kids pull levers?
In any case, how horrible is the syndrome. Death or loss of motor functions or what? Perhaps they can still be of use. As you said lever pulling acts with a delay, so you could station a squad in a smash room, lock the door, make a meeting area under the bridge. deactivate squad, one dwarf pulls the lever, then moves back to the meeting area (no job).
I think threads like this are the reason some people consider DF players a little strange
I hope kids pull levers! lol
Sadly, the syndrome appears lethal. Eventually the dwarves collapse and turn unconscience, possibly from pain or something, as their lower extremities bloat and eventually rot. Worst is that it is contagious. See here for more details:
http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=110879.msg3342769#msg3342769I am sure you are well aware of the nature of this game and intended no criticism against my personal choice in solving this dilemma. The following is almost just introspection. I definitely appreciate the suggestions too.
Its a funny thing as the solution I am considering pursuing can fairly be considered barbaric the game puts me in a corner as there are not that many tools I can solve this problem with. Certainly, I'd vastly prefer a more human solution, or better yet, being able to effectively treat and cure the syndrome but it seems impossible to heal. I actually value my dwarves and am not a cruel or malignant overseer so it pains me to be so callous but, y'know, it is either a few die or they all die. :\
That said, I could possibly create a convent where I isolate all the afflicted dwarves and let them die of starvation/thirst or from their affliction, whatever happens first. I can't save them though, that is a sad fact. I fully get why these type of occurances happen in dwarf fortress and how they can be viewed as sadistic.