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Difference between revisions of "23a:Stupid dwarf trick"

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(took the tricks from 40d which actually make sense, remove specific elements that don't apply)
 
 
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{{av}}
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{{quality|Exceptional|21:20, 28 April 2011 (UTC)}}{{av}}
 
{{D for Dwarf}}
 
{{D for Dwarf}}
  
 
A '''stupid dwarf trick''' is any project that requires a large amount time and effort - often for little or no practical benefit. They exist only as a challenge for experienced players.  
 
A '''stupid dwarf trick''' is any project that requires a large amount time and effort - often for little or no practical benefit. They exist only as a challenge for experienced players.  
  
==Adventure Mode Fortress==
+
==Adventurer Mode Fortress==
  
Build a fortress specifically for exploring in {{L|adventure mode}}. You can either make a nasty monster-filled challenge, or a Smörgåsbord of masterpiece steel weapons and armor. Possibly both. Dig out enough {{L|raw adamantine}} and "too deep" the fortress to ensure it is sufficiently occupied.
+
Build a fortress specifically for exploring in [[adventurer mode]]. You can either make a nasty monster-filled challenge, or a Smörgåsbord of masterpiece steel weapons and armor. Possibly both. Dig out enough [[raw adamantine]] and "too deep" the fortress to ensure it is sufficiently occupied.
  
 
'''Difficulty:''' The sky's the limit.
 
'''Difficulty:''' The sky's the limit.
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'''Usefulness:''' Not applicable.
 
'''Usefulness:''' Not applicable.
  
=={{L|Ballista}} Battery==
+
==Alphabet Cages==
 +
[[Image:Cage.gif|right]]
 +
Use captured monsters in cages to spell messages.
 +
 
 +
'''Difficulty:''' Medium.  Vowels are hard to come by, and without modding you will not have access to the letters P, Q, V, X, Y, or Z.
 +
 
 +
'''Usefulness:''' Convenient for marking important levers, since notes are not available in this version.
 +
 
 +
==[[Ballista]] Battery==
 
Overlap a few ballistas to completely cover a narrow corridor. There is an unavoidable risk of your operators wandering into the line of fire.
 
Overlap a few ballistas to completely cover a narrow corridor. There is an unavoidable risk of your operators wandering into the line of fire.
  
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'''Usefulness:''' There are a far more effective ways to defend a fortress, but few are as entertaining.
 
'''Usefulness:''' There are a far more effective ways to defend a fortress, but few are as entertaining.
 +
 +
 +
'''DoubleBonus:''' Make a basket for the enemies to land in.
 +
 +
'''ArmokBonus''' Fill the basket with lava.
 +
 +
'''TripleArmokBonus''' Fill the basket with  [http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/v0.31:Elf hippies].
  
 
==Doberman Launcher==
 
==Doberman Launcher==
Whenever a dog or cat gives birth, stuff all the kittens and puppies in one cage in your entryway.  Link this cage to a pressure plate beside it.  Should your last lines of defense be breached, goblins will step on it and in the next instant be torn apart by dozens of goblin-seeking hostiles and distracted by dozens of surplus targets.  The trap actually going off will probably be very bad for your framerate. Bonus:  Train all dogs inside as wardogs when they mature. Super bonus:  Make it a Bear Trap. MEGADWARF bonus: Combine with a drowning chamber.
+
Whenever a dog or cat gives birth, stuff all the kittens and puppies in one cage in your entryway.  Link this cage to a pressure plate beside it.  Should your last lines of defense be breached, goblins will step on it and in the next instant be torn apart by dozens of goblin-seeking hostiles and distracted by dozens of surplus targets.  The trap actually going off will probably be very bad for your framerate.
 +
 
 +
Bonus:  Train all dogs inside as wardogs when they mature.
 +
 
 +
Super bonus:  Make it a Bear Trap.
 +
 
 +
MEGADWARF bonus: Combine with a drowning chamber.
  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Low.
 
