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Author Topic: Springs  (Read 645 times)

icefox

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Springs
« on: May 13, 2011, 11:46:52 pm »

In the Real World, small rivers and creeks often come from springs, where due to one thing or another groundwater hits the surface.  How hard would it be to make small rivers in DF have aquifer layers as their source, instead of just sort of coming out of nowhere?
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NW_Kohaku

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Re: Springs
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2011, 11:55:42 pm »

The answer is probably "you'd be surprised".

You're talking about how brooks are created from magical water-generating tiles, but the thing is, right now, aquifers pretty much just magically generate water, too.  What's the real difference?

While I'm on the topic, however, not all streams come from aquifers.

A huge number of rivers in the real world come from either the rain on the faces of mountains, or else from snowpack, which is basically the way in which mountains store up rainwater in the form of snow in Winter, and disperse it regularly throughout the whole year. 
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tolkafox

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Re: Springs
« Reply #2 on: May 14, 2011, 10:29:53 pm »

But if you extend the embark where the river "magically" appears from you'll find the rest of the river. Go ahead and trace it up the mountain to see where it comes from, I can tell you they end in brooks, oceans, or lakes.
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SirHoneyBadger

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Re: Springs
« Reply #3 on: May 15, 2011, 03:54:07 am »

This is an important suggestion.

I think it's been gone over pretty well on Aboveground Diversity, but having rain lead to water flow, and having multi-Z water sources that function as underground rivers/bodies of water, other than aquifers, would add a lot to the game. Just being able to create our own reservoirs, and let them be filled with rain water, would be a plus. 

Evaporation that wasn't limited to water of a certain shallowness would also be nice to see, and give us more reason to cover and protect strategically important water sources.

Ofcourse, critters that could find their way from deep subterranean waters, especially critters of the hideously dangerous and vile persuasion, would add a little extra Fun to the game.

All this, naturally, could have a deleterous effect on framerate. 
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