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Author Topic: Planning Fortresses  (Read 764 times)

durt101

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Planning Fortresses
« on: September 09, 2009, 11:24:57 pm »

What do you guys use to pre-plan your fortresses?
Inspired by Abyssdepths, I wanted to do some planning prior to the construction of my fort. Eventually that spiraled into my desire to fully plan a fort before building. What do you guys use? I can sketch it out on graph paper, but obviously that sucks, especially for z levels. Is there a program out there that can handle 3d modeling well and simply, above all?
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Chewykittens

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Re: Planning Fortresses
« Reply #1 on: September 09, 2009, 11:50:53 pm »

I use pre-conceived designs when building a fort. Building in square, generic sections gives a certain reliability to them. Beyond that, I like to tack-on extra features where convenient to the fort's layout and geography. Spanning z-levels I alternate between my good-looking levels (workshops,dining halls etc.) and the ugly levels (plumming for water or magma, warehouses, noble's chambers)
« Last Edit: September 09, 2009, 11:53:04 pm by Chewykittens »
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Duke 2.0

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Re: Planning Fortresses
« Reply #2 on: September 09, 2009, 11:53:43 pm »

 MS Paint. Enable the grid, zoom in as far as you can and make a color key. For plans that require multiple levels I use Paint.NET.

 It made Healedabby, it should be good enough.
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I would bet money Andrew has edited things retroactively, except I can't prove anything because it was edited retroactively.
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SoulSkorpion

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Re: Planning Fortresses
« Reply #3 on: September 10, 2009, 05:00:54 am »

I use in-game notes. You get all the symbols in there. So I use them as blueprints, to lay out critical bits of fortress. Building over them is a bit of a pain because you can't have notes on while issuing orders; it's just occured to me to take screenshots of the notes view and use that.

Gets you all possible symbols, z levels, everything. It's also good for labeling switches and what they hook up to. Don't know what a switch does? Check the schematics.
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Mohreb el Yasim

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Re: Planning Fortresses
« Reply #4 on: September 10, 2009, 05:05:46 am »

What do you guys use to pre-plan your fortresses?
Inspired by Abyssdepths, I wanted to do some planning prior to the construction of my fort. Eventually that spiraled into my desire to fully plan a fort before building. What do you guys use? I can sketch it out on graph paper, but obviously that sucks, especially for z levels. Is there a program out there that can handle 3d modeling well and simply, above all?
not a programme but in 3d Cubical modeling Lego should be one of the best i think ...
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Mohreb el Yasim


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Angellus

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Re: Planning Fortresses
« Reply #5 on: September 10, 2009, 07:14:36 am »

What do you guys use to pre-plan your fortresses?
Inspired by Abyssdepths, I wanted to do some planning prior to the construction of my fort. Eventually that spiraled into my desire to fully plan a fort before building. What do you guys use? I can sketch it out on graph paper, but obviously that sucks, especially for z levels. Is there a program out there that can handle 3d modeling well and simply, above all?
not a programme but in 3d Cubical modeling Lego should be one of the best i think ...
Now that's a megaproject!
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Skorpion

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Re: Planning Fortresses
« Reply #6 on: September 10, 2009, 09:49:04 am »

The fort I ran before.

Other than that, I don't plan. It takes time, and it's so much more engaging to clear up screwups.
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The *large serrated steel disk* strikes the Raven in the head, tearing apart the muscle, shattering the skull, and tearing apart the brain!
A tendon in the skull has been torn!
The Raven has been knocked unconcious!

Elves do it in trees. Humans do it in wooden structures. Dwarves? Dwarves do it underground. With magma.

Niveras

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Re: Planning Fortresses
« Reply #7 on: September 10, 2009, 10:54:35 am »

I tend not to plan at all, since discovering an underground thing (magma pipe, river, pit, cave, etc) can mess over your designs right quick. I guess if you're cautious and you know where the things are from the embark map, you can stay away from their area, but it is a balance to have them close to your fort while not interfering with your designs.
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Albedo

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Re: Planning Fortresses
« Reply #8 on: September 10, 2009, 12:04:49 pm »

Modular designs, that can be adapted and plugged in on the fly.

Similar conversations here...

http://www.bay12games.com/forum/index.php?topic=39843.0   

...and here...

http://www.bay12games.com/forum/index.php?topic=34181.0
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Duke 2.0

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Re: Planning Fortresses
« Reply #9 on: September 10, 2009, 12:31:40 pm »

I tend not to plan at all, since discovering an underground thing (magma pipe, river, pit, cave, etc) can mess over your designs right quick. I guess if you're cautious and you know where the things are from the embark map, you can stay away from their area, but it is a balance to have them close to your fort while not interfering with your designs.
It ain't dwarven unless you terraform the skies themselves to make your design work. The only boundary one should have is the map edges.

 Because screw you magma pipe, you won't mess up my designs!
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Buck up friendo, we're all on the level here.
I would bet money Andrew has edited things retroactively, except I can't prove anything because it was edited retroactively.
MIERDO MILLAS DE VIBORAS FURIOSAS PARA ESTRANGULARTE MUERTO