'''Difficulty:''' Low.
Line 34: Line 55:
  
 
==Drowning Chamber==
 
==Drowning Chamber==
 +
Dig a room next to the [[cave river]] and use levers, floodgates, and channels to fill it with water on demand. If you don't use Nile-style [[irrigation]], you can use your farm plot rooms as drowning chambers.
 +
 
'''Difficulty:''' Moderate.  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Moderate.  
  
Line 39: Line 62:
  
 
==Gladiator Arena==
 
==Gladiator Arena==
Build the {{L|cage}}s of your captives inside a locked room and link them to a lever, station some soldiers in the room, lock the door, and pull the lever. You can also use dangerous animals instead of soldiers.
+
Build the [[cage]]s of your captives inside a locked room and link them to a lever, station some soldiers in the room, lock the door, and pull the lever. You can also use dangerous animals instead of soldiers.
  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Moderate, but time consuming. Some danger depending on the relative skill of your soldiers and the danger of the captive.
 
'''Difficulty:''' Moderate, but time consuming. Some danger depending on the relative skill of your soldiers and the danger of the captive.
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==Labyrinth==
 
==Labyrinth==
  
A maze of twisty little passages, all alike. {{L|Trap}}s and dangerous animals are essential. Use it as an alternate entrance, and lock the main ones during sieges.  
+
A maze of twisty little passages, all alike. [[Trap]]s and dangerous animals are essential. Use it as an alternate entrance, and lock the main ones during sieges.  
  
 
'''Difficulty:''' It's a lot of mining.
 
'''Difficulty:''' It's a lot of mining.
  
'''Usefulness:''' It makes a nice element of fortress defense, and you can dump your prisoners inside it. Also makes a great place to explore in {{L|adventure mode}}.
+
'''Usefulness:''' It makes a nice element of fortress defense, and you can dump your prisoners inside it. Also makes a great place to explore in [[adventurer mode]].
  
 
==Magma Chamber==
 
==Magma Chamber==
'''Difficulty:''' Dangerous as any magma project.  
+
Simple enough, a room near the [[magma flow]] with levers, floodgates, and channels to allow it to be flooded with magma on demand.
 +
 
 +
'''Difficulty:''' Dangerous as any magma project. Depending on magma flow inhabitants, you may be at risk from building destroyers.
  
 
'''Usefulness:''' It's like a drowning chamber, but any items carried by the victim will probably be destroyed. Depending on your style of play, this may be a good thing.
 
'''Usefulness:''' It's like a drowning chamber, but any items carried by the victim will probably be destroyed. Depending on your style of play, this may be a good thing.
  
 
==Rehabilitation Centre==
 
==Rehabilitation Centre==
Had any problems with dwarves charging brainlessly towards the enemy, getting slaughtered, and then starting a tantrum spiral that will destroy your fortress? Turn your prison into a luxurious room full of things that make dwarves happy. Add artifact furniture, beds, a booze stockpile, chains made of gold (or anything valuable,) creatures in cages, etc. Hopefully they will return to society as a happy, productive dwarf.
+
Had any problems with dwarves charging brainlessly towards the enemy, getting slaughtered, and then starting a tantrum spiral that will destroy your fortress? Turn your prison into a luxurious room full of things that make dwarves happy. Add artifact furniture, beds, a booze stockpile, chains made of gold (or anything valuable,) creatures in cages, etc. Hopefully they will return to society as a happy, productive dwarf (consider it a ''progressive'' system).
  
 
'''Difficulty:''' Low-Medium. Acquiring valuable items can be annoying sometimes. Also you need guards to actually put them in jail. And it can be a real pain when those ungrateful sobs destroy the nice furniture you give them.
 
'''Difficulty:''' Low-Medium. Acquiring valuable items can be annoying sometimes. Also you need guards to actually put them in jail. And it can be a real pain when those ungrateful sobs destroy the nice furniture you give them.
Line 66: Line 91:
  
 
==Scorch the World==
 
==Scorch the World==
Otherwise known as "pulling a [[Boatmurdered]]". Build channels and floodgates to deliver magma to the outside world. Open the floodgates whenever trouble shows up.
+
Otherwise known as "pulling a [[Main:Boatmurdered|Boatmurdered]]". Build [[channel]]s, [[floodgate]]s, and [[bridge]]s/[[aqueduct]]s to deliver magma to the outside world. Open the floodgates whenever trouble shows up.
  
