Hey there, all you forumdwellers with nothing better to do. I've recently thought up a new challenge for those with a lot of spare time and a reasonably good processor.
This challenge imposes no restrictions on what you bring, what you make, or how you build things. It is not a restrictive challenge, it is a constructive challenge.
Here's the thing: you must settle in a place that has a cave river, a magma pipe, and as many underground levels as you can get. Preferably no chasms, but they are allowed if they are outside of your construction territory (in other words, they're only there for capturing and taming large bats. I'll explain later). The point of this challenge is to turn as much space as possible into three layers. Three seperate and unique environments.
Layer number one
This is the "bio" layer. It takes up three z-levels. Find the cave river (which must be relatively high up to provide space for the other layers), and carve out as much area on that z-level as possible, to create an underground forest (not tree farm, forest). The goal of this layer is to be covered in mud, tower-caps, cave spider webs, and to be littered with artificial cave ponds which are dug into the layer below. There is a free layer above to serve as a cavern ceiling. This layer can hold some small buildings, so long as they are mostly agricultural in function, and so long as they are made out of tower-cap wood.
code:
▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓
♣ τ ♣ ♣
░░░░░░░░░░░~~~~
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
Layer number two
This is the abyss layer. It takes up as many spare z-levels as you can spare. Carve out every tile of every z-level, down as many levels as you can go. Build (or carve, if you prefer) a few pillars of varying heights, and extend narrow bridges, small platforms, and some hanging structures for housing dwarves, workshops and whatever else you might want, so long as the structure is at least partially over the drop. This can be your main activity layer, but the pillars must be a fair distance away from each other, in order to keep the feeling of incredible spaciousness. If you can, tame and then release several flying creatures into the darkness (chasm will give you giant bats).
code:
──╥──
║> ┌───┐
┌─╖ ║< └─╥─┘
└─╢ ║> >║
╟─ ║< <║
║ ╟┬──────╢
║ ╟┘ ║
Layer number three
This is the fire level. it can consist of two to four levels, depending on insanity. Dig out the bottom z-level, and open up all the obsidian around the magma pipe, allowing for full access to the magma flow. Then, build bridges and platforms on the level above, which will host your metalsmithing operations. Leave as much open space over the magma as you can, to enforce the sense of a roiling sea of molten rock. For insanity measures, dig out a space above the workers and/or a second level of magma.
Well, it's not called a "challenge" because it's easy. It's called a challenge because it's different, and can produce some absolutely amazing results.
[ March 20, 2008: Message edited by: Kagus ]
Author
Topic: The Underworld Challenge (Read 10848 times)