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[IIzTrollin]

when i start my forts i like to dig out an area for an "out door" farm, beekeeping, pen/pasture, and refuse piles and make sure they are all outside, so i tend to dig them out then dig channels and collapse the ground so they become out door, but my dwarfs tend to die from doing this because they dont know how to do it safely, i tried micromanaging them and digging upramps instead of channeling the area out but i've had dwarfs die both ways so my question is any 100% safe way in doing this? im tired of having my miners die because they cant do it safely?

[Xenos]

when i start my forts i like to dig out an area for an "out door" farm, beekeeping, pen/pasture, and refuse piles and make sure they are all outside, so i tend to dig them out then dig channels and collapse the ground so they become out door, but my dwarfs tend to die from doing this because they dont know how to do it safely, i tried micromanaging them and digging upramps instead of channeling the area out but i've had dwarfs die both ways so my question is any 100% safe way in doing this? im tired of having my miners die because they cant do it safely?

Just start channeling from the surface down to the level you want one layer at a time.  Or connect the roof to a support and lever to collapse when all dwarves are clear

[IIzTrollin]

ive tried channeling from the surface, ive tried from underneath and upramps both will randomly have a collaps. and i could try the supports but it would take me a lot longer to get mechanisms as i dont load out with a mechanic

[Sabreur]

First, clear your digging area of trees. Next, channel (not dig) one layer at a time. If you are chanelling down to an already mined out area, you will have to channel very carefully to avoid creating unconnected floor tiles.

[Xenos]

ive tried channeling from the surface, ive tried from underneath and upramps both will randomly have a collaps. and i could try the supports but it would take me a lot longer to get mechanisms as i dont load out with a mechanic

If you are channeling a single layer it won't collapse.  DON'T designate the next layer until the previous is COMPLETELY done.  If you designate multiple z levels for channels/ramps you will have caveins.  Alternately you would need to channel in an order that couldn't leave any tiles hanging without support.

EDIT:  I forgot to mention the trees

[Reese]

ive tried channeling from the surface, ive tried from underneath and upramps both will randomly have a collaps. and i could try the supports but it would take me a lot longer to get mechanisms as i dont load out with a mechanic

As stated, always make sure all trees are cleared (build a dirt road on the planned dig site to be sure!)

personally, I prefer to use ramps to dig out an area, though it's functionally the same as channeling, just designated on a different level

the main and most important rule is: only designate one layer at a time, and let the last layer be fully dug before designating the next area!

[IIzTrollin]

so if the tress are there it will cause caveins?

[Reese]

yeah, trees prevent the floor under them from being dug out, which causes unsupported floors if you are also channeling out the adjacent tiles

[Xenos]

yeah, trees prevent the floor under them from being dug out, which causes unsupported floors if you are also channeling out the adjacent tiles

Trees dont cause caveins unless you dig out under them.  I just channel an area and then clear trees and re-channel after they are cut.

[IIzTrollin]

ok, do i have to do it one section(same Z level) at a time or can i just select channel the entire area?

[Xenos]

ok, do i have to do it one section(same Z level) at a time or can i just select channel the entire area?

You must do one z level at a time or else you will have caveins. 

[IIzTrollin]

yeah i figured that much, and its true titans can step down one Z level into your base?

[Bobnova]

I'm not certain that anything is 100% safe in DF.
I have yet to see an effect of any sort that wasn't weaponized within five pages.

[weenog]

ok, do i have to do it one section(same Z level) at a time or can i just select channel the entire area?

You must do one z level at a time or else you will have caveins.

If you must channel out surface where the level below is already mined out, there is a way to do it that is relatively safe.  When I find myself in that position, I channel out strips no more than 2 tiles wide (though the orientation, North/South or East/West, doesn't matter).  I then construct floors over the holes before any more channeling, and I wait till the floors are completely built.  What this accomplishes is ensuring that no tile winds up completely disconnected from all supporting tiles, it will always have at least one edge touching natural floor or constructed floor.  No unsupported tiles == no cave-in.  The danger comes from this way being relatively slow, and leaving folks exposed to anything on the surface that cares to come kill them until it's done.

[thegoatgod_pan]

I draw a line with h, then a second making it into a cross. Then channel along the cross length and width slowly expanding the cross into a rectangular area.  Usually no fatalities. Slow and steady wins the day.