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[Luraien]

I was wondering if anyone could answer me this; How would I make an effective spike pit? I've a channeled pit at the start of my fortress and will put spikes in there, but when I tried putting hatch covers over the pit I could only put the hatches on the outer-ring of the pit, leaving a big gap in the middle. I've removed them now but I'm wondering what I could use instead?

[Warlord255]

Retracting bridges work wonderfully for this purpose if you can account for the delay; you can construct them as large squares to cover a broad area, allowing you to drop entire caravans or enemy armies.

[Angellus]

Retracting bridges work wonderfully for this purpose if you can account for the delay; you can construct them as large squares to cover a broad area, allowing you to drop entire caravans or enemy armies.

But dont they catapult away, giving chance that the enemy lands on your head?

[Akigagak]

Raise-able bridges do that, not retract-able.

[kefkakrazy]

Only for drawbridges. A retracting bridge drops everything on it straight down. Note that paradoxially upright spikes do NOT add to falling damage, you MUST link them all to a lever or pressure plate and activate them manually for them to do anything. This can be quite amusing to watch if you automate the process, leave an exit, and watch them run for freedom.

[Angellus]

Only for drawbridges. A retracting bridge drops everything on it straight down. Note that paradoxially upright spikes do NOT add to falling damage, you MUST link them all to a lever or pressure plate and activate them manually for them to do anything. This can be quite amusing to watch if you automate the process, leave an exit, and watch them run for freedom.

How can you automate such a thing?

[Akigagak]

Excessive use of mechanisms.

[Angellus]

Excessive use of mechanisms.

XD

[Akigagak]

[kefkakrazy]

The automation method is a bit clunky and a touch slower than the dwarfpower method, but arguably more reliable since mechanisms don't run away.

You use a body of water, doors, pressure plates to open and close the doors in response to the water, and inside that chamber a water-triggered pressure plate linked to all of the spikes (this is a time-consuming process involving the sum labor output of a huge number of mechanics). Essentially this causes the spikes to raise and lower as the water level in the chamber raises and lowers. I have it set up to where a water level of 0-5 opens the door that lets water IN, a water level of 6-7 opens the door that lets water OUT, and a water level of 5-6 makes the spikes trigger. It's hideously overcomplex but damn it all, Stupid Dwarf Tricks are 90% of the reason I play this game in the first place. My fortresses are made with Science!

[LegacyCWAL]

You can also use the "chain a kitten in the middle of 8 pressure plates" method.  Not as complex, but anything that simultaneously involves kittens and death is pretty dwarfy as well

[Skorpion]

The automation method is a bit clunky and a touch slower than the dwarfpower method, but arguably more reliable since mechanisms don't run away.

You use a body of water, doors, pressure plates to open and close the doors in response to the water, and inside that chamber a water-triggered pressure plate linked to all of the spikes (this is a time-consuming process involving the sum labor output of a huge number of mechanics). Essentially this causes the spikes to raise and lower as the water level in the chamber raises and lowers. I have it set up to where a water level of 0-5 opens the door that lets water IN, a water level of 6-7 opens the door that lets water OUT, and a water level of 5-6 makes the spikes trigger. It's hideously overcomplex but damn it all, Stupid Dwarf Tricks are 90% of the reason I play this game in the first place. My fortresses are made with Science!

That's awesome. I think I'm gonna sig you on that last line.
Also, can you draw a diagram for that in Paint or something? I want to make my own...

[Scruga]

Code: [Select]

^
|
|Or just a screenshot for him

[Skorpion]

I meant for the mechanism with the pressure plates and stuff.

[Luraien]

The automation method is a bit clunky and a touch slower than the dwarfpower method, but arguably more reliable since mechanisms don't run away.

You use a body of water, doors, pressure plates to open and close the doors in response to the water, and inside that chamber a water-triggered pressure plate linked to all of the spikes (this is a time-consuming process involving the sum labor output of a huge number of mechanics). Essentially this causes the spikes to raise and lower as the water level in the chamber raises and lowers. I have it set up to where a water level of 0-5 opens the door that lets water IN, a water level of 6-7 opens the door that lets water OUT, and a water level of 5-6 makes the spikes trigger. It's hideously overcomplex but damn it all, Stupid Dwarf Tricks are 90% of the reason I play this game in the first place. My fortresses are made with Science!

That sounds freaking awesome, when I'm a little more experienced with how mechanics work I'll give it a go. Currently I'm just making a bridge which draws back and dumps everything in the spikes, I'm thinking of using survivors as target practise or learning how to put animals in there to tear them apart.