Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Firnagzen]

Got bored of my first fortress; it had no magma. But it ran for 3 or so years, then I pulled the Lever and drowned them all.

Anyway, genned a new world and used the f function to find one with some magma goodness in it, but I can't find the magma. What are my options? (Ps. The find function is infallible, right? If it says there's a magma pipe, there's definitely magma?)

I've been mining around the third z level down, no sign of it so far. 

[Smew]

Like I said in another thread, if you're really picky and want to know exactly where stuff is before embarking, use the init options for finding perfect sites.
Outside of that, almost every time I've used the site finder it has been perfect, except on one or two occasions.
One such occasion was a couple of worlds ago, I specifically requested no aquifier, and it came up with a site that had an aquifier in all its biomes, but the aquifier option was green, meaning it found a site with no aquifier... whut?

[Albedo]

3 levels is above average, but if you have a lot of elevation it could be burieddeeper , or just be small on top and you've barely missed it.

Mine down maybe 5 levels max on about a 12-15 tile grid, and you should find it.  (It'd be hard to imagine not finding it.)

[Captain Xenon]

build a trade depot, then hit D. scroll down to the lowest z-level. see those areas with red D all over? thats where its NOT. the areas without any depot info, those are where either you can find a feature, or else you already dug there, or marked an area to be dug. if you find any obsidian, then thats your magma.

go over the middle of one of the areas, and from the surface dig a single staircase down about 10 z-levels and see if you find anything. 10 levels down dig out a bit from the stairs. if you dont find it, dig down another 5 levels and check around again. this method should find a feature fairly quickly.

now, i do know magma will 'reveal' if you dig UNDER it, which is a bit strange when it happens. dosent even have to be hot stone.

[Firnagzen]

Brilliant, I just found it.

It's halfway across the map.

Darn it.
Digging time!

[Fredd]

One thing that will really help searching for magma, underground rivers, etc., take a screen shot of the embarkation area. Will give you a general idea of where to dig exploratory shafts, if you have enabled the init to show them.

[Firnagzen]

Another question: How do I dispose of lava/water? I mean, say I want to make a  waterfall. I pump water over from the brook, then... what? How do I dump the water away? Ditto lava.

Also, does magma mist do anything useful?

[Phazer]

what ive heard it  kills.

[geoduck]

Another question: How do I dispose of lava/water? I mean, say I want to make a  waterfall. I pump water over from the brook, then... what? How do I dump the water away? Ditto lava.

One super-handy method for draining away water is detailed here:
http://www.bay12games.com/forum/index.php?topic=34721.0

[Firnagzen]

Erm, how do I get marksdwarfs to shoot from battlements?

[Phazer]

let them stand behind the fortifacation

[Albedo]

Enlightening. 

Once they're <A>ctivated as military, put them into squads if you want (via the <m>ilitary screen) for whatever size squad you choose (many prefer individuals), then lock on to their squads ( <x, l> and < s >tation them where you want them.

Note that if the squad is too big, some might go around and position themselves on the outside of the fortifications - it's happened.

You may have to change your <o>rders to "only military goes outside", or whatever, depending on how you've created those fortifications and the path to them.

[Leafsnail]

Since magma isn't pressurized like water, the need to dispose of it isn't as great.

[Firnagzen]

Ah, cool, that worked. Goblin kebabs for all!

Um, another question, though: How do I equip them with specific armour? I've heard that bucklers are good for marksdwarves. How do I get them to pick up the bucklers?

Also: An artifact picollo. And half a dozen engravings of it.

[Smew]

Bucklers are much worse than shields, and you'll want your marksdwarves to be very good with shields if you don't plan on locking them inside the room where you want them to fire from.
If I recall correctly, Bucklers block 50% less of the time than shields would, so if your marksdwarves decide to be daring and try to take on the enemy with their hammer-bows, you'll want them to be prepared!