you have to use a "built" cage as described above, it won't work with cages on your stockpile.

Alternate way of Opening Cages

When traders are around, you can select "move good to trading depot" and select the cage of choice. When a hauler takes the cage, the creature inside will be released. be sure to disarm the creature beforehand...

Cages and Fluids

A cage will protect a creature inside it from Template:L, so if you want to drown a creature in a cage, you must open it remotely, as explained in the above section (as a corollary, if your fortress is drowning in water, you can cage your dwarves and rescue them later). However, built cages will not protect caged creatures from Template:L, making this a somewhat faster option, as it doesn't require linking each cage to a lever. Cages which are not Template:L will be degraded and/or destroyed by this process, and cages which are made of flammable materials (such as wood) may be set on Template:L. Any items the creature had equipped will teleport to wherever the creature was caged, typically a tile with a Template:L on it. These items may or may not be on fire; no case of teleporting !!large cave spider silk sock!!s have yet been observed, but this doesn't prove it can't happen. Exercise caution.

Buying Cages

Traders may bring cages for sale. If these cages contain a Template:Ld Template:L, the item will be listed as (creature) cage, and will not describe the material the cage is made out of. However, the cage may contain a tamed Template:L, in which case it will be listed in the trading dialogue as by the material the cage is made out of. In such cases, the expanded cage description will list the contents of the cage. You can often infer that trained vermin are in a cage by noting the cage's value compared to other cages of identical quality in the list.

How to disarm hostiles in cages

In the current version of the game, the easiest way to take away all prisoner-held armor and clothing is via the mass designation tool. Use d-b-d to designate an area (i.e. your animal Template:L, filled with caged hostiles) from which all items will be taken and dumped. Afterwards, hit k, go over each cage and press d for each of them - this stops the dumping on the cages themselves. The end result will be that prisoners will be stripped naked but the cages themselves (and the creatures within) will remain in place, ready to be used for whatever purpose. If you want to keep the items, you need only place your garbage dump zone somewhere near your armor stockpiles and unforbid all the stuff after it is dumped there.

You can also find the items carried by caged Template:Ls, Template:Ls, etc. in the Template:L menu and designate them for dumping inventory of a caged creature (that has one), and dump items from there. While it is easy to identify human/kobold clothes because they will always be described as "large"/"small", it is harder to make sure you have found the right weapons; you can verify that you are targeting the right items by using the zoom function; it should point you to the cage. Mark the items for dumping, and dwarves will come to the cage and take them.

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Rooms	Barracks • Bedroom • Dining room • Dormitory • Jail • Meeting hall • Hospital • Office • Sculpture garden • Tomb • Zoo
Furniture	Animal trap • Anvil • Armor stand • Bed • Bin • Box • Bucket • Cabinet • Cage • Coffin • Restraint • Seat • Statue • Table • Weapon rack
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Machine & Trap parts	Axle • Gear assembly • Millstone • Screw pump • Water wheel • Windmill • Lever • Pressure plate • Trap • Support
Other Buildings	Archery target • Kennel • Shop • Siege engine • Trade depot • Wagon • Well
Related Articles	Design strategies • Bedroom design • Cave-in • Computing • Furniture industry

Bugs

Creatures in cages that come from dead merchants cannot be freed. They can only be transferred between cages.