'''Difficulty:''' High danger. Will kill any caravans, diplomats, or migrants who happen to get in the way.
+
'''Difficulty:''' High danger. Will kill any caravans, diplomats, or migrants who happen to get in the way. Be sure to protect the inner floodgates, or a [[fire man]] might sneak in and destroy it, flooding your fortress with magma.
  
'''Usefulness:''' Eliminates sieges safely, though doesn't leave many useful things behind.
+
'''Usefulness:''' Eliminates sieges safely, though all non-metal items will be destroyed (which may be a good thing).
  
 
==Self Destruct Lever==
 
==Self Destruct Lever==
A mechanism that, for example, could flood your fort with magma, or release a trapped megabeast.
+
A mechanism that, for example, could flood your fort with magma, or release a trapped megabeast. Bonus points if all of your rooms are protected from [[cave-in]]s by [[support]]s linked to said lever.
  
'''Difficulty:''' Very high. Extremely dangerous.  
+
'''Difficulty:''' Low, but extremely dangerous.  
  
'''Usefulness:''' None, by definition, but highly amusing.
+
'''Usefulness:''' Could serve as kind of a "last revenge" on this damn goblin siege, also highly amusing.
  
=={{L|Tower-cap}} Farm==
+
==[[Tower-cap]] Farm==
You absolutely need to break into an underground river or lake. Make some muddy floors over a big area and wait.  
+
Either dig out a sufficiently wide area around the [[cave river]] or dig out a large chamber and flood it occasionally.
 +
 
 +
'''Difficulty:''' Low.
  
'''Difficulty:''' Moderate. More information on it can be found {{L|Tower-cap|here}}
+
'''Usefulness:''' Depends on size - bigger is better, but there is a limit (361) on how many tower-caps can grow at once.
  
'''Usefulness:''' Depends on size - bigger is better.
+
{{Category|Design}}

Latest revision as of 03:56, 7 March 2017

This article is about an older version of DF.
D4Dwarf.png This article or section has been rated D for Dwarf. It may include witty humour, not-so-witty humour, bad humour, in-jokes, pop culture references, and references to the Bay12 forums. Don't believe everything you read, and if you miss some of the references, don't worry. It was inevitable.


A stupid dwarf trick is any project that requires a large amount time and effort - often for little or no practical benefit. They exist only as a challenge for experienced players.

Adventurer Mode Fortress[edit]

Build a fortress specifically for exploring in adventurer mode. You can either make a nasty monster-filled challenge, or a Smörgåsbord of masterpiece steel weapons and armor. Possibly both. Dig out enough raw adamantine and "too deep" the fortress to ensure it is sufficiently occupied.

Difficulty: The sky's the limit.

Usefulness: Not applicable.

Alphabet Cages[edit]

Cage.gif

Use captured monsters in cages to spell messages.

Difficulty: Medium. Vowels are hard to come by, and without modding you will not have access to the letters P, Q, V, X, Y, or Z.

Usefulness: Convenient for marking important levers, since notes are not available in this version.

Ballista Battery[edit]

Overlap a few ballistas to completely cover a narrow corridor. There is an unavoidable risk of your operators wandering into the line of fire.

Difficulty: Low. If you insist on highly-trained operators with high-quality ballistas, it gets harder.

Usefulness: A complicated and dangerous way to defend a single corridor. Ultimately extremely effective. Sometimes.

Bridge-a-pult[edit]

A bridge that opens outwards, to fling enemies away. Ideally, they land in a very nasty place.

Difficulty: The hard part is the nasty place they get flung to.

Usefulness: There are a far more effective ways to defend a fortress, but few are as entertaining.


DoubleBonus: Make a basket for the enemies to land in.

ArmokBonus Fill the basket with lava.

TripleArmokBonus Fill the basket with hippies.

