Simple long-house construction with a pitched roof:
1) Start with a rectangle - the long axis will determine which way the roof peak will lie
++++++
++++++ (roof peak runs <------>)
++++++
2) Add floor places for any doors
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++++++ +
++++++
+
3) Put walls around the rectangle, respecting door spaces.
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#++++++#
#+++++++
#++++++#
####+###
4a) If this is a multi-level dwelling, then remove enough floor tiles to make way for a stairway (remembering humans live in 2 z-level spaces!)
z +0
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#++++++#
##++++++
##<++++#
####+###
z +1
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# #
#<
## #
#### ###
4b) Place another floor over the resulting section and add more walls as needed. (Repeat as necessary for each floor up, making sure the up-ramps or up-stairs are separated by at least one floor-space for access to that level)
z +2
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#++<##+#
#>+++++#
#++++++#
########
4c) Roof and wall scaffolding: patching up the holes in walls (or placing windows.) Add an exterior staircase adjacent to any wall needing to be patched in the Z+1, Z+3, Z+5, ect... areas. Have the scaffolds continue up as needed , with one of the ones on the long side of the rectangle continuing to the top of the last walls to be roofed over
z +0
########
#++++++#
##++++++u
##<++++#
####+###
u
z +1
########
# #
#< d
## #
#### ###
x
z +2
########
#++<##+#
#>+++++#
#++++++#
########
x
z +3
########
# >#< #
# #
# #
########
x
z +4
########
# +> #
# #
# #
########
x
z +5
########
#++++<+#
#++++++#
#++++++#
########
x
z +6
########
# #
# #
# #
########
x
z +7
########
# #
# #
# #
########
d
5a) The pitched roof: First, place walls as illustrated below. (You'll notice that the "front" wall provides access to the side of the roof that doesn't have scaffolding.)
z +7
++++++++
#######+
# +
+######+
++++++++
d
5b) Now add ramps along each long wall - I like to use wood for this to simulate shingles
z +7
<<<<<<<<
#######+
# +
+######+
<<<<<<<<
d
z +8
>>>>>>>>
+++++++
+
++++++
>>>>>>>>
5c) Now that the ramps give us access to the top of those walls, our dwarves can move up and over to the other side. No need for more scaffolding.
Add the "front" middle wall, and the front corner on the opposite side of the scaffolding. Also add the remaining back corner closest to the scaffolding.
z +7
<<<<<<<<
########
# #
#######+
<<<<<<<<
d
5d) Now place your center beam wall and add the remaining front corner
z +7
<<<<<<<<
########
# #
########
<<<<<<<<
d
z +8
>>>>>>>>
++++++++
########
++++++++
>>>>>>>>
5e) Add the remaining "shingles" and your roof is finished.
z +8
>>>>>>>>
<<<<<<<<
########
<<<<<<<<
>>>>>>>>
5f) Remove your scaffolding from the newly completed building. I like to pave a floor around the entire structure to keep trees from growing up the walls, but that's optional.
Welcome to the new workshop or family home!
(When building on a slope, don't excavate the slope - it looks much more "natural" if a flat foundation is built out from the slope, possibly containing a "sublevel" or two. If further buildings are built upslope or downslope from the original, then the whole "looking out over the pitched roofs of your neighbor" type of result is very easily accomplished. Since each building may have a 1-2 wide gap between them, then thieves or other miscreants will have to jump those gaps, possibly alerting those passing down below to look up and see them. Likewise, a series of very tall, multi-floored buildings might have skyways connecting them to their neighbors, creating a subterranean gloom on the lower levels where no sun shines.)