Trap design

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Данная статья помечена как не оконченная.
Вы можете прочитать эту статью на английском или помочь проекту её переводом.


Это статья — одна из цикла статей по защите вашей крепости и ваших дварфов. Планировка ловушек — статья в основном о теории и планировании сложных ловушек, механических систем и другой автоматической защиты вашей крепости, а также о необычных способах применения обычных механических ловушки. Общий обзор опасностей, которые могут грозить вашей крепости, а также вещей, которые стоит учесть при стандартной подготовке к обороне, посмотрите статью defense guide. Советы по строительству укреплений собраны в статье security design. Для специальных сведений, а также сведений о том, как подготовить войска к отражению лубой угрозы, смотрите статью military. В статье trapper описано, как ловить мелких животных в ловушки.
  • For suggestions on disposing of nobles and other unwanted residents, see unfortunate accident.
  • For a basic overview of how the different machine parts work and work together, see machine component.
Editors & Contributors - Please see the discussion page before posting.


Введение

Простые одноклеточные ловушки занимают всего один тайл, срабатывают когда жертва по нему проходит и действуют только в его пределах. Комбинируйте их, соединяйте с дверями, люками, флудгейтами и мостами, используйте источники энергии, рычаги и нажимные плиты для активации своих адских машин смерти. Когда активируется триггер, он посылает сигнал к связанному с ним девайсу. Этот сигнал - не всегда простое "сделай это", он дополнен командой "открыть" или "закрыть". Тщательная настройка того что, когда и почему произойдет, может быть вознаграждена впечатляющим результатом.

(* а именно, камнепадная ловушка, ловушка с оружием, и ловушка с клеткой.)
  • Чтобы лучше понять как действуют эти механизмы по отдельности (прежде чем приступать к сбору дьявольских убийственных машин), просмотрите статьи по ссылкам выше.

Базовые ловушки

Это простые ловушки, которые устанавливаются механиком. Они требуют один механизм и не требуют дополнительного использования рычагов или нажимных плит. Они могут быть быстрым, легким и смертельно эффективным способом "первой защиты" для начальной крепости, но они также могут быть использованы в более сложных комбинациях. Как использовать эти базовые ловушки более эффективно, описано в секции Trap Strategies.

Камнепадная ловушка (Stone fall trap)

Это простейшая ловушка которую можно построить, поэтому вы можете легко строить их в большом количестве. Массовая их постройка - это легкий способ набраться опыта вашим механикам, заодно усилив глубину обороны вышей крепости. Окружение перекрестков и лестничных маршей это хороший вариант обойти те опасности, которые происходят внутри крепости, включая ярость гномов.

Ловушка с оружием (Weapon trap)

Золотой стандарт смертельной ловушки. Это единственная простая ловушка, которая работает повторно без перезарядки. Тем не менее, их может заклинить. Если посмотреть ловушку в режиме items in room t, и в ловушке есть чей-то труп, она будет заклинена. Ни одно оружие в заклинившей ловушке не будет функционировать. Будет более благоразумным сделать несколько ловушек с небольшим числом оружия, нежели меньшее число ловушек с десятком единиц оружия.
Использование арбалетов или другого стреляющего оружия в оружейных ловушках позволяет обойти проблему заклинивания, но они должны быть постоянно заряженными боеприпасами. Механики будут заряжать их любыми доступными боеприпасами, если они не запрещены к использованию (forbidden). Они будут заряжать каждую до тех пор, пока каждый тип оружия не будет иметь 10 единиц зарядов. Похоже что молоты меньше подвержены заклиниванию, чем мечи и топоры, а копья - больше. Гномы будут стараться починить заклинившую ловушку, если она не запрещена.

Ловушка с клеткой (Cage trap)

Очень сильный тип ловушек. Может, даже слишком сильный - ныне, даже деревянная или стеклянная клетка способна удержать любое существо независимо, даже тролля или мегабиста. Ловушка с клеткой срабатывает всегда (никогда не промахивается), тем не менее, создания с навыком trapavoid не могут быть пойманы, если сперва их не оглушить или опутать. Используйте ловушки с клетками как крайнюю линию обороны для отлова эпизодических скитающихся животных, взбешенных слонов или единорогов, или даже зомби. Пойманные животные и враги будут помещены на любой ваш склад животных, но могут позже сбежать, если вы не будете аккуратны. Для более подробной информации смотрите: captured creatures.

