If a bridge is set to retract when the lever is pulled, the bridge essentially disappears dropping anything (friend, foe, or object) on the bridge onto whatever is underneath. This requires a mechanic's workshop and a dwarf with the mechanics labor activated. While the material-gathering time is the same for rocks vs blocks, the actual construction is three times faster for blocks.Īll bridges in DF can be raised or retracted by linking it to a lever. You can shorten construction time by moving the materials to the site before starting construction, and by using blocks instead of rocks. Some magma-safe materials including iron have proven non-resistant (Needs further testing).īig bridges can take weeks or even months to complete. Material does not appear to influence dragonfire which will destroy bridges. You will need the number of tiles divided by four plus one ( Tiles/4+1 ) of material to build the bridge. Materials are placed on the list in order of distance, so simply make sure the primary material is the closest or at least closer than any secondary materials you wish to use. This will define the color of the bridge (and possibly how fire resistant it is, although this hasn't been tested extensively). When choosing materials, the order that they are presented on the list determines how the bridge will be labeled, NOT WHAT ORDER YOU PICK THE MATERIALS! The highest one up on the list is the core construction material. Before placing the bridge ensure that the bridge raises in the direction you want it to using w a d x or retracts using s. The bridge must be anchored to a solid surface on at least one edge. The size of the bridge can be altered with u m k h while placing it, up to a maximum size of 10 squares in each direction. They are first designed by an architect, then require a specialist worker for the material used (e.g. 5 More useful uses for a retractable bridgeīridges can be built ( b -> g) of metal, stone or wood.

Dwarf fortress bridge length