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Editing Exploratory mining
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− | {{ | + | {{Migrated_article}} |
+ | :''This article is about exploring rock layers while digging through them; if you're looking for tips for exploring already discovered [[caverns]], check [[Caverns#Methods of Exploration]]'' | ||
− | + | Once you've had enough [[Losing|fun]] to have a basic fortress working, it becomes necessary to dig down in search of ores, gems, water, etc. Exploratory mining attempts to dig out as little as possible in order to see as much as is possible, using clever digging patterns. | |
− | + | {{av}}{{Quality|Exceptional}} | |
− | |||
− | {{Quality| | ||
== Goals == | == Goals == | ||
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Potential dangers include: | Potential dangers include: | ||
*Hostile creatures which inhabit underground areas | *Hostile creatures which inhabit underground areas | ||
− | *Large pools of | + | *Large pools of liquids ([[Water]], [[Magma]]) |
*[[Hidden Fun Stuff|Fun]] | *[[Hidden Fun Stuff|Fun]] | ||
*[[FPS]] death from pathing and item count | *[[FPS]] death from pathing and item count | ||
+ | |||
==Strategies== | ==Strategies== | ||
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Patterns are represented by a unit tile. This unit tile is repeated throughout the area intended for excavation to create the desired pattern. Each pattern is analyzed with the above factors in mind. Note that single-floor patterns can be enhanced to explore one additional z-level by replacing mining designations with either channel or ramp designations; doing so effectively doubles their efficiency. Designating "down stairs" instead will reveal one additional tile directly below each tile mined. | Patterns are represented by a unit tile. This unit tile is repeated throughout the area intended for excavation to create the desired pattern. Each pattern is analyzed with the above factors in mind. Note that single-floor patterns can be enhanced to explore one additional z-level by replacing mining designations with either channel or ramp designations; doing so effectively doubles their efficiency. Designating "down stairs" instead will reveal one additional tile directly below each tile mined. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Key: | ||
+ | . = Mined (floor) | ||
+ | x = Mined (shaft) | ||
+ | ░ = Visible, not mined (wall) | ||
+ | ▓ = Not mined, not visible | ||
=== Hollow === | === Hollow === | ||
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=== Rows === | === Rows === | ||
− | + | <div style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre; line-height: 16px; float: left; margin-right: 25px; border:1px solid #000;"><nowiki>░░░░░░ | |
− | + | ...... | |
− | + | ░░░░░░ | |
− | + | ░░░░░░ | |
− | + | ...... | |
+ | ░░░░░░</nowiki></div> | ||
* ''Labor'': 1 per every 3 tiles (~33%) of the tiles are excavated. | * ''Labor'': 1 per every 3 tiles (~33%) of the tiles are excavated. | ||
* ''Target'': Any size. Clusters as small as a single tile are revealed. | * ''Target'': Any size. Clusters as small as a single tile are revealed. | ||
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Larger "tunnel" patterns are suggested to be dug in multiples of "3" to allow for later complete revealing with minimum effort.<br style="clear:both;"> | Larger "tunnel" patterns are suggested to be dug in multiples of "3" to allow for later complete revealing with minimum effort.<br style="clear:both;"> | ||
− | |||
=== Ladder Rows === | === Ladder Rows === | ||
− | <div style="float: left; | + | <div style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre; line-height: 16px; float: left; margin-right: 25px; border:1px solid #000;"><nowiki>░░░░░░░░░░░░ |
− | + | ░░░░.░░░░░.░ | |
− | </div> | + | .░..░..░..░. |
+ | ░.░░░░░.░░░░ | ||
+ | ░░░░░░░░░░░░ | ||
+ | ░░░░.░░░░░.░ | ||
+ | .░..░..░..░. | ||
+ | ░.░░░░░.░░░░ | ||
+ | </nowiki></div> | ||
* ''Labor'': 25% of the tiles are excavated (1 in 4). | * ''Labor'': 25% of the tiles are excavated (1 in 4). | ||
* ''Target'': Any size. Clusters as small as a single tile are revealed. | * ''Target'': Any size. Clusters as small as a single tile are revealed. | ||
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* ''Bottom line'': A little more tedious to designate, but the increased re-usability and efficiency make this an attractive alternative. | * ''Bottom line'': A little more tedious to designate, but the increased re-usability and efficiency make this an attractive alternative. | ||
* ''Note'': The [[Utility:DFHack|dfhack]] command 'digexp ladder' will automatically apply this pattern.<br style="clear:both;"> | * ''Note'': The [[Utility:DFHack|dfhack]] command 'digexp ladder' will automatically apply this pattern.<br style="clear:both;"> | ||