Связанные ловушки

Такие ловушки нуждаются в триггере (вроде нажимной плиты или рычага). Для постройки потребуется как минимум три механизма, один на триггер и два на связь между ним и ловушкой. Триггер может быть расположен на любом расстоянии от ловушки, обычно нажимные плиты ставят близко, а рычаги - в отдалении.

Для систем которые могут регулярно автоматически включаться, независимо от врагов, смотрите Генератор импульсов.

Шипы из пола

Вертикальные копья доступны в базовом меню ловушек (T), но чтобы выдвинуться из пола и проткнуть жертву, должны быть активированы удаленно. Покрыв такими ловушками большую площадь, можно легко превратить ее в поле смерти.

Защитная система из вертикальных копий наносит урон любому, будь то враг или друг. Чтобы обезопасить своих дварфов вы можете воспользоваться разметкой движения. Обозначьте тайлы шипов как "запрещенные", а затем проложите путь в обход шипов и обозначьте его как "активный" (high traffic). Однако домашние животные, торговцы и дипломаты будут по прежнему получать по полной программе.

Стратегия ловушек

Немного основных хитростей, которые применимы почти ко всем конструкциям ловушек, простых или комплексных.

Наживка

Враги охотятся и убивают любых прирученных домашних животных бродящих по окрестностям, если не могут заняться ничем получше. Привяжите одно животное (которое не жалко) к цепи, или посадите его на пастбище 1х1, в любой случайной точке за пределами крепости. Постройте вокруг несколько колонн, чтобы уменьшить шанс попадания в животное из лука/арбалета, и нашпигуйте всю землю вокруг ловушками.

К сожалению данный способ не годится для избавления крепости от котов, так как дварфы пытаются освободить своего любимца, и становятся жертвами засады врагов.

Наживка из мебели

Уничтожителей зданий может привлечь мебель, к которой они попытаются подойти и уничтожить. Наживка из мебели позволит вам отделить уничтожителей от прочих агрессоров, чтобы загнать их в специальные ловушки. Это может пригодиться, когда в хотите например, посадить в клетку гигантского пещерного паука, но не хотите чтобы в нее попала другая дикая живность. Кроме того так можно будет защититься от специальных атак монстров, которыми они не будут пользоваться для разрушения мебели. Например, забытая тварь, окруженная облаком смертельной пыли, не сможет заразить крепость.

Приманка из мебели будет особенно эффективна, если использовать артефактную мебель. Артефактная мебель не может быть уничтожена, но уничтожитель все равно попытается к ней подойти, и будет безуспешно пытаться ее разломать. Таким образом ловушка становится многоразовой.

Ставим ловушки эффективно

Ловушки крестиком

As the converse of building many traps everywhere, consider instead herding your enemies into a few traps. A cross-hair pattern of walls or impassable channels with an array of traps in the middle gap will increase the usage of each individual trap. This is particularly useful when capturing wildlife. You may also want a few traps near the edges, to catch the creatures that attempt to go around it.

+++++++[#F00]^[#F00]^[#F00]^+++++++ [#FFF]l[#FFF]e[#FFF]g[#FFF]e[#FFF]n[#FFF]d ++++++++▓++++++++ ▓ stone/wall ++++++++▓++++++++ [#F00]^ trap ++++++++▓++++++++ + floor ++++++++▓++++++++ ++++++[#F00]^[#F00]^▓[#F00]^[#F00]^++++++ [#F00]^+++++[#F00]^[#F00]^▓[#F00]^[#F00]^+++++[#F00]^ [#F00]^▓▓▓▓▓▓▓[#F00]^▓▓▓▓▓▓▓[#F00]^ [#F00]^+++++[#F00]^[#F00]^▓[#F00]^[#F00]^+++++[#F00]^ ++++++[#F00]^[#F00]^▓[#F00]^[#F00]^++++++ ++++++++▓++++++++ ++++++++▓++++++++ ++++++++▓++++++++ ++++++++▓++++++++ +++++++[#F00]^[#F00]^[#F00]^+++++++


Ловушки по углам

Если заминированный коридор имеет изгибы, враг скорее всего пойдет по кратчайшему маршруту. В углы (знак 'х') он заглядывает редко.

