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[MisterLich]

I'm having an issue with my marksdwarfs not attacking from a higher z level.  My fort wall is one z level high and I fortified the spot over the main gate, during a siege I got my dorfs stationed up on the wall next to the fortifications but they never bothered to shoot the goblins, and when I told them to shoot they just ran down and started shooting two tiles away from them instead, costing me an elite marksdwarf.

Thoughts?

[Girlinhat]

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_@F
  Wg__Will not shoot.  The dwarf's line of sight is blocked by the wall under the fort.

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@_F
  W_g_Will not shoot.  The dwarf's line of sight is blocked by the floor and the wall.

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_@F
  W_g_Will shoot.  The goblin is not flush against the wall, and the archer is flush against the fort.

It's easiest to do this using a channel around your fort.  A dry moat will catch some stray arrows and prevent the enemy from getting against the wall.  For added benefit, you can make the moat 5+ levels deep, so anyone dodging in will suffer.  Add spikes or military at the bottom as needed.

[UnrealJake]

For added benefit, you can make the moat 5+ levels deep, so anyone dodging in will suffer.  Add spikes or military mega-beast at the bottom as needed.

[Urist McGyver]

For added benefit, you can make the moat 5+ levels deep, so anyone dodging in will suffer.  Add spikes or military mega-beast MAGMA at the bottom as needed.

[Bdthemag]

For added benefit, you can make the moat 5+ levels deep, so anyone dodging in will suffer.  Add spikes or military MAGMA AND KITTENS at the bottom as needed.

[Hyndis]

The problem with a deep dry moat is that your own dwarves can also dodge into it. I make my dry moats only a single Z level deep, however the exit to the dry moat is lined with weapon traps, so anything that falls into the dry moat has only a single route to escape it, and to do so they need to go through the gauntlet of weapon traps.

A fall of a single Z level will not hurt anyone so if your dwarves are pushed into the moat they will not die. This allows you to send out your melee guys to mop up without any friendly fire issues.

[EveryZig]

The problem with a deep dry moat is that your own dwarves can also dodge into it.

If there is a wall next to your dry moat, you could have retracting bridges over it, so it is a pit when it is just enemies out there and flat ground when you are sending your military there.

Also, I think higher walls can be useful for keeping your marksdwarfs from trying to go next to the wall on the wrong side of it.

Something I am curious about is:
_@F
  Wg_

where the fortification (a built one, not carved (carved has a ceiling and floor left over from being a wall)) is hanging over the edge slightly.

[Hyndis]

A fortification includes a floor.

However, grates or horizontal bars may allow firing directly downwards. I don't know, haven't tried it out, but if it works it would be awesome for murderholes.

[krenshala]

For added benefit, you can make the moat 5+ levels deep, so anyone dodging in will suffer.  Add spikes or military MAGMA AND KITTENS at the bottom as needed.

Oh, gods, NO!  NOT Kittens! 

And i'm in agreement about murder holes.  You could try something like this for that:

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Z+0        Z+1      Definitions

....#_     ....F     . floor
.>..#_     .<..F     >, < stairs
#####_     ....F     # wall
+....      .==.F     _ channel
#####_     ....F     F fortification (not overhanging ;)
.>..#_     .<..F     + door
....#_     ....F     = floor grate/bars allowing dorfs on lvl 2 to see/shoot/pour magma on stuff at the door on lvl 1
stairs can be moved to more convenient positions, to allow more troops, magma pumps, what have you.

[Urist Da Vinci]

Bars/grates actually block line-of-sight, light, and line-of-fire. That is, unless the behaviour has changed recently. Test it yourself if you want to make sure.

Fortifications don't come with a ceiling if built directly, so you can put some on the ground floor, instead of a channel, to keep enemies farther back.

[krenshala]

Bah, i forgot they block LOS.  I guess you could make a walled in area surrounded by pumps (for water/magma welcomes), or just hatches that you could open to fire down at them.

[Girlinhat]

The problem is, then people can fire BACK at you.  If you want to do that, just leave the fortifications off entirely.