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[thryn]

So I built a little filtering system on the outside of my fort - invaders take the short path over all the traps (which the wagons are choosing to view as impassible this game for some reason) and wagons go around the long way. Or they did, anyway, until the last caravan got ambushed on the way in. The traders neatly disposed of the goblins, but seemed to lose their taste for trading and mostly left the map. Meanwhile, half the wagons are still trying to get to the depot, and the other half are trying to leave, resulting in this:


It's been like this for at least two seasons now, I'm not really sure what to do ... if only there were wagon plumbers.

[Geldrin]

I heard that wagons cannot pass trough weapon traps... however, cage traps are okay.

[Oaktree]

Drains clogged?  The obvious answer is 

[Geldrin]

if only there were wagon plumbers

They're called "ballistas". 

[xeniorn]

If you decide not to actively resolve the situation, please do report on what happens at the time next year's caravan is supposed to arrive.

[krenshala]

I'd say wall them in, wait for the carnage entertainment to commence, then collect their stuff.

You may need a second path for later traders, of course.

[Thatdude]

Maybe just deconstruct the walls and pray that no invaders arrive. Maybe danger room some militia out at the same time.

[Sabreur]

I usually just make an 'airlock' setup - one bridge to let caravans into the trade depot, another to allow access to the fortress.  No weapon traps necessary, you just lock the traders inside when a siege arrives and let them back out after you've finished mining the goblinite.

[CaptainArchmage]

I'd either remove the walls, or I would replace the walls with a drawbridge that "unclogs" the wagons after pulling a lever.

[slink]

Either remove the walls or wait until one caravan's wagons deconstruct.  I had the same situation but it was underground and the jam was on a ramp.  There was nothing I could do to release the wagons.  Eventually the Dwarven wagons deconstructed.  The Human wagons left, the Dwarven merchants with pack animals left, and I gathered the loot.  Then I widened the tunnel.   

[i2amroy]

I heard that wagons cannot pass trough weapon traps... however, cage traps are okay.

Actually both traps block wagons, it's just that if your taps were built before the change (so before 34.08), then they will still allow wagons to cross until they are rebuilt.

[ledgekindred]

I heard that wagons cannot pass trough weapon traps... however, cage traps are okay.

Actually both traps block wagons, it's just that if your taps were built before the change (so before 34.08), then they will still allow wagons to cross until they are rebuilt.

I would suspect this.  I've had wagons get onto the map, then suddenly jam up and stop because a tree grew up in the path they were taking, making the depot no longer accessible.  Took me the longest damned time to figure out why they just plain stopped before I thought to check depot access.  Sure enough, a tree in my tunnel.  Chopped it down and all was well again.  (As well as things ever get in DF anyway...)

[weenog]

I heard that wagons cannot pass trough weapon traps... however, cage traps are okay.

Actually both traps block wagons, it's just that if your taps were built before the change (so before 34.08), then they will still allow wagons to cross until they are rebuilt.

I would suspect this.  I've had wagons get onto the map, then suddenly jam up and stop because a tree grew up in the path they were taking, making the depot no longer accessible.  Took me the longest damned time to figure out why they just plain stopped before I thought to check depot access.  Sure enough, a tree in my tunnel.  Chopped it down and all was well again.  (As well as things ever get in DF anyway...)

Paved road?

[wuphonsreach]

You'll want to always make your trade route at least 5 or 6 tiles wide rather then just 3 tiles wide.  Don't forget to smooth all boulders and cut trees.  Paved roads also help out, but you can cheat and just put down a custom stockpile which accepts nothing which prevents tree growth.  I usually use a stockpile designation to help with layout/design, then replace it along the way with a paved road once enough stone blocks have made it to the stockpile by the construction site.

My trader entrances are usually 7-wide, with a 5-wide paved road down the middle.  That way, two wagon trains can get past each other easily.  I'll have a few bridges which might only be 4-5 tiles wide, but most of the route in will be 7-wide.  Some areas, such as the outer forts which overlook the trade route, might be 9-11 tiles wide.

I also try to have (eventually) two or three routes into the Trade Depot along with putting the depot in a location with empty area on at least two sides.  That way there's plenty of room for the wagons to position themselves and get around each other.

The simplest, mostly foolproof design for a trade road is a big long U-bend, with at least 2 bridges along the way that you can control.  Make sure enemies have a shorter route into the fort then taking the U-bend, and if some of them start taking the U-bend, raise one of the bridges.  Length of the U-bend should be about 15-30 tiles.

[MadocComadrin]

I came into this thread expecting artifact wagon wood clogs (the footwear) or somesuch. This is much better. XD