I've got two questions. How do you guys do roofs and are there any plus sides of building on the surface?
Anewaname is spot on, ramps are the way to go. If you're in a rush and can't build floors, you can floor over with bridges, which is a lot quicker (just make sure not to cause any accidental cave ins, bridges offer no support). The advantages of building on the surface are largely aesthetic, your Fortress won't look like a hole in the ground and can be built on flat terrain, it may also be easier to allow for depot access with caravans. You also help slow down Dwarf cave adaption greatly, though this is not a terribly big deal for Fortresses deep underground, where cave adaptation is advantageous. Above ground building is a great way to use up loads of stone acquired from digging.
As to priorities of setup:
1. Dormitory and stockpiles, with roof overhead. Simple initial safe place for Dwarves to sleep and store their stuff, free from prying, flying things, or bears and badgers.
2. Perimeter walls, carving out how much land in total you intend to claim. Makes it much safer to build additional structures outdoors.
3. Farms, if you're not farming underground. Textiles industries are an easy way to make infinite trade goods if you do not have rich sources of metal available.
4. Permanent housing structures, capable of giving migrants their own individual houses or apartments, or serving as impromptu hospitals should the need arise. One of these rooms becomes the dedicated HQ, housing all the levers linked to important gates.
5. A well drawing water from a safe source.
6. Dedicated storage facilities, dedicated to things like food, booze, rare resources, trade goods, mechanisms and so on.
7. The barracks, archery range and armoury, housing the Fort's military Dorfs, their training facilities and equipment.
8. A sheltered trade depot.
9. Fortresses and towers wherever they're needed, linked by walls or underground tunnels.
10. A dedicated Hospital.
11. Fun things
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Topic: Surface fort build priorities (Read 4246 times)