Doberman Launcher[edit]

Whenever a dog or cat gives birth, stuff all the kittens and puppies in one cage in your entryway. Link this cage to a pressure plate beside it. Should your last lines of defense be breached, goblins will step on it and in the next instant be torn apart by dozens of goblin-seeking hostiles and distracted by dozens of surplus targets. The trap actually going off will probably be very bad for your framerate.

Bonus: Train all dogs inside as wardogs when they mature.

Super bonus: Make it a Bear Trap.

MEGADWARF bonus: Combine with a drowning chamber.

Difficulty: Low.

Usefulness: Medium, potentially fortress-saving

Drowning Chamber[edit]

Dig a room next to the cave river and use levers, floodgates, and channels to fill it with water on demand. If you don't use Nile-style irrigation, you can use your farm plot rooms as drowning chambers.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Usefulness: You can kill prisoners, useless peasants, irate nobles, hammerers, untrainable animals, or anything else.

Gladiator Arena[edit]

Build the cages of your captives inside a locked room and link them to a lever, station some soldiers in the room, lock the door, and pull the lever. You can also use dangerous animals instead of soldiers.

Difficulty: Moderate, but time consuming. Some danger depending on the relative skill of your soldiers and the danger of the captive.

Usefulness: The most difficult way to dispose of prisoners. It does give your soldiers a little bit of experience.

Labyrinth[edit]

A maze of twisty little passages, all alike. Traps and dangerous animals are essential. Use it as an alternate entrance, and lock the main ones during sieges.

Difficulty: It's a lot of mining.

Usefulness: It makes a nice element of fortress defense, and you can dump your prisoners inside it. Also makes a great place to explore in adventurer mode.

Magma Chamber[edit]

Simple enough, a room near the magma flow with levers, floodgates, and channels to allow it to be flooded with magma on demand.

Difficulty: Dangerous as any magma project. Depending on magma flow inhabitants, you may be at risk from building destroyers.

Usefulness: It's like a drowning chamber, but any items carried by the victim will probably be destroyed. Depending on your style of play, this may be a good thing.

Rehabilitation Centre[edit]

Had any problems with dwarves charging brainlessly towards the enemy, getting slaughtered, and then starting a tantrum spiral that will destroy your fortress? Turn your prison into a luxurious room full of things that make dwarves happy. Add artifact furniture, beds, a booze stockpile, chains made of gold (or anything valuable,) creatures in cages, etc. Hopefully they will return to society as a happy, productive dwarf (consider it a progressive system).

Difficulty: Low-Medium. Acquiring valuable items can be annoying sometimes. Also you need guards to actually put them in jail. And it can be a real pain when those ungrateful sobs destroy the nice furniture you give them.

Usefulness: High. A tantrum spiral can quickly turn a productive fort of 200+ dwarves into a rioting fortress inhabited by a bunch of insane, miserable dwarves who spend their time punching people and breaking furniture. Don't let it happen to you.

Scorch the World[edit]

Otherwise known as "pulling a Boatmurdered". Build channels, floodgates, and bridges/aqueducts to deliver magma to the outside world. Open the floodgates whenever trouble shows up.

Difficulty: High danger. Will kill any caravans, diplomats, or migrants who happen to get in the way. Be sure to protect the inner floodgates, or a fire man might sneak in and destroy it, flooding your fortress with magma.

Usefulness: Eliminates sieges safely, though all non-metal items will be destroyed (which may be a good thing).

Self Destruct Lever[edit]

A mechanism that, for example, could flood your fort with magma, or release a trapped megabeast. Bonus points if all of your rooms are protected from cave-ins by supports linked to said lever.

Difficulty: Low, but extremely dangerous.

Usefulness: Could serve as kind of a "last revenge" on this damn goblin siege, also highly amusing.

Tower-cap Farm[edit]

Either dig out a sufficiently wide area around the cave river or dig out a large chamber and flood it occasionally.

Difficulty: Low.

Usefulness: Depends on size - bigger is better, but there is a limit (361) on how many tower-caps can grow at once.