Editing v0.31:Bridge

'''Bridges''' are extremely useful buildings for crossing dangerous terrain and also for fortress defense. Using them to control [[flow|fluids]] can save a ton of mechanisms and time, especially when the fluid in question is free-flowing and not pressurized (by [[pump]], [[river]] or hydrostatic anything) and needs a wide tunnel.

Bridges can be built ({{k|b}} -> {{k|g}}) of [[metal]], [[stone]] or [[wood]]. They are first designed by an [[architect]], then require a specialist worker for the material used (e.g. a [[mason]] for a stone bridge). The size of the bridge can be altered with {{k|u}}{{k|m}}{{k|k}}{{k|h}} while placing it, up to a maximum size of 10 squares in each direction. The bridge must be anchored to a solid surface on at least one edge. Before placing the bridge ensure that the bridge raises in the direction you want it to using {{k|w}}{{k|a}}{{k|d}}{{k|x}} or retracts using {{k|s}}.

All bridges in DF can be raised or retracted by linking it to a [[lever]]. This requires a [[mechanic's workshop]] and a dwarf with the [[mechanics]] labor activated.  

If a bridge is set to raise when the lever is pulled, the bridge becomes a [[wall]] along the edge selected with the {{k|w}}{{k|a}}{{k|d}}{{k|x}} keys when placing the bridge. The resulting wall is always one z-level tall, regardless of the length of the bridge. The wall acts as if it was [[construction|constructed]], rendering it invulnerable to [[building destroyer]]s. {{Verify}} The bridge also "moves" to this position very fast, firing anything on the bridge into the air. The key advantage to raising bridges is the creation of a wall when the bridge is raised. This can be used to block fortress entrances/corridors. Using 2 bridges at opposite ends of a corridor creates a very large and simple trap by walling in enemies. Or... Smashing them to tiny bits if placed to raise facing each other, with no space in between. For added effect, place [[pressure plate]]s on both ends to raise the bridge when stepped on, to fling them, if there is a [[floor]] directly above, they will be stunned, (If there is a floor beneath the bridge) and if nobody is on the pressure plate, they have to be lucky to not be smashed on the floor when the bridges come down. (If there is no floor beneath the bridge) they will fall, sometimes into something [[water|very,]] [[magma|very]] [[megabeast|bad.]]

The lowering of a drawbridge can also be used as a [[dwarven atom smasher|waste disposal]] for unwanted stones, [[refuse]], [[goblin]]s (dead or alive), legendary [[cheese]] makers and [[nobles]], to name a few. Even fluids get destroyed (this is especially useful considering lack of chasms in the new version). However, lowering a drawbridge onto a sufficiently large creature (such as a [[forgotten beast]]) simply destroys the bridge.

Bridges will not operate if any one creature of [[List of creatures by adult size|size 1,200,000]] is on them.  This weight limit is not cumulative - a bridge will still retract if a hundred goblins are standing on it, but a single rutherer accompanying those goblins will prevent the bridge from operating.  Attempting to lower a drawbridge onto such a creature (in order to [[Dwarven atom smasher|atom-smash]] it) will cause the bridge itself to deconstruct.

Non-[[magma-safe]] bridges will heat up and eventually melt if the center tiles get covered in magma or exposed to [[dragon]] fire, whether the bridge is raised, lowered, or even retracted.

While bridges do not provide structural [[support]], the game will still allow you to place unsupported [[construction]]s adjacent to them which will result in an immediate [[cave-in]] once completed, often tossing the unlucky mason off the edge to a horrible death.

 

Destroying bridges can be hazardous, as dwarves are not as compunctuous as with constructions and diggings to make sure no one is standing on them before destroying them.