Editing v0.34:Mechanism

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{{Quality|Exceptional}}
'''Mechanisms''' can be created by a [[Mechanic]] at a [[Mechanic's workshop]] out of a stone, or at a [[Metalsmith's forge]] from 1 [[bar]] of weapons-grade metal ([[silver]], [[copper]], [[bronze]], [[bismuth bronze]], [[iron]], [[steel]], or 3 [[adamantine]] wafers). In the Metalsmith's forge menu, they are found under [[trap component]]s. Unlike when making other trap components, making metal mechanisms at a forge requires the [[Mechanic]]s [[labor]]. Stone mechanisms are made from any type of stone (even supposedly soft minerals as [[gypsum]] or [[talc]]).

Building [[trap]]s, [[lever]]s, [[pressure plate]]s, and [[gear assembly|gear assemblies]] requires one mechanism. Linking objects to a lever or pressure plate requires two mechanisms per linked item - one for the linked object, and one for the trigger (the lever or pressure plate). The only way to recover either of these mechanisms is to deconstruct the object linked via that mechanism.

When designating linkages, the first mechanism chosen will be attached to the building, while the second will be attached to the trigger (pressure plate or lever).  This can be important when trying to minimize the use of [[magma-safe]] materials in a structure that will be exposed to high [[temperature]].

[[Mechanic]]s will install mechanisms. Mechanisms can be linked to objects at any distance and do not require a connection between them.

Mechanism [[quality]] determines the skill with which the weapon is "swung" or "fired" by the weapon trap, and affects all the rolls. [http://www.bay12games.com/forum/index.php?topic=14461.msg131214#msg131214] It does not affect how quickly a trap refires.

Mechanisms for use in magma '''must be''' [[magma safe]], otherwise they will be destroyed (whether by melting or by burning) and the object to which they are linked will deconstruct.

Mechanisms make surprisingly good [[trade]] items due to their high [[item value|base value]] of 30. In comparison to other [[craft]]s they are heavy, making them less than ideal when trading with races that do not bring [[wagon]]s. Levers and gear assemblies make good room decorations, as they have a greater base value than that of [[statue]]s and [[window]]s.

Mechanisms count as furniture. Because of this, the [[Jeweler's workshop]] job ''encrust furniture with [gem]'' may encrust mechanisms with gems instead of more useful furniture.

<s>Artifact mechanisms will never jam when used in a weapon trap.</s> Weapon traps will never jam if they kill the creature without having "struck down" the creature. This is noticeable in undead that "collapse" after taking enough damage, but fleshy undead with important organs like the heart and brains intact make still occasionally die from being "struck down". Mechanism quality doesn't affect jamming rates.

{{D for Dwarf}}

It is unclear exactly how two (or more) mechanisms talk to each other at a distance without building direct mechanical or electronic channels between them (such as a wire), and given that the Dwarves have not discovered radio technology, it is believed by some that the Dwarves have actually discovered how to implement and control [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_entanglement quantum entanglement] on a non-quantum scale.


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"I've always wondered," Lór said, "How do those mechanisms work?"

"Well, I put one here on the lever, and the other on the bridge," explained Urist.  "When someone pulls the lever, the bridge goes up."

"Yes, but how?  How does the one at the bridge know the lever's been pulled?"

"It's quantum.  Quantum tanglement.  See how this one's all tangled with the lever?  Well, the other's tangled with the bridge."

"What does that have to do with quantum?"

"There's one of them, see?  That's what quantum means, is one."

"But there's two."

"Yah, two ones.  And they're tangled."

Lór thought for a moment.

"I'm not sure that's how it works."

"Well, don't check.  It might stop."
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