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[Ihtomyt]

I have an artifact window (which is worth over 100k and has me worried about an early Fun visit, but I digress). It is made primarily of zircon. I know (or I've heard) that artifacts can't be permanently destroyed by magma, but can it be deconstructed? How about building destroyers, can they deconstruct it?

If the answer to both of those questions is no, I'm thinking of installing it at the top of my volcano magma source like so (sorry if I'm not using "standard" symbols, I'm not sure what they are so (7 = lava, X = wall, F = smooth floor, 0 = open space hole with flowing magma, L = potential spot for artifact, C = channel that is actually one level above this, I couldn't be bothered to to a multi-level diagram and the question isn't about the functional magma "waterfall" anyway):

Code: [Select]

77777
XCCCX
X000X
XFFFX
XXLXX

I realize the lava "shouldn't" flow into that square, but who knows... The lava is pouring in from a level above from channels in the volcano lip. A magma-immune building destroyer "shouldn't" be able to reach there from the north, but actually I think it is possible that it could climb or fly there? I know some folks would say try it out for Fun and !!Science!! but the odds of it ever happening even if it could happen are pretty slim. I know the wiki says artifacts can't be completely destroyed under normal circumstance, but I'd rather not do it if it is not 100% safe from the north side, since building the lava works being fed underneath here are taking me a lot of effort and time to produce and I'd rather not cheat quit or lose this fortress yet... anyone have any idea if I can build that L safely (at least from the north) there?

I suppose I can add a bridge on the south side that retracts upward as a "blast shield" in case I see a building destroyer coming, and I think I'll do that regardless since it's easy to do anyway... but does anyone know if it is actually necessary?

[PatrikLundell]

Artifacts can't be destroyed by magma (but those made out of materials that burn can be set on fire and remain on fire until put out, at which time they return to their original state, without having taken any harm). Building destroyers can't destroy artifact buildings, but if building destroyers instead deconstruct them rather than destroy them they can be deconstructed (doors are destroyed by building destroyers, and so built artifact doors can't be deconstructed, while e.g. workshops are deconstructed, so a workshop constructed only from artifact components can still be deconstructed).

I don't know if windows attacked by building destroyers are destroyed or deconstructed... The answer to that ought to tell you whether an artifact window would be safe or not.

[Ihtomyt]

Thanks for the response. After closely reading the wiki on window, I am still not sure! Somewhat amusing. It seems that windows made from glass are destroyed completely by building destroyers, but windows made from gems are "toppled" by them, and the gems they were made from left behind. I'm not sure if "toppled" is the same as deconstructed, but "probably"? Yet, it still leaves the question unanswered because the artifact window won't (shouldn't?) be able to be reduced back to its gems. Essentially, it still isn't quite clear to me from the wiki if an artifact GEM window can be "toppled" if it can't be returned to it's constituent gem components, so I'm still not sure. I can try it out I suppose and put the backup door-bridge to the south. If it ever gets toppled (extremely unlikely given the spot where this is, even if possible) I can post results here if no one has a 100% certain answer before then!

[PatrikLundell]

If a gem window can be toppled, I would assume an artifact window could as well (resulting in an unbuilt artifact window, not the components that went into constructing it). Building destroyers attacking statues topple them, which means they return to the unbuilt state (with a potential cursing by the god of the temple the statue was built inside of). The wagon and workshops attacked by building destroyers are likewise described as "toppled", so that's the term DF uses for deconstruction attacks.

[Loam]

Gem windows and glass windows are different types of buildings.
Gem windows are built on-site from three cut gemstones, similar to the way workshops are built - that's why they are toppled/deconstructed.
Glass windows, on the other hand, need a specially made "window" item to be built, similar to doors or grates etc. - that's why they get destroyed.

It sounds like you have an artifact "window" item, albeit one made from a non-standard material (which is possible with artifacts). So you should be safe against building destroyers, same as if you had an artifact door or floodgate.

[PatrikLundell]

Thanks for the insight, Loam!

[Mohreb el Yasim]

In "worst case" you have some !!fun!!, learn something new and you can share with us (or even update the wiki)

[Thisfox]

Speaking of !!artifacts!!, please allow me to refer you to one of the many classic !!fun!! stories.