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[Slayerhero90]

I'm trying to drain a volcano to get it to a more close-to-fortress level, but it's taking forever and I don't want to drill too many holes in the side to drain it. Are there faster ways of doing this while at a barely-established fortress level?

[joeclark77]

Pump it out.

[Slayerhero90]

barely-established fortress level

[ORCACommander]

volcanoes replenish their lava so there is no hope of draining it down to a z level.

instead:

1. make a magma cistern on the z level of your choosing. just make sure you have a magma safe floodgate

2. standard bridge breach side and channel the magma to where you want to go on the z level above the breach

[joeclark77]

volcanoes replenish their lava so there is no hope of draining it down to a z level.

Magma tubes replenish very very slowly, so it is entirely possible to drain it.  Curiously, they do not seem to have "pressure" in the same way that water does.  That's why I suggested a pump.  But you could perhaps do just as well with an ordinary hole in the wall.  Just make sure it's draining off the edge of the map, or into an underground drain of your own construction.  (Mine to the map edge on a stone layer, smooth the last wall tile, carve a fortification.)  If you're using pumps, then each time you clear a layer you'll want to channel a hole as a passive drain to make sure the magma doesn't rise back up to its previous level, then (re)build a pump on the lower level.

[Crashmaster]

When I was doing this I seemed to find that with a given amount of drains the volcano lava level would drop ok but then really slow after a few levels, also reloading a save seemed to add more lava...

If you aren't set up to pump magma could you manage water? Pumping water into the volcano where it can't touch the sides will drain it very fast; obsidian forms (not near any supported wall/floors) and falls to the SMP where it disappears using a lot of lava.

[smakemupagus]

barely-established fortress level

Why does that preclude using pumps?  (either to pump out the magma or pump water to quench it?)

Greenglass pumps, powered by a mill.

[slothen]

you don't even need a windmill.  If you tap it at the desired level, have it feed into a small holding area (like 3x3 or somehting) then you can have a single pump operated by a dwarf pump it off the map.  You should probably have several tap locations because the magma will behave like molasses, and feeding the pump itself is the bottleneck.

[Slayerhero90]

barely-established fortress level

Why does that preclude using pumps?  (either to pump out the magma or pump water to quench it?)

Greenglass pumps, powered by a mill.

I don't have the means to make any pumps.

[Duuvian]

All you need for a water pump is wood I think. If you picked a volcano bordering only mountains or other no tree biome that might be a problem though unless you can get wood from caverns.

My advice if you like volcanoes is to generate a custom world with 200 (max) volcanoes in it, and try to find one on the mainland that you can stretch an embark over that and other types that have plants, trees, various animals, maybe fish. Even better is if that embark is over a biome has sand or clay for pottery or glassmaking magma fueled workshops on your volcano right from the start.

[Button]

Note that surface wood is not magma-safe.

[Slayerhero90]

Note that surface wood is not magma-safe.

I'm not an idiot. I've dealt with pumps before.

[Urist McDwarfFortress]

I don't have the means to make any pumps.

So, I take it this means there is no sand or iron on your map? That sucks. You might just want to dig down to the 3rd cavern layer and get some nether wood. Other than that, you'll just have to sit around and wait for the caravans and/or goblins to bring you iron.

[joeclark77]

I don't have the means to make any pumps.

What do you lack, exactly?  If sand is present on your map then all you need is a bag and a stone and you can make (magma-safe) glass pump parts.

[Slayerhero90]

I haven't dug into the mountain yet.