+ | |||
=== Diagonal every 5 === | === Diagonal every 5 === | ||
− | <div style="float: left; | + | <div style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre; line-height: 16px; float: left; margin-right: 25px; border:1px solid #000;"><nowiki>░░.░░░░.░░ |
− | + | ░.░░░░.░░░ | |
− | </div> | + | .░░░░.░░░░ |
+ | ░░░░.░░░░. | ||
+ | ░░░.░░░░.░</nowiki></div> | ||
* ''Labor'': 20% of the tiles are excavated (1 per 5). | * ''Labor'': 20% of the tiles are excavated (1 per 5). | ||
* ''Target'': Any size. Clusters as small as a single tile are revealed. | * ''Target'': Any size. Clusters as small as a single tile are revealed. | ||
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A variation would put diagonals every 10 or 20, laying the groundwork to fill them in later for higher visibility if desired. | A variation would put diagonals every 10 or 20, laying the groundwork to fill them in later for higher visibility if desired. | ||
− | + | ||
=== Mine shafts, grid of every 3 tiles === | === Mine shafts, grid of every 3 tiles === | ||
− | <div style="float: left; | + | <div style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre; line-height: 16px; float: left; margin-right: 25px; border:1px solid #000;"><nowiki>░░░░░░░░░ |
− | + | ░X░░X░░X░ | |
− | </div> | + | ░░░░░░░░░ |
+ | ░░░░░░░░░ | ||
+ | ░X░░X░░X░ | ||
+ | ░░░░░░░░░</nowiki></div> | ||
* ''Labor'': 11.1% of the tiles are excavated (1/9). | * ''Labor'': 11.1% of the tiles are excavated (1/9). | ||
* ''Target'': Any size. Clusters as small as a single tile are revealed. | * ''Target'': Any size. Clusters as small as a single tile are revealed. | ||
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* ''Bottom line'': You'll need to clear part of one layer to get the shafts started up or down (use one of the other methods to cover the area), but for one shaft at a time this method is, tile for tile, the most efficient for those with 100% visibility, and has a great reuse value. In practice, however, if you have more than one shaft being dug at one time, up/down-mining can cause miners to jump around between shafts, wasting time. | * ''Bottom line'': You'll need to clear part of one layer to get the shafts started up or down (use one of the other methods to cover the area), but for one shaft at a time this method is, tile for tile, the most efficient for those with 100% visibility, and has a great reuse value. In practice, however, if you have more than one shaft being dug at one time, up/down-mining can cause miners to jump around between shafts, wasting time. | ||
− | :It takes a lot of | + | :It takes a lot of keypressing to designate, although you can save some effort by designating every third row across the entire width and height of the area to be excavated and then removing the designations ({{k|d}}-{{k|x}}) on all but every third column. |
+ | ''For a discussion on optimizing dig times with mineshafts, see [[v0.31:Mineshaft stitching|mineshaft stitching]].''<br style="clear:both;"> | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | === Improved Mine Shafts === | ||
+ | <div style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre; line-height: 16px; float: left; margin-right: 25px; border:1px solid #000;"><nowiki>░░░░░░░░░ | ||
+ | ░X░░X░░X░ | ||
+ | ░░░░░░░░░ | ||
+ | ░░░░░░░░░ | ||
+ | ░X░░X░░X░ | ||
+ | ░░░░░░░░░</nowiki></div> | ||
+ | * ''Labor'': 11.1% of the tiles are excavated (1/9). | ||
+ | * ''Target'': Any size. Clusters as small as a single tile are revealed. | ||
+ | * ''Visibility'': '''100%'''. | ||
+ | * ''Reusability'': It's easy to make into square rooms of various sizes, the stairways can be removed and used as doorways, or just carved out as part of the rooms. | ||
+ | * ''Bottom line'': Make a mine grid, designating 2X1 segments 'd', with down stairs at each corner 'j'. Afterwards, dig shafts as deep as you like under the down stair cases. | ||
− | + | :Like Mine Shafts, this takes a lot of time to designate, but is much faster for dwarfs to transverse. Additionally, a Linux script for digging the entire mine can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qWyeq27C4DJwjOclEhPATgUlhtNEXrxnGcuNHx-M_ZU/edit?usp=sharing. | |
=== Diagonal ramps === | === Diagonal ramps === | ||
− | The pattern as shown is 1 up-ramp every 7 tiles vertically, or 1/14 horizontally, though this could be turned 90 degrees. The downramps are shown | + | The pattern as shown is 1 up-ramp every 7 tiles vertically, or 1/14 horizontally, though this could be turned 90 degrees. The downramps are shown, but are only designated as up ramps on the level below. This pattern can also use channel designations in place of ramps to mine in a downward direction. (Be ''sure'' you know how [[ramp]]s work before trying this one!) |
