I think two things would make the gameplay interesting in new ways, the first would be buoyancy. I'm certain this has been suggested before, But I decided to include it anyways. Buoyancy would allow many different water made strategies to happen, which could end up as interesting.
The second Idea- Basically I'm asking that we can make a platform that once on completion will fall until A- It hits a bar (Or grate) or B- It hits a floor. It might have to be able to take falling damage to stop things from being rigged. Also, in order for this to be useful you must be able to place buildings and stockpiles on top of it. The platform would take up both the Z tile there, and would act as a floor for the above level.
(Example X= Cave floor, += platform floor, 0= cave wall, 8= Platform wall)
Top Middle 1 Floor lower
000000000 00000000 000000000
0X+++X0 0X888X0 0X X0
0X+++X0 0X888X0 0X X0
0X+++X0 0X888X0 0X X0
0XXXXXX0 0XXXXX0 0XXXXXX0
0000X000 000X000 0000X000
How would these two work together?
You see, they could act as an elevator of sorts. If the platform was buoyant, it would go up by water pressure. Having the Z tile below the floor taken up would ensure that you probably wouldn't have to worry about it slipping out of control, and it would stay in a shaft. This means that will a 10X10 platform, you could transport 100 food barrels at once, rather than having dwarves run up stairs to get the food, and eating it there. It would save hauling efforts too. I don't see how this could be over powered because it would take up a lot of mining, for dozens of Z levels. But, it would cause less traffic, and would make transporting small amounts of food easy. Here is a crappy diagram drawn by me, mostly for fun.
Then the last idea would be transition stockpiles. These basically would be stockpiles that the workshops would put stuff in as soon as they finish them, and a different dwarf would haul it to a better stockpile. (Example- Having a stockpile by your craftsdwarve's shops, and then having another one by the entrance for trading. This would keep the craftsdwarves by their shop though and prevent them from going on long trips, but keeping the crafts by the entrance for easy trading. It could also be used on the elevators, so the farmers will put food in them , send the elevator down, and have people unload it into the food stockpile by the great hall 50 floors lower.
could someone tell me If this is a good Idea, if I explained it badly, or if I didn't notice a way that this could be overly rigged. (Or if all of the above suggestions have been made)?
Thanks,
RabidAnubis.