Editing 40d:Bars

{{av}} {{Quality|Exceptional|06:04, 6 July 2010 (UTC)}}
:''(For '''metal bars''' or other materials in bar form, see [[bar]])''

Bars are a grill or grate of strong poles that prevent the passage of everything but liquids and light. A [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/portcullis portcullis] or classic barred prison door is a good example.  No creature or object can pass through bars*, although in a future version this behaviour may be altered slightly (see below).  Bars can be used vertically as walls or on a flat surface as floor grates.

Bars can be used to block off channels intended for the passage of [[water]], or [[magma]] if they are built from [[magma-safe materials]], whether to keep dwarves from falling in or to keep [[fire imp|bad creatures]] from invading along them.  They share much in common with [[fortification]]s, which can also be used for the same purpose.  Bars can also be fired through like fortifications by [[Marksman|marksdwarves]] and [[siege|enemies]] alike, and provide no protection for either (unlike [[fortification]]s). 

However, they can be linked to a [[lever]] or [[pressure plate]], allowing them to retract when the [[mechanism]] is activated.

== Placement ==
Bars can be built via the [[building|{{k|b}}]] menu by a dwarf with the [[Hauling#Furniture_hauling|furniture hauling]] labor. They can be constructed as either "Vertical Bars" ({{k|B}}) or horizontal "Floor Bars" ({{k|Alt}} + {{k|b}}). Floor bars are intended to be built over Open Space, though it is possible to build them directly on top of an existing floor (to increase [[Room|room value]], for instance).  Both Floor Bars and Vertical Bars are built with one metal [[bar]] by any dwarf with the Furniture Hauling labor enabled.

==Future==
Bars are identical in function to grates but distinctions will be made in the future.  More specifically, bars may allow for the free passage of [[vermin]]ous creatures while blocking the passage of larger creatures.  Bars may even allow small or narrow creatures (such as [[cat]]s) to pass through.  Grates will likely prevent the passage of any but the smallest vermin.  Bars may also allow items to fall through, whereas grates would not.

''(* Note - there is a known bug that allows flowing liquids to, occasionally, "push" creatures through bars and grates, though they still work as intended with non-flowing liquids.)''

See [http://www.bay12games.com/forum/index.php?topic=12967.msg120313#msg120313 "Re: Grates/bars"]

==See also==
*[[Grate]]

{{Buildings}}
{{Category|Constructions}}