− | <div style="float: left; | + | <div style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre; line-height: 16px; float: left; margin-right: 25px; border:1px solid #000;"><nowiki>░░▼░░░░░░░░░░▲░░▼░░░░░░░░░░▲ |
− | + | ░░░░░░░░░▲░░▼░░░░░░░░░░▲░░▼░ | |
− | </div> | + | ░░░░░▲░░▼░░░░░░░░░░▲░░▼░░░░░ |
+ | ░▲░░▼░░░░░░░░░░▲░░▼░░░░░░░░░ | ||
+ | ▼░░░░░░░░░░▲░░▼░░░░░░░░░░▲░░ | ||
+ | ░░░░░░░▲░░▼░░░░░░░░░░▲░░▼░░░ | ||
+ | ░░░▲░░▼░░░░░░░░░░▲░░▼░░░░░░░ | ||
+ | ░░▼░░░░░░░░░░▲░░▼░░░░░░░░░░▲</nowiki></div> | ||
* ''Labor'': 7.1% of the tiles are designated to dig (1/14), but 14.3% are excavated (1/7). | * ''Labor'': 7.1% of the tiles are designated to dig (1/14), but 14.3% are excavated (1/7). | ||
* ''Target'': Any size. Clusters as small as a single tile are revealed. | * ''Target'': Any size. Clusters as small as a single tile are revealed. | ||
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* ''Reusability'': Moderate. 3x3 spaces cannot be created until at least one up-ramp is removed or a down-ramp floored over. [[Ramp]]s are less convenient than stairs for many purposes (for example, digging out the wrong tiles around a ramp can make it unusable). | * ''Reusability'': Moderate. 3x3 spaces cannot be created until at least one up-ramp is removed or a down-ramp floored over. [[Ramp]]s are less convenient than stairs for many purposes (for example, digging out the wrong tiles around a ramp can make it unusable). | ||
* ''Bottom line'': Combines the advantages of diagonal and vertical digging, along with the benefit of ramps and channels excavating two tiles at the same time. The most efficient method of all, but difficult to designate and somewhat inconvenient (especially around the edges of the map). Awkward to stitch together.<br style="clear:both;"> | * ''Bottom line'': Combines the advantages of diagonal and vertical digging, along with the benefit of ramps and channels excavating two tiles at the same time. The most efficient method of all, but difficult to designate and somewhat inconvenient (especially around the edges of the map). Awkward to stitch together.<br style="clear:both;"> | ||
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=== 7×7 blocks === | === 7×7 blocks === | ||
− | <div style="float: left; | + | <div style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre; line-height: 16px; float: left; margin-right: 25px; border:1px solid #000;"><nowiki>▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓ |
− | + | ░░░░.░░░░░░░.░░░ | |
− | </div> | + | ................ |
+ | ░░░░.░░░░░░░.░░░ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓ | ||
+ | ░░░░.░░░░░░░.░░░ | ||
+ | ................ | ||
+ | ░░░░.░░░░░░░.░░░ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓</nowiki></div> | ||
* ''Labor'': 15/64 (~23%) of the tiles are excavated. | * ''Labor'': 15/64 (~23%) of the tiles are excavated. | ||
* ''Target'': Veins and up, as the large 5X5 space left in each unit tile can easily conceal a small cluster. Small clusters will be found perhaps half the time. | * ''Target'': Veins and up, as the large 5X5 space left in each unit tile can easily conceal a small cluster. Small clusters will be found perhaps half the time. | ||
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If you think you may wish to later use the "rows" method (above) for 100% visibility, this could be based on a spacing of 6, 9, or 12. Wider spacing starts to risk missing even veins.<br style="clear:both;"> | If you think you may wish to later use the "rows" method (above) for 100% visibility, this could be based on a spacing of 6, 9, or 12. Wider spacing starts to risk missing even veins.<br style="clear:both;"> | ||
+ | |||
=== 15×15 blocks === | === 15×15 blocks === | ||
− | <div style="float: left; | + | <div style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre; line-height: 16px; float: left; margin-right: 25px; border:1px solid #000;"><nowiki>▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ |
− | + | ▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ | |
− | </div> | + | ▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ |
+ | ▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ | ||
+ | ░░░░░.░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░.░░░░░░░░░░ | ||
+ | ................................ | ||
+ | ░░░░░.░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░.░░░░░░░░░░ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░.░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓</nowiki></div> | ||
* ''Labor'': 31/256 (~12%) of the tiles are excavated. | * ''Labor'': 31/256 (~12%) of the tiles are excavated. | ||