      ╔═════════ 
  ║   ║xx    ??
  ║   ║x    ??? 
  ║???║   .????     ? = непредсказуемый путь
  ║???║  .╔═════
  ║ ??║ . ║         . = вероятный путь
  ║  .║g  ║         g = враг
  ║x  .  x║
  ║xx   xx║         x = мало вероятный путь
  ╚═══════╝

В прямом тоннеле возможен любой маршрут, поэтому ваши лучшие (или первые) ловушки эффективнее всего будет разместить в изгибах, на наиболее вероятной траектории. Движение нескольких врагов бок о бок более непредсказуемо, но тоже решаемо.

Pass trapping

If there are a lot of hills outside, remove most of the ramps, then trap those last few routes. The only way for creatures to get around will be to go through your traps.

░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲   Before
++++++++++++++++++

░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
+++++++^▲^++++++++   After
+++++++^^^++++++++

Ford trapping

Have a river or any kind of chasm? Construct a floor over it (not a bridge), then build traps over it. Brooks won't work for this, because everything can already walk over the top of a brook. It also won't work as well in winter on a map that freezes.

+++++++++++░^^░+++++++++++
+++++++++++░^^░+++++++++++
+++++++++++░^^░+++++++++++
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~░^^░~~ ~~ ~~ ~~  Nobody ever said that it had to end at the river banks.
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~░^^░~~ ~~ ~~ ~~  Building walls along the side allows you to make it longer
+++++++++++░^^░+++++++++++  and to fill it with more traps.
+++++++++++░^^░+++++++++++
+++++++++++░^^░+++++++++++

Trap Designs

Bridge and drop traps

Drawbridge trap

Lowering drawbridges on invaders will crush them into nothingness. Known as the 'Dwarven Atom Smasher', bridges will destroy most things with some notable exceptions including wagons and elephants, who will not only survive unscathed but also destroy the bridge.

Try replacing the side wall of a part of your main entrance with a drawbridge, big enough so it spans the whole hallway. To prevent enemies with the [BUILDINGDESTROYER] tag from wrecking it, you can dig a channel in front of it for protection while it's raised. Link the drawbridge to a trigger, and whenever you feel like it activate the trap. This can be done with minimal effort and used to smash invaders, unwanted immigrants, bothersome nobles, or simply to destroy your garbage.

Pitfall trap

A long retracting bridge in your entrance tunnel, with the pressure plate right in front of the fortress doors. The expression on the face of the point-goblin who reaches them only to watch his comrades plunge to whatever gruesome fate you have prepared for them will be a mental picture to cherish. Remember when designing this trap that bridges do not open until 100 ticks after they've been triggered.

You may also consider linking these bridges to levers for more control, just in case a goblin thief triggers the pressure plate while a caravan is on the bridge. Or, you might consider linking the bridges to a repeater.

Cave-in trap

Supports can be linked to triggers. Building a section of floor that is deliberately held up only by a trapped support allows for an intentional cave-in.

  • Invaders dropped into a pit can be wounded or killed.
  • Dropping a floor or wall directly onto any creature will instantly kill it, regardless of its size.
  • The cave-in will also knock nearby invaders unconscious. This will stun them, and also make them susceptible to simple traps (even if they possess the TRAPAVOID token).
  • Cave-ins will not reveal invisible invaders, such as ambushers unless it kills them outright, in which case their bodies become visible.

The biggest drawback of this sort of trap is the "reload" process, which can be relatively time consuming. Have a drawbridge that can seal off the work area so your mechanics and masons can reconstruct the setup in peace.

Land mines

In any suitable open area which hasn't been dug out underneath, build a support and an adjacent multi-use pressure plate set to trigger on creatures (but not citizens), link them together, then build floor tiles above the support and pressure plate. When an enemy steps on the pressure plate, the game will pause and recenter the view with the announcement "A section of the cavern has collapsed!", at which point the enemy will be crushed and its companions will be stunned or knocked unconscious by the cloud of dust (though not necessarily revealed, in the case of an ambush).

Chasm trap

The easiest chasm trap is just a retractable bridge, very high up or over a very deep hole; instead of flinging invaders when raised, it just drops them.

