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Above-ground, exposed to the elements of the world.

3 (2.6%)

Underground, keeping my Dwarves relatively safe.

51 (43.6%)

Both (Your fort has significant portions both above and below ground.)

40 (34.2%)

It depends on the situation. (Some things are better suited for one side than the other.)

23 (19.7%)

Total Members Voted: 117

[Dwarven WMD]

I've seen a lot of forts before, and I've heard discussions on how to build forts in certain places, but I don't think anyone has really covered whether they try to be sole surface dwellers or sit under dirt all day.

I remember that when I first began playing, I spent most of my time trying to build underground, but as I played more, I favored building towering housing projects, office buildings, and factories that made my fort look like a industrialist-influenced nightmare. Don't know what began it, though I know I usually end up having to be careful so that my skyscrapers don't crash in the event I need to dig under them.

I'm also curious as to what advantages and disadvantages people see in building on either side. I know that building above ground can be a lot slower since every part of it has to be thought out and built up, but I find it helps planning and can aid in defense greatly.

So, your opinions?

[crazysheep]

From what I've seen, if the local fauna and your neighbours are tricky to deal with, you're best off turtling underground. Minimal stuff out on top, and maximum stuff hidden away underneath the surface, just like an iceberg.

Since I prefer locations with low evil but reasonable amounts of savagery (e.g. Giant Mosquitoes or undead hordes), I favour aboveground forts with enough area to roam around hunting stuff, while keeping everything simple enough to defend.

[Spinning Welshman]

I once tried to build a massive above ground fort in the shape of a giant tree, built solely from logs, just to show the elves how much of a fuck I give.

But I was destroyed by marauding grimelings.

[Nyan Thousand]

I prefer swinging both ways, actually.

Er, let me explain. I house my military in a large aboveground castle fortress, while the rest hole up below ground. Hey, it works.

[Oaktree]

I prefer primary works underground, but do start eventually adding extensive defensive works (primarily walls and ditches) above ground.  Mainly to channel visitors towards specific areas where defenses can be concentrated.  This also generally allows safe egress for workers or friendly visitors via other exits.

And I also tend to have at least one building extending a few floors above ground to serve as a barracks and/or location for things that require "outside" exposure.  Including roofing in some pasture space for grazing animals if I am keeping any.

[Starver]

I'd quite like to control both surface and the underground.  I really need to update it (indeed, continue on some more with this fort, if I weren't busy with newer places) but http://mkv25.net/dfma/map-10796-castledales shows you one of my approaches.

[vjek]

I tried above ground in 31.25.  Then I found the fun that was ambushing goblins & trolls being able to get past walls with forbidden doors, and even appear randomly inside the walls of the fort without having to actually respect pathing.  4 different forts built and the trolls and goblins just teleported right in without a second though.  In one case, I remember them "appearing" inside the completely walled in livestock pens behind a Forbidden door, which was still closed, in place, and not destroyed.

To which I said "to hell with this" and immediately went 100% underground, and never looked back.  Now, pathing works as expected, and my forts are secure.

[Morpha]

I decided "fuck the world" and embarked next to a volcano. I promptly climbed it and sealed off the top, and have turned it (the volcano top+volcano walls) into my new base. Mining out a nearby mountain for resources and I got as much lava as I could possibly want. Downside of an aboveground base is I need to work out defences against flying enemies, a flying titan could do some major damage at the moment and I just keep getting refuges by the boatload which will probably trigger something soon.

[dizzyelk]

Most of my civilian sector stays underground, but I do have aboveground safe areas for farming strawberries and such forth. My miltary is mainly above ground, with a secondary underground defensive are right before the true entrance to my fort. Back when we had them, I preferred building my forts around natural features like bottomless pits and caverns.

[Tirion]

90% underground, away from the foul rays of sun, the rest is towers made of fortifications for my marksdwarves. Because there are a few things ot there I'd rather not engage in melee, even in my underground trap corridor... or especially in my underground trap corridor. And until recently, I usually built a tower for the butcher's, tanners, kitchens etc.

[Blizzlord]

The game is less Fun without cave adaptation. Then again, who wouldn't like to see the dorfs get slaughtered by giant ocelots and mosquitoes?

[BigD145]

I once tried to build a massive above ground fort in the shape of a giant tree, built solely from logs, just to show the elves how much of a fuck I give.

But I was destroyed by marauding grimelings.

You should have used bars of ash or charcoal.

@OP: I do both depending on the situation. Not a lot of sky leads to more underground. Interesting caves also leads to a bit more underground.

[Spinning Welshman]

I once tried to build a massive above ground fort in the shape of a giant tree, built solely from logs, just to show the elves how much of a fuck I give.

But I was destroyed by marauding grimelings.

You should have used bars of ash or charcoal.

@OP: I do both depending on the situation. Not a lot of sky leads to more underground. Interesting caves also leads to a bit more underground.

The whole idea was to make it like a frankensteins tree, so it had to be logs.  The whole thing was designed to be the worst psychological clusterfuck possible for any elven traders. I might try it again sometime actually.

[Urist McScoopbeard]

I went through a period where I kept trying to mine out glorious cities from mountains, but my populace kept going insane because it took too long, my current fort is entirely underground now and much more epic. Although my dwarves are mostly homeless serfs and conscripts in my army (musket equipped) now.

[slink]

Except for megaproject fortresses, where I turn off invaders, mine are all underground.  Preferably they are in the side of a hill so there is only one gate to the outer world, heavily trapped.  Since the wagons can no longer go over trapfields in 34.10, I am currently also using a dedicated wagon opening to the side of the map.  This is aboveground for the length required to reach the side of the map from the place where walls can be built.  Aboveground crops are grown in a sunken pit, covered over with transparent rock blocks that transmit the light.  I'm not sure how they are made, but they are really neat.    Anything requiring pasturing is kept in areas with cave moss.

I think already back in 40d ambushes and such could be generated inside walled areas that encompassed large parts of the map.  That was when I stopped trying to wall in fields and forests.