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[UristMcDonald]

In my current fort, I have captured a large number of rattlesnakes. I want to use them in my moat, but I also want to fill my moat with water. Since snakes have an innate swim speed in the RAWs, will they live? Can they climb out of a moat filled with 7/7 water with steep edges, or will they be trapped underwater?

ALSO: What will happen if I dump zombies in the water? Will they be able to climb out? Will they be able to attack enemies? Will they fight the snakes?

[Scootagoose]

I'm pretty sure they'll drown.

[pisskop]

If your dwarf can climb out, than any creature could if they don't drown.  Ramps will allow them to.

Zombies in the water will try to kill the living snakes, yes.  If the snakes were zombies, however. . .

[Clover Magic]

Pretty sure creatures without AQUATIC or AMPHIBIOUS will drown, as innate swimming doesn't seem to work in fortress mode without those tags.  Unless there are ramps/stairs that allow access into the moat, creatures will not be able to climb in or out naturally.

Non-flying zombies in water will not climb out unless there are ramps or stairs to do so.  They can still attack I believe, and do not drown, so they would attack the snakes and most likely kill them all.  Then you would have a zombie-filled moat, which, if they can't escape and you have a dodge trap over the moat for enemies, might be a more practical solution than snakes, although they'll frighten any citizens who can see into the moat.

[UristMcDonald]

Ah, I forgot about that part. Yes, the zombies frighting all of my dwarves simply won't do. Maybe I'll build a retractable bridge over the moat... With the pull of the lever, the pit is opened!

[Urist McKoga]

Ah, I forgot about that part. Yes, the zombies frighting all of my dwarves simply won't do. Maybe I'll build a retractable bridge over the moat... With the pull of the lever, the pit is opened!

Or just dig a really deep moat (or build taller walls). Idk how many z-levels to stop getting stop jobs.

[pisskop]

Ah, I forgot about that part. Yes, the zombies frighting all of my dwarves simply won't do. Maybe I'll build a retractable bridge over the moat... With the pull of the lever, the pit is opened!

Or just dig a really deep moat (or build taller walls). Idk how many z-levels to stop getting stop jobs.

LOS.  So a few should cover most of that.  Depending on the width of the exposed hole.  Or a bridge, as stated above.

[gchristopher]

If you do use the rattlesnakes, be sure the moat bottom is all on the same z-level and only one deep. 

It's important to keep all your snakes in plane.

[TruePikachu]

Why not make another moat to surround the existing one? Outer with water, inner with snakes.

[HorridOwn4ge]

If you do use the rattlesnakes, be sure the moat bottom is all on the same z-level and only one deep. 

It's important to keep all your snakes in plane.

Dohohohoho

[mscantrell]

If you do use the rattlesnakes, be sure the moat bottom is all on the same z-level and only one deep. 

It's important to keep all your snakes in plane.

I had a rattlesnake FB whose dust caused vomiting and sleep. Several of my dwarves were sick and tired of that MFing snake even after it died.

[Loud Whispers]

Pretty sure creatures without AQUATIC or AMPHIBIOUS will drown, as innate swimming doesn't seem to work in fortress mode without those tags.  Unless there are ramps/stairs that allow access into the moat, creatures will not be able to climb in or out naturally.

If the level below is full of 7/7 water, creatures which can swim and are not drowning will be able to climb out without ramps. Drowning creatures need ramps to climb out. Making the moat 1zlvl deeper fixes this issue, but will mean any Dwarves that fall in will invariably be doomed.

[Ubiq]

In arena mode, putting rattlesnakes in the deepest part of the pool just results in them swimming up to the surface level. I don't see any reason for the original plan not to work so long as the water is too shallow for them to climb onto the shore.

[i2amroy]

Making the moat 1zlvl deeper fixes this issue, but will mean any Dwarves that fall in will invariably be doomed.

You know, more doomed then any dwarves that fall into a normal pit full of venomous snakes with water in it. I mean I totally can see the increase in danger levels there.

[Eric Blank]

Pretty sure creatures without AQUATIC or AMPHIBIOUS will drown, as innate swimming doesn't seem to work in fortress mode without those tags.  Unless there are ramps/stairs that allow access into the moat, creatures will not be able to climb in or out naturally.

If the level below is full of 7/7 water, creatures which can swim and are not drowning will be able to climb out without ramps. Drowning creatures need ramps to climb out. Making the moat 1zlvl deeper fixes this issue, but will mean any Dwarves that fall in will invariably be doomed.

This is true. I'd make a 2-story deep trench and fill the bottom level with 7/7 water, leaving the top level dry. Then, snakes can't get out, and anything which falls in is utterly doomed. Unless it's a total badass and can take on your snake-navy. And can swim.