A uselessly complicated collapsing spiral trap can take out ten goblins at a time. When finished, it looks like this:

          +++
..........+++
.++++++++#+++
.+╔══════.     # = retractable bridge 
.+║++++++.
.+║+╔══╗+.     + = floor
.+║+║A+║+.
.+║+╚═+║+.     . = open space
.+║+++^║+.
.+╚════╝+.     ^ = pressure plate
.++++++++.
..........     A = bait animal 

The goblins are lured in by a restrained bait animal, and can't shoot it due to the surrounding walls. Just before they reach the bait, they trigger a pressure plate that retracts the bridge and collapses the support holding up the whole spiral. Goblins, bait animal, walls and all plummet into the chasm.

When building, you will need to construct a span of floor underneath to place a support, as bridges do not support constructions (which is also why you want a bridge as the access, so it will not hold up the trap*). You will also need to have a floor tile between your floor and solid ground or wall while constructing, as the bridge alone will not work as a base, but you can remove it once the support is in place.

Water traps

These traps drown, freeze, boil, or wash targets away. Errors in execution can be quite harmful to your fortress fun, so use with caution.

Drown and burn

A flooding room trap combined with an unextinguishable burning lignite bin. The water will evaporate on the bin's tile, causing the water from the surrounding tiles to move to it, which then get evaporated as well. The water will also push the invaders onto the fire, causing them to burn to death... in a flooding chamber.

NOTE: Traps involving large quantities of water turning into steam are as effective at killing your framerate as they are goblins. Use with caution, and have the cut-off lever at the ready.

Drowning hall

Level 0

 ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░     - Wall 
 ->++▼··················▼++->   -> - Direction of traffic
 ->++▼··················▼++->     - Down-Ramps (as visible from one level above = see ramp)
 ->++▼··················▼++->   +  - Floor  
 ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░   · - Open space 

Level -1

   ░░░░░░XX░░░░░░░░XX░░░░░░   X  - Inflow 
   ░░▲++▼··▼++++++▼··▼++▲░░   
   ░░▲++▼··▼++++++▼··▼++▲░░    - Up-Ramps 
   ░░▲++▼··▼++++++▼··▼++▲░░   
   ░░░░░░XX░░░░░░░░XX░░░░░░    - Down-Ramps

Level -2

   ░░░░░░xx░░░░░░░░xx░░░░░░   x - Outflow
   ░░░░░▲++▲░░░░░░▲++▲░░░░░
   ░░░░░▲++▲░░░░░░▲++▲░░░░░
   ░░░░░▲++▲░░░░░░▲++▲░░░░░
   ░░░░░░xx░░░░░░░░xx░░░░░░

If enemies are in the middle of Level -1, open the inflow, then the water will first trap, and then drown them. If the pit is full, close the inflow and open the outflow. You can automate this by using pressure plates, or if you want to have more fun, replace the water with magma (which would require pressure plates and floodgates to be magma-safe).

Drowning tower

This is a trap that can be built in discrete units. Each unit requires a lot of labor and protects only a small area, though in a dramatic manner. A wall of these around the map sharing a single massive water reservoir makes a very effective siege defense, as each tower component can be linked to a lever and used to wipe out a single invading squad at a time. Note: This may count as a stupid dwarf trick.

While a pressure plate in the center of this trap can trigger it and drown hidden ambushers, such an arrangement is subject to double-activation and failure. A pressure plate that only triggers once will break and the system will be incapable of self-reloading. A lever or latch is highly recommended.

Using a cross-hair pattern of walls, invaders are herded through the trap. Inside the fortress, Urist McLeverpuller does his job. Floodgates on the ground close, hatches on the ceiling open, and drowning ensues. When all enemies are dead, the lever is pulled again. The hatches close and the floodgates open, allowing a rush of water and bodies to spill out.

Schematics shown are for a stand-alone tower, though the upper level can be linked with many similar towers for a grid-like defensive system.

