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[ThaMuzz]

I am currently working on a pyramid megaproject.  It is surrounded with a multi z-level moat, and its getting near the time for me to decide what to fill it with, magma or water.  I have pump stacks arranged for both.

Arguments in favor of Magma:
-Tradition.  This is DF after all.
-No swimming invaders.  I'm using civforge, and am currently trying to piss off every civ that isn't dwarf.  This way, I will be able to force them onto the bridges, where they cannot flee and my soldiers will be able to rack up hideous kill counts.
-I will be able to dump elven diplomats in to burn.
Against:
-Not transparent in Stonesense.  I won't be able to see all the cool details I've put in.

Arguments in favor of Water:
-Clear in Stonesense.   Many of the details of the fortress are meant to be viewed in Stonesense, or other visualizers.
-Won't melt dwarfs that fall in.
Against:
-Won't melt dwarfs I throw in.
Not sure if for or against:
-The water will freeze in the winter.

Here are some WIP screenies:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

A shot at z0 with the central well at the center.

A shot of the bridges and the archer's towers.

A shot of the entire fortress.

[Zrk2]

Use magma, that is the way DF is meant to be played.

[Johnfalcon99977]

Magma. Did you really expect a different anwser from these forums?

[Zrk2]

I certainly don't see a different one coming any time soon.

[Demonic Gophers]

Add a second moat.  Fill one with lava and one with water.

[ext0l]

Put both in for MAXIMAL ENCASING OF GOBLINS 

[Cruxador]

I see two moats. One inside the sloped pyramid walls, and one outside. Fill each with something different.

[therahedwig]

I see two moats. One inside the sloped pyramid walls, and one outside. Fill each with something different.

Magma inside, water outside. The magma 'lights' up the inside.

[Sowelu]

Not sure if for or against:
-The water will freeze in the winter.

A frozen moat is not a moat.  If you can't be absolutely sure that it will freeze one Z-level down from your fortress, leaving an inaccessible cliff (remember that 1/7 water still freezes into a solid tile), don't use water.

Alternately, use water in the summer and magma in the winter.  Just be sure you don't have both at the same time, or you'll be mining out your moat a second time...

[MrWiggles]

Not sure if for or against:
-The water will freeze in the winter.

A frozen moat is not a moat.  If you can't be absolutely sure that it will freeze one Z-level down from your fortress, leaving an inaccessible cliff (remember that 1/7 water still freezes into a solid tile), don't use water.

Alternately, use water in the summer and magma in the winter.  Just be sure you don't have both at the same time, or you'll be mining out your moat a second time...

This.

I think its far more dwarfy. Bonus points if you can get it to be automatic switch over. (Should be possible right?)

[ed boy]

You said that you plan to force invaders onto the bridges so your military can fight them. Make sure that there is a wall along the edges of the bridge, or your dorfs could dodge off the edge during combat.

[Urist Imiknorris]

I say water, but get rid of the extraneous ramps in the moat first.

[ThaMuzz]

You said that you plan to force invaders onto the bridges so your military can fight them. Make sure that there is a wall along the edges of the bridge, or your dorfs could dodge off the edge during combat.

The inner bridges have vertical bar walls.  The idea is to have the bulk of the enemy forces cross the outer bridges, have my archers move to the archer nests while the battle is engaged on the inner bridges.

I've decided to save a version right before I hit the switch, so I can try it both ways.  First try is with water, then a try with magma, then a try with both magma and water in various configurations.

[vogonpoet]

Considering the awesome scale of your project to date, two moats seems reasonable. Also, give the water moat switchable under-floor magma heating, for extra special wintery Grinchinator goodness.

[ThaMuzz]

Considering the awesome scale of your project to date, two moats seems reasonable. Also, give the water moat switchable under-floor magma heating, for extra special wintery Grinchinator goodness.

Actually, I've sort of tried the under magma layer with the river, in an attempt to keep water wheel power going all year round.  Even when it does thaw the river, which only occurs when there is acutal movement of magma (having all tiles 7/7 causes no thawing), the river has an ice floor on top.