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[Caesar]

I use them to block off the route to my bait puppy's, so that the invaders will have to walk into the line of fire to get to it, but that they can't fire at them.

[Greiger]

LOS checks are too expensive for every creature to be using it constantly in dwarf mode.  Even the new version with the underground that needs to be explored Toady isn't actually using LOS, it's using a simpler pseudo LOS that just floods out a certain distance from a dwarf whenever they get close to an unexplored area.

As far as I know LOS is only ever actually used in adventure mode.

[The Dog Delusion]

I never use windows defensively (for obvious reasons), but now I'm wondering if my artifact museum is actually effective - I have all of my artifacts housed behind clear glass windows near a meeting point. Can dwarves LOS through them to see the artifacts and get happy thoughts, or do they just admire my finely crafted windows(or both?)?

[Loyal]

As far as using them defensively is concerned, just don't put them within reach of the building destroyers. My main barracks usually consists of a 'tower' going a few z-levels up. Something like this is normal for me.

[__] . . . . . (Archery targets, fortifications)
[__] . . . . . (main sparring floor, has windows)
[__]__________ (ground floor)
[__] . . . . .  (weapon/armor/ammo storage)

[Lalandrathon]

Usually getting enemies to head for and break into my barracks first is an excellent idea, since then my entire army is there to beat the tar outta them in close quarters.

[Grendus]

You could also dig a channel right next to the window into the barracks. Dwarves will still see and attack enemies, but even flying buildingdestroyers won't be able to smash the window.

Personally, I have clear glass windows all around my above ground dining hall. Since it's three floors aboveground, anything dedicated enough to fly up and smash it's way in could save time by just flying into the roofless trade depot or smashing the drawbridge/gate (or wandering into the EEEP, but that's another story).

[bamorrow]

Okay, first tests were set up, and the results irresponsibly unobserved.

I'd let it run during a human siege while watching the Adventure Mode Let's Play, and sadly missed the combat.

Based on where all the human gear feel when I finally started paying attention does lead me to initially believe that sparring soldiers ran out of the barracks to engage foes that they saw through the windows which make up the wall from the barracks to the outside.  But since I didn't see it happen, I'm going to try once again to observe it definitely before making any conclusions.

[ohgoditburns]

Shouldn't putting a channel between the window and the siege protect from destroyers while allowing LOS?

[bamorrow]

A Zombie Titan arrived, and in spite of taking his sweet time getting to where the action could begin, what with taking damage from the cold weather, the windows as outer gate appeared to work pretty definitively.

Where civilians could see him through the glass, they retreated from him canceling outside jobs.  Where soldiers could observe him, they went outside to fight.

As pointed out, a building destroyer could kick over the windows, but again that's a problem that might solve itself as it just exposes the enemy to my full barracks.

[Dr. Hieronymous Alloy]

While we're on line of sight questions --

What about LOS from towers? If you have a tower on top of your fortress will a dwarf standing on it "see" an approaching enemy earlier? Will he see over 1-level-high walls if he's standing on a 5-level tower, spotting a badguy before a dwarf standing on the ground behind that same 1-level-high wall?

[Loyal]

I'm assuming no, based on how projectiles are equally deterred by height, whether up or down. It wouldn't be a far stretch to assume line of sight works on the same/similar principle.

On the other hand, height does make it less likely that terrain features will get in the way.

[bamorrow]

While we're on line of sight questions --

What about LOS from towers? If you have a tower on top of your fortress will a dwarf standing on it "see" an approaching enemy earlier? Will he see over 1-level-high walls if he's standing on a 5-level tower, spotting a badguy before a dwarf standing on the ground behind that same 1-level-high wall?

Should test it and find out.  Far superior to speculation and thought experiments.