Level 0

 ░░X░░X░X░░X░░    - Wall 
 ░+++++░+++++░   + - Floor
 X+++++░+++++X   X - Floodgate
 ░+++++░+++++░   H - Hatch
 ░+++++░+++++░   - - Water reservoir
 X+++++░+++++X
 ░░░░░░+░░░░░░
 X+++++░+++++X
 ░+++++░+++++░
 ░+++++░+++++░
 X+++++░+++++X
 ░+++++░+++++░
 ░░X░░X░X░░X░░

Level 1

 ░░░░░░░░░░░░░
 ░-----------░
 ░-H--H-H--H-░
 ░-----------░
 ░-----------░
 ░-H-------H-░
 ░-----------░
 ░-H-------H-░
 ░-----------░
 ░-----------░
 ░-H--H-H--H-░
 ░-----------░
 ░░░░░░░░░░░░░

Ice trap

Water open to the sky in freezing biomes will freeze instantly, completely destroying anything caught in it. By digging a channel entrance to your fort and selectively allowing it to flood as invaders pass through, you can commit genocide with appalling efficiency. The only disadvantage to this trap is its size: because water freezes so quickly, each entry channel must have a source of non-freezing water right next to it.

Observe in action here, or a wider version here. For more information, see these detailed instructions.

Fully Automatic Ice Trap

The hallway is exposed to the elements, and water there freezes instantly. The rest of the trap is underground. When an enemy steps on the pressure plate, the hallway is flooded with water immediately. Some of the water that doesn't freeze also triggers a second pressure plate. The second pressure plate pumps magma into the room directly beneath the main hallway, which melts the ice. The water is pumped out and retracting bridges then return the water and magma to their original positions. This trap was also inspired by the Degrinchinator.

Observe: http://mkv25.net/dfma/movie-2239-automaticresettingicetrap

For more info, see this thread.

Flusher

Have a water reservoir to one side of the path the intruders should take, and a deep chasm at the other side. When invaders are on the path, just pull a lever to flush them out.

A compact version of this can be set up with a reservoir tower and a path circling it:

Level 0

 ·····························    - Wall 
 ->++++++++++++++++++++++++++·   -> - Direction of traffic
 ->++++++++++++++++++++++++++·    - Down-Ramps (as visible from one level above = see ramp)
 ->++++++++++++++++++++++++++·   + - Floor  
 ░XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX░+++·   · - Open space 
 ░~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X+++·   X - Floodgate OR retracting bridge
 ░~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X+++·   ~ - Water
 ░~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X+++·
 ░~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X+++·
 ░XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX░+++·
 <-++++++++++++++++++++++++++·
 <-++++++++++++++++++++++++++·
 <-++++++++++++++++++++++++++·
 ·····························

Be sure that the reservoir can hold enough water to flush everything out (3 levels should be enough), that it can be automatically or easily refilled quickly, and be advised that flushing your own dwarves can be much fun. Adjust the height of the chasm depending on how much damage you want to cause to intruders or to innocent bystanders (7 levels start to do some serious damage).

Once flushed, the victims will try to find a way out (to re-invade the fortress, or to flee). Make sure there are some maintenance-free traps in their way. If you plan to collect goblinite afterwards, have a way to drain the bottom of the trap dry.

Magma and fire traps

These traps incinerate targets, or possibly encase them in obsidian. Magma does not play favorites - read up (again) on magma, and use with extreme caution. Fire traps are included in this category because magma is often the best method of starting a fire.

Magma chamber

Create an airlock using two bridges, two doors or whatever you like best. Make it a medium sized chamber, perhaps 10x10 or so. Channel out the floors around the rim, and rig up a system to pump magma into the room, or drop it from the roof. Enemies will quickly be destroyed, and with the magma in the channels, you can pump it out for future use or just leave it. The idea here is a re-useable magma trap; you can use this with a pressure plate, too. It also leaves behind any magma-proof items the invaders might have been carrying.

Variation: By placing magma-safe hatches on the ceiling and quickly activating and deactivating the trap, you can limit the use of magma. It doesn't take a lot of magma to set a goblin on fire: only 1/7 deep will do it, and using less magma means it will dry on its own. It does take a while for an enemy to burn to death, but what's better than spending the whole summer watching a room full of smoke and dying goblins?

Incinerator hall

Certain minerals such as lignite and graphite have an ignition point but no melting point, meaning that once they are set on fire they will burn for a very long time (about 9-10 months) unless exposed to water or rain. Any item made out of these materials has this property, which can be used to design horrifying fiery death traps.

