Editing v0.31:Mega construction

(And it's recommended you do too - start with some smaller projects, a defensive wall, and then some simple archer towers to secure your area, and build on your experience from there. It's very easy and frustrating to build a complete disaster. But fun is in the eyes of the player.)

Even though those projects listed above may seem hard, they are all simply a combination of walls, floors, ramps, and maybe the occasional magma pump.  We'll start you off with the basics, and leave you to have [[fun]] once you get started.

Note that many of the constructions you see here can also be dug out of natural rock by a [[miner]].  Constructions are different -- they are built by a [[mason]] from a [[stone]] or some other material ([[block|blocks]], [[log|logs]], etc.), rather than carved out of the earth.  Constructions can also be removed by any dwarf, using {{k|d}} - {{k|n}} to designate their removal.  When removed, they are converted back into the material from which they were built.  Their mined-out counterparts cannot be removed in that way.

[[Wall]]s are built by pressing the {{k|b}}, {{k|C}}, and {{k|w}} keys, in that order.  Walls are simply tiles where no one can walk, but can be walked on, provided you are one layer above the wall.  You can build floors off of them and they can be used to close in buildings that are built outside, or even can be used to wall in your fortress from the outside.  Each wall costs one unit of building material.

[[Floor]]s are built by pressing the {{k|b}}, {{k|C}}, and {{k|f}} keys in that order.  They can be walked on, but no constructions (eg. walls, ramps, etc...) can be built upon them.  However, things such as beds and doors can be put upon floors.  Building a floor above an open tile outside will designate that tile inside,  so furniture could be placed there.  Each floor costs one unit of building material.

[[Ramp]]s are built by pressing the {{k|b}}, {{k|C}}, and {{k|r}} keys in that order.  They can be used to get from level to level of your fortress and are similar to stairwells, but require an adjacent wall to support them.  If a floor is built on top of the Z level the ramp is placed on, the ramp will not be usable.  Each ramp costs one unit of building material.

Ramps may also be dug from natural soil or stone by designating an upward ramp ({{k|d}} - {{k|r}}) on the lower z-level, or by channeling ({{k|d}} - {{k|h}}) into it from the z-level above.

[[Stairs|Up/down Stairway]]s are built by pressing the {{k|b}}, {{k|C}}, and {{k|x}} keys in that order.  Up/Down stairs are most useful inside of buildings/fortresses that span multiple Z levels.  They are useful for replacing ramps in situations where space is more valuable.  They can easily be stacked upon each other to become something like a grand staircase.  Each up/down stairway costs one unit of building material.

[[Fortification]]s are made by pressing the {{k|b}}, {{k|C}}, and {{k|F}} keys in that order.  Your archers are able to shoot their bolts out of fortifications, but liquids and the ranged projectiles of your enemies can also pass through, making fortifications a very [[fun]] addition to your fortress.  However, used correctly, they can be rather useful and productive to your "successful" fortress.  Fortifications are used to protect your archers from the melee attacks of your enemies, while the archers shoot out their bolts unharmed.  However, another equally important feature of Fortifications is the ability to allow [[projectile]]s to pass through them, allowing you to build a catapult behind a fortification and then shooting it at a Goblin Hammerer without the loss of any dwarven life.  Each fortification costs one unit of building material.

Fortifications may also be carved (by an [[engraver]]) from smoothed natural walls.  Press {{k|d}} - {{k|s}} to designate a wall for smoothing, and then {{k|d}} - {{k|a}} to designate the smoothed wall for carving fortifications. Note that constructed fortifications do not include walkable floors above them, while carved fortifications do (including fortifications carved from constructed walls).

Another cause for this is that there is no ground to walk on.  You will need to build a temporary [[floor grate]] as shown in the diagram below. Alternatively, you may use a constructed floor, but this will take longer to remove. Bridges are also effective, but require a bit more time.

In these situations, the walls on that level got built before the floors on that level.  What you must do is designate floors to be built to the dwarf so he can get back down.  In most situations, the dwarf built the wall in the correct place, so you would prefer not to deconstruct the wall(s), although that is also a suitable solution.    Ideally, the floors reach the trapped dwarves before they have too much [[fun]] up there....

[[Trap]]s are built with a [[mechanism]] and other materials including [[stone]]s, [[weapon]]s or [[cage]]s.  In a pyramid, traps are solely for aesthetic purposes, unless you have built this pyramid large enough to contain your entire civilization.  There are 6 things classified as traps, 3 of which I will teach you to use in your pyramid.

Stonefall traps are the most basic.  Requiring only a mechanism and any type of stone to load, they are the easiest and cheapest trap to build.  The enemy simply walks onto the trap, triggering it, releasing the large stone upon itself.  These traps do minimal damage, usually only a small injury or two but are still useful in large quantities.  These are built by pressing the {{k|b}}, {{k|T}}, and {{k|s}} buttons in that order.  To enhance your pyramid, simply sprinkle one or two on each level.  The biggest disadvantage of stonefall traps is that once triggered, they have to be manually reset by a dwarf.  This leads civilian dwarves right to a wounded enemy.

The actual purpose of a pyramid is, after all, the burying of nobles.  To place a [[tomb]] in the pyramid, use the keys {{k|b}} and {{k|n}}.  Choose where you want it, and assign it to a noble or a well-respected dwarf in your fortress.

Mega constructions, also deemed megaprojects, can incorporate almost anything, whether it be beneficial to the fortress or not.  The definition of a "mega construction" will vary by user.  Visit the page [[Megaprojects]] for some more ideas.

[[Challenges]] are when you decide to <s>hinder</s> make your fortress more interesting (and [[fun]]!) by imposing restrictions on what you can do.