40d:Stair

A stair is a map feature that allows your dwarves to move vertically. Stairs come in three forms, an upward stair, a downward stair and an up/down stairway. An upwards stair must be connected to a downward stair on ajoining levels. An up/down stair automatically creates a down stair in the tile above its construction. Stairs provide access for dwarves and other single tile creatures. Downward stairs can be stood on and provide access to adjacent tiles. Stairs are similar ramps, but block access to wagons.

Construction and Materials

There are two ways for your dwarves to construct stairs. The first is to carve them into the earth itself (see digging), using the ground below or walls of stone, dirt, and ice as a building material. The second is to build a stair out of materials such as stone, wood or blocks or bars.

• Digging stairs is a useful way to gain access to layers above and below.
• Stairs block access to human wagons from the carvan. You may want to use a ramp instead.
• Digging a stair uses the material in the tile you created, and the colour.
• Constructing a stair uses the colour of the material used.
• Upward stairs need to be connected with a downward stair in order to function (and vice versa).

Collapse

Be sure to avoid mining out all of the floor tiles surrounding a ramp or staircase above and below it. If you do this, not only will the structures themselves be useless, they'll collapse, both of which can leave your dwarves trapped.