with the introduction of minecarts to the game as well as the addition of ramps, rollers and parabolic flight paths it has now become feesible to design a wonderfull new array of weapons and experiments in the name of dwarven science and to possibly do things wich would have beeen deemed impossible in previous versions of the game, lets start with the big one
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DWARVEN SPACE PROGRAM
AIM: to propell a dwarf above the highest z level of the map using a minecart launch system at the highest z level
Method:
▲R------ ▲ = track ramp R = roller - = track.
this will be built at the highest z level, the roller will be powered from below
CONCLUSION: the experiment was a resounding failure, as the dwarves tried to ride the minecarts the carts themselves where flung off the structure, to rectify this another ramp was constructed a z level down yet the same thing continued to happen.
here is the save if you guys are interested, Map was modded to remove aquifiers but otherwise default RAWS, tilset used: Pheobus
FILE:
http://www.mediafire.com/?crpyaoxuttg93vr-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MINOR EXPERIMENTS: These experiments where probably attempted by players as soon as the new version came out but i guess its worth while to put them up
BREACH EDGE OF MAP: trying to send the dwarf of the edge of the map in a minecart results in the dwarf stopping at the edge of the map unharmed
MINECART DEFENSE WALL: the original idea was to have a circular track around the map with minecarts powered by rollers zipping around it
smashing into goblins as they go
PROBLEMS - when a minecart stops on a roller it does not automatically get powered by it a dwarf is needed to continualy push stopped mine cart, i don't know why this is the case but it keeps happening
POTENTIAL SOLUTION: getting a dwarf to ride the minecart seems to stop this problem from occuring, this may waste a dwarf but it seems even wooden minecarts do some massive damage with a loaded dwarf riding an endless trap
MINECART DEFENSE WALL V2, same princible except instead of encircling the map the tracks encircle a bait animal or a statue as invaders attack the statue / bait animal they get destroyed by minecarts, proved to be moderatly effective yet some goblins where able to shoot off some lucky bolts into my dwarf and kill them
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BUGS: while doing this experiment a few bugs where found
- strange minecart launching, as demonstrated in file
- not sure if a bug butwhen reclaiming a fort old hauling routes remain, this caused one of my dwarves to be squashed within the first 10 seconds of embark so be warned
FINAL NOTE: i would like to see a dwarf in space godamn it and ill be damned if i give up now