Consider a hallway filled with lignite floor grates, which can be built directly on the floor and do not impede the passage of enemies. Pouring magma on any one of these grates will set it alightТребует проверки, and the fire will spread to all connected grates. The end result is a lot of constant smoke and a hallway that kills anything that passes through it. Consider restricting access to your dwarves or building this in a pit with a retractable bridge over top: the mere fact that a location is on fire will not stop them from walking through it. On the plus side, goblins are just as stupid.

Weapon traps

Traditional trap components can be used in sometimes interesting ways.

Casual impalement

One method of creating a zone of constant slaughter is to link a pressure plate in your main dining hall or main hallway to a patch of menacing spikes or spears. As your dwarves/pets mill around conversing/mating, they will constantly trigger the spike system without regard to the consequences.

Variation: Drop goblins into a holding pit with various spike traps linked to your pressure plate artfully placed around the chamber. Watch as every dining hall party begins to be measured in goblin blood.


Dodge Me Trap

Passing over a catwalk of traps, invaders will find themselves dodging into your pit. Since you can seal the pit with bridges, it doesn't complicate access to your fortress while inactive. Beware of dwarves fighting on top of it when active, as they will dodge too. Using weapon traps with a lot of possible hits can make an invader dodge multiple times at once, allowing him to dodge across an open space tile, skipping the pit.

Simple version:

+............+  ^ weapon trap  
+............+  + floor, your fort on one side; the savage wilds on the other
+^^^^^^^^^^^^+  . Pit
+............+
+............+

Compact version:

+#########+     # retractable bridge with pit underneath
+#^^^^^^^^+
+#^#######+     + floor
+#^^^^^^^#+
+#######^#+     ^ traps
+#^^^^^^^#+
══+++═══════

Goblin Grinder

═════ [#FF0]¢[#FF0]^[#F00]^[#00F]^[#00F]¢ ═════


In this trap described here, invaders are constrained to moving back and forth over a weapon trap ^ by two hatches over channels, ¢ and ¢, each linked to the pressure plate, ^ and ^, of the same color. Because the trapped creatures constantly path between the two hatches, a single trap may hit them many, many times.

The ends of the corridor are left open, allowing invaders to rush down the corridor, thinking it is an easy entrance into your fort. When they step on the pressure plate at the end, the hatch raises, exposing the uncrossable channel and blocking the exit. The invader's pathfinding decides to run back the other way, as that is now the only exit. As he reaches the other end, that hatch opens, causing him to run back and forth inside the corridor, unable to escape. As he runs back and forth, the traps grind himself into a fine mist with no effort on your part. Creatures will occasionally fall into the pit dug underneath the hatches, but these are easily dealt with such as building a room underneath the channels filled with more traps.

By setting the pressure plates to be untriggerable by citizens, it's easy for them to walk through and collect the remaining goblinite unharmed once the siege ends.

Its two main disadvantages are being susceptible to both trap-avoiding creatures and building destroyers. These can be safeguarded by any of the other many usual ways of defending against this type of creature. It's also possible for a creature to be "stuck" in only the first few tiles of the trap, as they try to escape after taking enough damage, only walking two or three steps into the trap, then immediately turning around and trying to exit, and so only walking past already-triggered traps. Again, you can get rid of these with your military with no problem.

Some usage ideas from the thread:

  • Without traps and placing only one pressure plate/hatch combination at the end leading into your fort, it makes a very simple dwarf-only one-way door into your fort. Non dwarves that attempt to enter will be blocked and turn around and take the exit. Alternately a good way of keeping creatures inside an area while allowing dwarf passage.
  • With some additional work (details in the thread), it can be built as a repeater system, with a pressure plate inside hooked up to some other device that you want to repeatedly trigger. A pet running back and forth inside attempting to reach its owner or releasing a trapped prisoner and tempting them with freedom in exchange for running back and forth will repeatedly hit the pressure plate inside.
  • Similarly, place a pressure plate inside that will link to some other action such as spike traps outside the entrance, impaling invaders waiting for their turn to enter the grinder as their friends run down the corridor.
  • Don't fill with traps; instead, carve fortifications into the walls and use the trapped invaders as target practice and training for your archers.
  • Don't fill with traps; instead fill with magma at your convenience.
  • Fill with very weak weapon traps that will only maim the prisoner. Put an atom smasher near the other end that will be triggered as he tries to crawl towards freedom.

