Though in practice it may be very difficult to implement practically, the concept is quite simple.
Providing dwarves have a line of sight with a animal, stray animals can be lead and pathed via dwarven pulling from a one higher vertical z-plane. The implications of this would be in cases where a animal has gotten itself stuck, such as in a body of water, or a crevasse and requires navigating out, being applied as a secondary consideration after going down to the 'level ground' z-plane to pull them the conventional way.
Additionally with this new pathfinding system, it could show promise to providing safer methods to maintaining the training level of difficult animals, via the liberal application and (exploitation?) of grates (which allow LOS and activities through them as well as being invulnerable from the underside) by pitting powerful creatures rather than letting them wander (dragon's setting the fortress on fire particularly) in addition to safe aquatic zones and pasturing channels.
Regular activities such as caging and attaching animals to restraints still require non-obstructed tiles (no water/lava/other) on the same z-plane as dwarves.
Such a example of this can be seen in leading a tame carp (/aquatic livestock) from the breeding pond, though the flooded channels before coming to a ramp access at the butcher's shop for slaughter. (Hopefully if aquariums get air-drowning issues fixed by some point, this could also open possibilities of having a interim holding area, and the similar application of drainable breeding zones to terrestrial caged male animals)
Issues to do with literal pathing (going around topside between ramps instead of the channel) can be solved with wall grates/bridges to block physical entry.
Feedback as well as additional references to other similar threads would be most appreciated
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Topic: New animal hauling/pasturing suggestion (Read 384 times)