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[Sappho]

Fellow Dwarfs, I give you the most stunning, impressive, massive construction ever made by dwarkind: Sungate, the Great Pyramid.

Map: http://mkv25.net/dfma/map-2856-sungate
Download Save: http://dffd.wimbli.com/file.php?id=206

Allow me to explain.

I started this baby way back when 33b was the new thing.  I have worked on it off and on ever since then, watching it run ever slower as the object count increased.

I did cheat a little.  I turned off sieges, artifacts, and all that nonsense.  I upped the dwarf speed to 1 and turned off feelings when they started to tantrum.  I still let them sleep, eat, and drink, though, and I never cheated in reactions to generate building materials.

The whole thing (above ground, anyway) is made from marble blocks.  The marble was mined from below and then carved into blocks by hand by my faithful dwarf minions.  Underground I continued the pyramid shape and smoothed all the stone floors.

I didn't do everything I planned to, because my computer started to choke.  It now takes me about ten minutes to open the save, and fifteen to save it again (less if I just rebooted my computer, but seriously, how often can I be expected to do that?).  See my points of interest on the map for explanations of some of these things.

I now consider it as close to complete as it will ever get, at least by my hands.  My computer can't handle it anymore, and honestly, I'm sick of looking at the damned thing.  But I think I should get some sort of prize for completing it after all this time.  Like, money or something, right?

A note of warning!  I finished it on my old version, 33d, and the save had a bug or two.  When I upgraded from 33b to 33d, I stopped getting immigrants and caravans, and my dwarfs stopped having babies.  (This is one reason I never upgraded it again).  I did import the save to 38c, though, and it runs okay, though I didn't spend much time with it.  You may be best off abandoning and reclaiming it to do any further work.

The most important thing about this pyramid is that someone uses it.  I promised to build it a long time ago, and everyone was promising all kinds of cool stuff for it, but it's been a while and I'm frightened that all my work will be for naught.  So please, if your computer can handle it, build me something beautiful!  Make murals, create an adventurer's nightmare with booby traps, or just turn it into a thriving civilization, but use it, please, for the love of Armok, use it!

Location:

Shot of how many blocks were in use, about 90% of the way through construction:

[A_Fey_Dwarf]

I am amazed. That is a truly awesome pyramid. However when a more complex physics system is introduced to DF I can imagine it collapsing under its own weight. This would make an even more amazing movie.

Well done.

[Sappho]

Thank you very much!  

Now, go do something with it!  It's got all the ore and wood and coal and gems and obviously stone that you could ever want!

[A_Fey_Dwarf]

Sorry I wouldn't be able to run a fortress that size, my PC is a load of carp. However I am sure that others would be glad to expand on your masterpiece.

[Run Comrades]

quote: I upped the dwarf speed to 1 and turned off feelings when they started to tantrum. I still let them sleep, eat, and drink, though ...  

To build a giant pyramid huh? This sounds like the slave challenge to me...

Very impressive though!

[polecat]

would you take a picture of it with the 3dwarf utility?

[Torak]

I thought you quit making this.

[Christes]

quote:Originally posted by polecat:
<STRONG>would you take a picture of it with the 3dwarf utility?</STRONG>

This thing is HUGE, so huge that the default view distance in 3dwarf cuts it off.  So huge that 3dwarf was chugging just trying to render everything. sheesh.

[MuonDecay]

one word: ramps

the entire surface should be covered in ramps, to make a smooth pyramid.

It would be epic win... well, more so.

Oh hell! and make the top 2 or 3 layers be coated in gold or silver!

Like the pyramid of Giza  

[ June 06, 2008: Message edited by: MuonDecay ]

[Poltifar]

but don't expect me to post about it too soon, it will probably take years (REAL years), my computer barely handles it...

Also, what's the max possible height we can build at in fortress mode?

[Fedor]

That is, by a very long way, the most massive DF construction I've ever come across, and probably the largest ever built.  I certainly hope - very much hope - that you did not place the blocks one-by-one, but had some sort of automation going, like a macro or utility.

Also, how are your hands?  If they're cramped and sore, I can suggest some helpful exercises to ease the tendons.

quote:Originally posted by Poltifar:
<STRONG>Also, what's the max possible height we can build at in fortress mode?</STRONG>

You can build floors at the highest z-level.  Walls you can build only one level below.

[martinuzz]

:eek:

Of Legendary Awesomeness!

I'm afraid my PC won't be able to handle this baby either. Never play bigger than 4x4 for FPS's sake

[MuonDecay]

I know mine couldn't handle it.

You see, I have two cores... which, as far as DF is concerned, is worse than one.

Le sigh.

[Sappho]

quote:Originally posted by Fedor:
<STRONG>That is, by a very long way, the most massive DF construction I've ever come across, and probably the largest ever built.  I certainly hope - very much hope - that you did not place the blocks one-by-one, but had some sort of automation going, like a macro or utility.
</STRONG>

I did, in fact, place them one-by-one, no macros or utilities used whatsoever.

And my hands do hurt.  That's why it took so damned long to build the thing.

Thanks for all the feedback, guys.  This is worth the many hours of my life I put into my masterpiece!

Now I'm gonna go play a regular fortress, like a somewhat sane person.

[Fedor]

quote:Originally posted by Sappho:
<STRONG>

I did, in fact, place them one-by-one, no macros or utilities used whatsoever.

And my hands do hurt.  That's why it took so damned long to build the thing.</STRONG>

Righto.  You don't want to ignore that hurt - it can cause serious problems if not addressed.

Whenever my hands cramp up or become sore, I perform a pair of exercises.
1) Stretch your arms straight out in front of you.  Make fists.  Turn fists downwards, stretching the top tendons.  Hold for about 45-60 seconds.
2) Stretch your arms straight out in front of you.  Spay your hands wide.  Turn them upwards, stretching the bottom tendons.  Hold for about 45-60 seconds.

Do not force the stretch excessively.  Do not bounce or jerk - maintain a steady stretch.  Do three repetitions, twice a day.  If problem persists for more than a week or becomes worse, see a professional.