Building destroyer and trapavoid traps

Door number one

If you're having trouble dealing with building destroyers that don't set off traps, consider the following design, as seen from the side:

════╝╬╬ [#F00]~X[#F0F]^ ▲╔═ ══════╝


Put the magma ~ behind a floodgate X. In front of the floodgate, place a pressure plate ^ set to go off on magma of 0 to 0. Link the pressure plate to a retracting bridge that covers the exit ramp to the area. Although you can't get the creature to set off traps, when it breaks the door, magma will spill over the pressure plate, locking the creature in the hallway that is rapidly filling with magma. You could combine this with a simple levered hatch for drainage, but there's only one way to be certain: obsidianify it from orbit.

Note that the trap as pictured is too short-- in order to catch a creature, your bridge has to close before the creature can escape from the tunnel.

Artifact awe trap

═════ +¢╬ ╬ ═════


This simple containment trap is designed to trap any number of building destroyers, even trapavoid building destroyers, on a single tile, after which you can do whatever you'd like with them-- bolt 'em, ice 'em, drop 'em, spike 'em, it's all good. Building destroyers are drawn by a piece of artifact-quality furniture, in this case, a hatch cover ¢. A door + prevents them from seeing further into your fort and being distracted from the enchanting beauty of your furniture. When you've captured as many creatures as you'd like on that tile, simple raise both bridges -- first, the far one, then, the one near the artifact-- and you may even remove the artifact, to create a new trap elsewhere.

Other traps

Anything that can be weaponized can be turned into a trap. And anything can be weaponized.

Bioweapon trap

Some of the underground's nastier creatures are capable of breathing syndrome-bearing deadly dust. While such dust can easily spread and lead to the downfall of a fort, more masochistic players may seek ways to weaponize it. Syndrome-bearing blood may be used similarly, but placement of the trap is a great deal more difficult.

At its simplest, a bioweapon trap is a single tile of syndrome-bearing extract. It can be placed by moving an item covered in dust to the desired location via stockpiling or dumping, and then pouring a bucket of water over the item, transferring the dust from the item to the tile it sits on. A simple way to get your dwarves to pour a bucket of water over the item is via designation of a pond zone. Alternatively, one can take advantage of the natural tendency of dwarven bathtubs and simply drag contaminated items through a trench full of shallow water to create a contamination trench.

Any affected creature is likely to carry the contamination with it past the location of the bioweapon. This can be useful, if you've discovered a particularly interesting extract that you no longer have a way to generate, but it can also be dangerous to the well-being of your fortress. A pile of extract sitting in 2/7 water will not block pathing, and will simultaneously infect and wash creatures passing through it. Placement of extract in a damp trench can be difficult, as the water will tend to carry the extract on to the walls, but with persistence, it can be done. Extract/water combos like this are best placed underground to prevent freezing or evaporation. You may have difficulty preventing your dwarves from cleaning tiles affected by the extract.

The deadliness of a bioweapon depends entirely on the extract used to create it, and can range from debilitating nausea (perfect to incapacitate invaders while your military mops them up, yet unlikely to lead to serious damage to your own fort), to death by bleeding within 600 ticks (a half day). Given the proper extract, you could even create a beneficial bioweapon trap that prevents those affected from suffering pain. Footwear appears to protect, leaving any bioweapon trap much more deadly to your own dwarves than to any invader.

Bioweapon traps have the potential to be very powerful but should be considered extremely risky, as extracts are capable of multiplication and don't distinguish between friend or foe. A single bioweapon trap could easily kill all of your dwarves in a season. Bioweapons never require cleaning or resetting, but won't work on many foes.

Alternative biotraps are possible. Using a 'deadly dust' creature rather than its extract is possible, but impractical, as creatures will not use dust attacks without a path to a target, and the creature will be vulnerable, at the very least, to ranged attacks. Should you discover a creature with noxious secretions that boil at a low temperature, such a creature can be used even while caged: its secretions will affect anything nearby, but the creature that bears the syndrome remains invulnerable to attack. Good luck getting the cage where you want it!