* ''Target'': Large clusters are guaranteed, and unless you have particularly bad luck you should also find all veins, but there is no guarantee. Veins would only rarely be hidden in the large 13×13 space left. The large 13×13 space left in each unit tile can easily conceal quite a lot. | * ''Target'': Large clusters are guaranteed, and unless you have particularly bad luck you should also find all veins, but there is no guarantee. Veins would only rarely be hidden in the large 13×13 space left. The large 13×13 space left in each unit tile can easily conceal quite a lot. | ||
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* ''Reusability'': High. A 15×15 block of solid rock is extremely versatile when it comes to interior design. It's easily converted into a 7×7 block design, which may be further converted into a 3×3 block design. | * ''Reusability'': High. A 15×15 block of solid rock is extremely versatile when it comes to interior design. It's easily converted into a 7×7 block design, which may be further converted into a 3×3 block design. | ||
* ''Bottom line'': This method is preferable when you are low on labor. It can easily accommodate parts of your fort, or serve as the precursor for a more thorough search. A 12×12 or 18×18 version are also valid options, with obvious (dis)advantages.<br style="clear:both;"> | * ''Bottom line'': This method is preferable when you are low on labor. It can easily accommodate parts of your fort, or serve as the precursor for a more thorough search. A 12×12 or 18×18 version are also valid options, with obvious (dis)advantages.<br style="clear:both;"> | ||
+ | |||
=== Mine Shafts on a 6-, 9-, 12-, or 15-grid === | === Mine Shafts on a 6-, 9-, 12-, or 15-grid === | ||
− | < | + | <div style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre; line-height: 16px; float: left; margin-right: 25px; border:1px solid #000;"><nowiki>▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ |
− | + | ▓▓▓▓▓░░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░░░▓▓▓▓ | |
− | + | ▓▓▓▓▓░X░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░X░▓▓▓▓ | |
− | + | ▓▓▓▓▓░░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░░░▓▓▓▓ | |
− | + | ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ | |
− | </ | + | ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ |
+ | ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓▓▓░░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░░░▓▓▓▓ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓▓▓░X░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░X░▓▓▓▓ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓▓▓░░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░░░▓▓▓▓ | ||
+ | ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓</nowiki></div> | ||
* ''Labor'': from under 3% (1/36) for the 6-grid to less than 0.5% for the 15-grid (1/225). | * ''Labor'': from under 3% (1/36) for the 6-grid to less than 0.5% for the 15-grid (1/225). | ||
* ''Target'': Large clusters and up (as above) and underground features. | * ''Target'': Large clusters and up (as above) and underground features. | ||
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With any grid pattern, a (much) wider version could be used to start and to locate specific stone layers/areas, and then filled in later in a tighter pattern where you want if you're not lucky the first pass. If you plan to use the 3-grid pattern (for a 100% tile reveal) later, create your grid with intervals that are a multiple of "3". If you are only looking for veins, features or just don't care, then do as you will and play it by ear later.<br style="clear:both;"> | With any grid pattern, a (much) wider version could be used to start and to locate specific stone layers/areas, and then filled in later in a tighter pattern where you want if you're not lucky the first pass. If you plan to use the 3-grid pattern (for a 100% tile reveal) later, create your grid with intervals that are a multiple of "3". If you are only looking for veins, features or just don't care, then do as you will and play it by ear later.<br style="clear:both;"> | ||
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== Mountain Top Removal Excavation == | == Mountain Top Removal Excavation == | ||
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Note that, by exposing the mined tiles to sunlight, they no longer count towards the cap for [[strange mood]]s. | Note that, by exposing the mined tiles to sunlight, they no longer count towards the cap for [[strange mood]]s. | ||
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{{Category|Guides}} | {{Category|Guides}} | ||
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