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[noodle0117]

Here's a simple illustration of my concept.

OOOOOOOOOO
22222X777777
22222X777777
OOOOOOOOOO

Where
O = wall
X = new floodgate with *allow water flow* set to 2
2 = 2/7 water
7 = 7/7 water

My idea is to implement a new but simple, practical, and realistic function to the existing floodgates we have now.

Give floodgates the option of allowing a certain level of water to go past them.


Basically, the way this works is that when a floodgate is placed down, we also get the option of allowing a certain level of water to flow past them. Floodgates default with *block all water* (what the current floodgate is now), but after putting down a floodgate, it's "water blocking rate" can be adjusted in a similar manner to adjusting the sensitivity of a pressure plate. If the water blocking rate is set to 7, it'll let all water through, although with its pressure reduced.

Assuming the floodgates are propped up against a large water source (eg. river), here will be the general effects of each degree of water blockage.

With *allow water flow* set to 1, it will essentially be a tiny trickle that can only wetten the ground behind the floodgate
With *allow water flow* set to 2, there will be a small stream spilling out behind the floodgate (good for smaller tree farms)
With *allow water flow* set to 4, there will be a moderate river like flow coming out, enough to fill and maintain a nice swimming pool.
With *allow water flow* set to 7, it'll basically be the same as an unrestricted water flow from a river except with the pressure reduced

Opening a floodgate with a lever will still allow all water to flow past unhindered. This idea only applies to when floodgates are closed.


Note: I am perfectly aware that the same effect of water level control can be achieved with careful pressure plate and mechanism wiring, but the disadvantages of such are that...

1. It requires measurement and timing and possibly quite a bit of trial and error to achieve the desired result.
2. The constant need to detect water levels and switch floodgates consumes fps.
3. Closing floodgates destroys any liquid beneath them. This can be a problem for maps with limited surface water.
4. The constantly changing and dynamic nature of a pressure plate based water-level controller means that if something gets stuck in the floodgates while they're open, the results might produce a bit more FUN than the player intended.

Alternatively, we could also implement a new building called the "dam", although I prefer the number of new introduced buildings kept to a minimum

NEW FLOODGATES!!!

[sockless]

Ask your self this:

How would this be done in real life?

Then ask yourself:

Could they do this in/before the Middle Ages?

I can't think of how they would've achieved this in the Middle Ages without having a person there at all times making sure that it doesn't go too high.

On the other hand, we could have a floodgate that lets water out until a certain height, which is essentially a low wall.

[FallingWhale]

Pressure!

[Vattic]

On the other hand, we could have a floodgate that lets water out until a certain height, which is essentially a low wall.

Which has been suggested before. It's also something I'd like to see as it would let us fill areas of any size with a specific depth of water.

[tsen]

Actually yes, it could be done comparatively easily.

[noodle0117]

Ask your self this:

How would this be done in real life?

Then ask yourself:

Could they do this in/before the Middle Ages?

I can't think of how they would've achieved this in the Middle Ages without having a person there at all times making sure that it doesn't go too high.

On the other hand, we could have a floodgate that lets water out until a certain height, which is essentially a low wall.

Well considering how pressure physics work in Dwarf fortress, I don't think it's really that hard to do.
It does push on the realism side a bit, but then again, wooden cage traps trapping giant monsters, levers being invisibly linked to remote and enclosed devices, and elven caravan donkeys carrying cargo 20 times their weight isn't exactly realistic either.

[Teamwork]

This would be nice.
I could see this being incredibly useful for creating dwarf cleaning pools with actively moving water.

[Jeoshua]

I can think of a better way to implement dams:

Pressure-sensitive pass-through water wheels.  They'd be like a pump, except instead of requiring power, it would generate power.  And the more pressurized the liquid, the higher amount of power it would generate.

This would make having it at the bottom of a large area of water extremely important.  Having it at the top of a lake or something would simply not do much at all.  On the other hand, blocking off a waterfall, letting it fill up, and then switching the flow towards the lone "turbine" would create tons of mechanical power.

[DanielLC]

Could they do this in/before the Middle Ages?

But it can be done with DF technology. Just attach a door to a pressure plate, and have it open when the water level is below 2.

[noodle0117]

Could they do this in/before the Middle Ages?

But it can be done with DF technology. Just attach a door to a pressure plate, and have it open when the water level is below 2.

Except this time it's just combined into one simple device for ease and convenience of use so that you can focus on your more important projects rather than trying to perfect your wiring.

[Edosurist]

This is a great idea! I could totally imagine having a fort where everybody had to swim around in the lower hallways to get around (in a more efficient way than pumping out the water. pumps leave 4/7, correct).

sockless:
It can easily be done by making something like a wall from above.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

##
##
##
h2o
h2o
h2o
h2o
............. <- floor

or you could just read the thread that Vattic posted, it's essentially the same thing... or completely

[sockless]

Edosurist, if you do that, all the water will just flow out until the water levels are equal. It wouldn't work.

Just because there is unrealistic stuff in the game right now doesn't mean we should just keep adding unrealistic stuff in to the game willy nilly.

Caravans will eventually actually have wagons, which will be a lot more realistic and cage traps will be fixed one day.

[Bohandas]

Ask your self this:

How would this be done in real life?

Then ask yourself:

Could they do this in/before the Middle Ages?

Please remember that "before the middle ages" potentially represents a MUCH HIGHER level of technological advancement than "in the middle ages", covering, among many other things, everything from Archimedes to the Roman Empire. Furthermore, i don't  doubt that the proposed feat of engineering would have been beyond Archimedes.

[Bohandas]

Just because there is unrealistic stuff in the game right now doesn't mean we should just keep adding unrealistic stuff in to the game willy nilly.

You are aware that Toady also plans to eventually add magic to the game, right?

[Dutchling]

I think it is a good idea, could just be a new building though, maybe one that requires a floodgate and a mechanisms to be build.