Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Headless]

What is the most efficient staircase for my dorfs to get around?

What is the most efficient staircase in terms of keystrokes for exploring the depths?  I would like to get my miners back up as well.

Thanks for your help.

[StagnantSoul]

Up-down staircases.

[smjjames]

Up-down staircases.

Obviously, but the OP is asking in what configuration. At least that's what I assume they're asking.

[pisskop]

Up-down staircases.

Obviously, but the OP is asking in what configuration. At least that's what I assume they're asking.

Thats the most efficient one.    his question isnt very clear.

If you want size, as wide as your hallways is fine.  You could get away with less for very wide hallways.  Forts built around stairs are the most efficient because you capitalize on the vertical axis as well as horizontally.

If you are exploring than use a segregated staircase with doors and/or hatches on it.  Traps to keep anything that does get in out.  Stairs require an up and down segment to function.

[ptb_ptb]

Hatches also stop dwarves from falling ALL THE WAY DOWN. Which is why I generally prefer to use ramp spirals.

[StagnantSoul]

I've never seen any dwarf fall down any stairs.

[smjjames]

I like to use a big central staircase, haven't really tried ramp spirals much. Stairs would be quicker than ramp spirals anyway.

Though I use inter-level connection stairs when applicable.

I've never seen any dwarf fall down any stairs.

Haven't had that problem either. Except when I'm channeling out the staircase to let light through to the bottom.

[pisskop]

I like to use a big central staircase, haven't really tried ramp spirals much. Stairs would be quicker than ramp spirals anyway.

Though I use inter-level connection stairs when applicable.

I've never seen any dwarf fall down any stairs.

Haven't had that problem either. Except when I'm channeling out the staircase to let light through to the bottom.

They can, rarely.  Its more common when the stairs are slippery or wet (rain, blood, etc) and its more common on ramps than stairs.  Hatches above increase the risk of falling too, due to how they work.

Anyhow, hatches also stop them from falling.  By putting them in regular intervals, it breaks their fall.  doesnt work for 1x1 stairs, though.

[Bognor]

I'm not sure I understand the original question, but here's a rule of thumb: two staircases right next to one another allow more efficient movement than two single staircases apart from one another.  This is because dwarves can walk around one another when using adjacent staircases, but on a single staircase, one dwarf has to stop to let the other one pass.

[Headless]

I dont use updown staircases.  My dorfs dont seem to like useing them.  And i dont like the picture. 

If i start using them, what is the best shape?  Can i stack them one ontop of each other or do they have to be off set?

Is there a wiki page?

[karhell]

I think it's easier to see the staircases as spiral staircases. They are designed to be stacked onto each other.

[ptb_ptb]

Stairs would be quicker than ramp spirals anyway.

That's not actually true.

Dwarves go down one level of up/down stairs in exactly the same time it take them to go down on level + across one tile. Diagonals don't cost 1.414 the time of straight lines.

If you're in adventure mode, try throwing things NE vs E. They go a lot further on the diagonals than straight N, E, S or W. It's the same principle.

[smjjames]

You need to have an up staircase below them and/or a down staircase above them for those to work, in case that's why you're not seeing them used.

Yes they stack and no need to offset them.

As for best shape, there isn't really a 'best shape', it's best to just go by the rule of thumb bognor mentioned. Just experiment with various configurations and see what you like or what works for you.

[Headless]

You need to have an up staircase below them and/or a down staircase above them for those to work, in case that's why you're not seeing them used.

Yes they stack and no need to offset them.

So i could build updown stairs, drop a z level up staircase directly below.  Then what to go down the next level? 

[karhell]

You can either go with a column of up/down stairs, or a corridor, and repeat the pattern a bit further
Schematic side view :

Code: [Select]

Up/down column                                 Up and down
       x                                       v
       x                                       ^==v
       x                                       v==^
       x                                       ^==v
       x                                       v==^
       x                                       ^==v
       x                                       v==^

Where 'x' is an up/down staircase, '^' is an up staircase, 'v' is a down staircase, and '=' is a length of corridor