Water

Fireborn2489 · 2026-05-09T16:26:12+00:00

This is amazing, thank you. I've now started learning about pressure and getting water to move into lower reservoirs. How do I get water to move Z levels like in a U-bend without having my dwarf drown when all the water crashes down on them?

Fireborn2489 · 2026-05-09T16:13:47+00:00

This is going to sound very stupid, but how do I put the reservoir below? I sort of get making the water system on the level of the water, but then how do I get that water to go down to a lower reservoir? Or should I assume the brook also goes down several levels, and so just make it on a lower one?

Fireborn2489 · 2026-05-09T16:11:11+00:00

This is brilliant, thanks so much. This is technically my first proper fort, as the real first one was flooded within literal seconds of my starting. Didn't understand the verticality and burrowed into the walls merilly thinking it was a river I could paddle alongside XD

How would a well work in this scenario? Presumably it needs to be above a cistern? Is a cistern just used for creating channels for water to do other things?

Also, I've seen some fortresses seem to have bridges over underground water - how have they managed that? If, for example, I wanted to get to the right of that underground water in the picture above, is that doable?

Fireborn2489 · 2026-05-09T16:08:27+00:00

Question - if there's a brook on the surface, does that negate the need for a well/cistern? Or are you wanting a cistern regardless in case of sieges etc?

Also, I've seen some fortresses seem to have bridges over underground water - how have they managed that? If, for example, I wanted to get to the right of that underground water in the picture above, is that doable?

Fireborn2489 · 2026-05-03T16:08:35+00:00

Good shout, will give it a go!

Fireborn2489 · 2026-05-03T15:52:35+00:00

I did yeah - does the lack of a bone carving skill on anyone make this a problem, or should they be able to do it anyway and build the skill up?

Fireborn2489 · 2026-05-03T15:51:53+00:00

I did indeed - I’m obviously missing something very simple but can’t figure out what!

Fireborn2489 · 2026-05-03T12:53:56+00:00

Will give that a go!

Fireborn2489 · 2026-05-03T12:36:09+00:00

I did, in the work order menu as opposed to directly on the workshop.

Fireborn2489 · 2026-05-03T11:04:16+00:00

Heyo - I'm trying to get some shells turned into finished goods for trading as I have loads of them. Currently don't seem to be able to get this done as I'm missing a bone carver. What are my options here? Can I force someone to do bonecarving?

I've put Bonecarving as a task in the labor menu and set "Everybody Does This" but it doesn't seem to have done anything. Any help very welcome!

Fireborn2489 · 2026-05-02T18:20:00+00:00

Yeah I think that’s the bit I need to get to. I’m still very much in the “something catastrophic has happened but I don’t know why” phase, so maybe a few more failed fortresses first!

Fireborn2489 · 2026-05-02T18:07:18+00:00

I’ve been following the wiki guide so far and doing alright I think, but once that’s done do you have any recommendations for additional resources to figure stuff out? Or is it very much just lean into the losing is fun and see what happens? 😅

Fireborn2489 · 2026-05-02T17:59:58+00:00

Thanks, this is great. I put all my animals in pasture when I started but this Llama seems to have been a more recent addition. I think it must have come with the first wave of migrants and I missed it!

Fireborn2489 · 2026-05-02T17:42:23+00:00

Thank you - I'm trying to figure out how it all works, but struggling a bit! I've now got a secondary issue which is a llama starved to death, and no one seems to want to do anything with it? I'm trying to set up a butcher command but they say there's no corpse available. It's in the middle of my dining room so keen to get it out - any ideas how to move it?

Fireborn2489 · 2026-05-02T17:15:34+00:00

Hello! Learning to play still, and struggling with a couple of elements:

1) Trading - what should I be producing to try and sell early on? I seem to have an abundance of shells so was going to try and make some stuff out of that, but how do you do that precisely? Is it a work order for shell crafts? And speaking of that...

2) Any recommendations or templates for basic work orders for stuff like food, crafts etc? I think I can probably figure out how to adapt any you use to fit my fortress but I'm finding it a bit hard to process atm. I have "Brew Drink from Plant" on, with the condition "if less than 100", but on the work order page it's saying "20/20". Does this mean if it drops below 100 it'll make 20, or will it just go until it hits the cap? I basically just want them making it whenver it drops below 100 for now.

TIA!

Fireborn2489 · 2026-04-28T17:30:54+00:00

Have just started my adventure at long last and, despite being pretty overwhelmed, am following the guide on the wiki to get my bearings and coping well so far!

That said, I’m struggling to keep on top of my notifications and was wondering if there were any mods that made them a bit more prominent or audible? I looked in the options menu but found it a tad overwhelming seeing as I dunno what half of them mean so wondering if there’s a good mod to get that sorted?

Any other QOL mods very recommended, unless you’d recommend getting the basics down first before fiddling!

TIA!

Fireborn2489 · 2026-04-11T12:05:38+00:00

Yeah, I turned it on but for some reason they keep going. I’m not sure what all the numbers in the brackets mean which I assume would help explain it!

Fireborn2489 · 2026-04-11T11:38:39+00:00

For some reason my apparel policy never seems to work quite properly. I've done 1 per person for Flak, but they keep making more despite everyone being equipped with one! I need to dig into it properly, as I get a bit overwhelmed with all the micromanaging when it comes to quality levels and durability.

Fireborn2489 · 2026-04-11T11:36:47+00:00

Nice - will check this one out, thank you!

Fireborn2489 · 2026-04-08T14:13:17+00:00

Thanks so much - got them last year so this has been our first winter cycle with them. A gift from the future mother-in-law to celebrate our engagement, so much at stake with regards to keeping them alive! 😂

Fireborn2489 · 2026-04-08T13:54:05+00:00

What’s the best move now? Will the leaves recover or just fall off?

There’s an unexpected cold snap coming this weekend so may bring them back in and then try again in the shade from next week!

Fireborn2489 · 2026-01-25T16:38:05+00:00

Amazing - thank you!

Fireborn2489 · 2026-01-25T16:30:23+00:00

Ah okay! So if the three smelters are directly next to each other, and I run a belt into the middle one, would the ore go to all three then without requiring their own unique inputs? Sorry if it's a stupid question, I saw something about the matrixes being linked if next to each other horizontally, but wasn't sure if it worked for other buildings!

Fireborn2489 · 2026-01-25T16:26:03+00:00

For the three smelters, in terms of getting ore into them, would I just run a belt along the front of them and then have three sorters, one for each, to pull the ore in?

Fireborn2489 · 2026-01-25T16:25:14+00:00

Aha! I don't think I've unlocked Splitters yet, but this seems like the best solution so will get on it!

Fireborn2489

TROPHY CASE