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[lorf]

I'm pretty much a massive noob, so I'm expecting this question to cause lots of face-to-palm damage.
How could one make it so that you could get a caravan into your fort without exposing it to creatures that can enter freely?
I don't see how you could make a system that allows caravans in but forbids monsters and goblins, since caravans can't go through doors.

[Maxwell]

from the vids i saw they built traps, and they could pass them just fine , but im at a loss as to how to build the FUNCTIONING traps...

[numerobis]

Except for one release that had a bug, caravans travel over traps just fine.  Also, you can build bridges and link them to levers (check the dwarf fortress wiki for details).  Pull on the lever, and the bridge disappears; pull again, the bridge reappears.  Use this to make your fortress impenetrable at will.

[Heron TSG]

optionally, build a huge-ass tunnel with towers on the sides that hold ballistae. fire the ballistae constantly while there are no caravans, and surround the thing with a magma layer inside a glass pipe.

[lorf]

Thanks for the help, however I've got a new question.
Wells- I don't quite understand them. Are they possible to build without an underground pool or river?

[Maxwell]

I thought it was just easyer to plan a well into the fort near the begening, makeing my own small pond(dig some tunesl, add flood gates or doors, link em to levers, flood it, yea...)but you COULD make it above ground.

[lorf]

And yet another question:
if I'm going downwards, and I build a down staircase, how do I get a staircase below it if it's hidden?

[Dawnkeeper]

Simply designate the tile below the down starcase to be an up-down starcase(or only up if you dont want to go further down from there). As soon as the upper tile is mined out the lower one will be accessible.

works the same if you are building the upper staircase(not designating it to be mined out of the rock)

[greggbert]

Two words:  MULTIPLE DRAWBRIDGES

The keep where my trade depot is has four drawbridges one on each side.  One of the drawbridges has an extremely unpleasant path of traps and fortifications to get inside.  The other requires that you have to go all the way around and pass like 20 archers on the way in.  This way you can keep changing the configuration of your defenses so you can channel the gobbos and the where you want, but also ensure that caravans will be able to enter and leave conveneintly.

Also as soon as you see a caravan, you should send out an escort team to bring them in.  It's good role playing.

[jester]

bah, build your trade depot outside and make the bastards fight for the privilige of inspecting your wares.  most caravans are well armed enough to give a good kicking to a small goblin seige.  I find a depot just infront of my doors is a good first line of defence (if you have skeletel elephants or the like it is probably a good idea to move it inside though)