Building stairs down

[Ziyor]

So I think building storage underground is the secret to preserving food. But when I try to build stairs downwards I can't because there is clay sitting at the bottom of the area I dug out and it's in the way and can't be reached. Any advice?

[Kaelroth]

You have to be a bit patient when excavating a stairwell downwards. Make sure your settlers clear away the piles of clay/limestone frequently from around the dig area. If piles get too full around the dig location, then the materials could end up spawning in the hole you're digging rather than above where your settlers can reach it.

[argent]

If you do end up with some in the potential stairwell, you can still build a wooden stair (only).

[ShadowMage]

I have noticed that I can place blueprints for items (including walls and stairs) when rubble, clay, stone, etc is in the way (though my people won't prioritize building it until the items are moved). However, today I got the "Clay is in the way" message and it took me a while to realize it meant one of the blocks *above* my planned stairs. It's similar to how you can't place flooring right over a staircase.
I did think at first the message meant the debris that hadn't yet been hauled away. It's a bit confusing.

[Ziyor]

Originally posted by ShadowMage:

I have noticed that I can place blueprints for items (including walls and stairs) when rubble, clay, stone, etc is in the way (though my people won't prioritize building it until the items are moved). However, today I got the "Clay is in the way" message and it took me a while to realize it meant one of the blocks *above* my planned stairs. It's similar to how you can't place flooring right over a staircase.
I did think at first the message meant the debris that hadn't yet been hauled away. It's a bit confusing.

This is what happened, except the clay was at the bottom of the pit I was trying to put the stairs in and couldn't be reached. Turns out wood stairs can still be built on them though

[Thor'sHammer]

Don't forget you can click a settler then right click the clay pile and prioritize moving it. Lots of times they'll just ignore ya! LOL Cheeky b@stards

As a side note, I was going nuts on my underground storage, having found I'd not dug deep enough (first game).

So I excavated further down and needed to put a stair to continue down. I put one 90° to the first and they wouldn't use it because of the gap.

Found I had to put two wood floor tiles to join them.

Also - For noobs reading this, go as deep as you can right from the start and use a wood floor to insulate, until you get the ability to make SHELVES and use them instead. Don't forget to insulate the sides, so make it one block bigger on all sides for walls, it helps the temps.

Hope this helps someone!

[Philtre]

Originally posted by Thor'sHammer:

Also - For noobs reading this, go as deep as you can right from the start and use a wood floor to insulate, until you get the ability to make SHELVES and use them instead. Don't forget to insulate the sides, so make it one block bigger on all sides for walls, it helps the temps.

Depth doesn't affect temperature nearly as much as materials and layout; you can get a perfectly good cellar just under the surface.

You do NOT want to insulate your cellar. The game has a very simple temperature model, in which insulation will always warm a cold room, rather than helping to keep it cold. So you want the walls and ceiling of your cellar to consist as much as possible of undisturbed dirt/stone. Flooring does not add insulation (in the current version of the game), specifically so that it does not interfere with making a good cellar.

[Thor'sHammer]

Originally posted by Philtre:

Originally posted by Thor'sHammer:

Depth doesn't affect temperature nearly as much as materials and layout; you can get a perfectly good cellar just under the surface.

You do NOT want to insulate your cellar. The game has a very simple temperature model, in which insulation will always warm a cold room, rather than helping to keep it cold. So you want the walls and ceiling of your cellar to consist as much as possible of undisturbed dirt/stone. Flooring does not add insulation (in the current version of the game), specifically so that it does not interfere with making a good cellar.

Well that's fascinating, and I'm happy to believe you, although I have read otherwise elsewhere.

I suspect yours is the correct version of the facts, so I'll go with it for now, thanks!

I've read pretty consistently that depth is a key factor, but you say "materials and layout" affect it more, I'm not sure what your mean. Mind elaborating for a noob? :-)

EDIT: Found a great tutorial that explains it all:
https://www.gamepretty.com/going-medieval-the-fundamental-to-cold-room-temperature/

[Philtre]

Originally posted by Thor'sHammer:

EDIT: Found a great tutorial that explains it all:
https://www.gamepretty.com/going-medieval-the-fundamental-to-cold-room-temperature/

That's a pretty good guide, but note that in the months since it was written, flooring has been changed so that it no longer affects temperature. You can put a floor in your cellar without fear. :D

[Thor'sHammer]

Originally posted by Philtre:

Originally posted by Thor'sHammer:

EDIT: Found a great tutorial that explains it all:
https://www.gamepretty.com/going-medieval-the-fundamental-to-cold-room-temperature/

That's a pretty good guide, but note that in the months since it was written, flooring has been changed so that it no longer affects temperature. You can put a floor in your cellar without fear. :D

Cool, thx! (The problem with game guides on Early Access games ... sigh) So the main conclusion was rooms further horizontally, or rooms with a large space around the storage area, are cooler. Is that still true?
Wait. Then that means that rot from being on dirt is the real reason for a floor now? Are shelves better than a floor or do you need both? ie: does the effect (rot reduction) stack?

[Philtre]

Originally posted by Thor'sHammer:

Cool, thx! (The problem with game guides on Early Access games ... sigh) So the main conclusion was rooms further horizontally, or rooms with a large space around the storage area, are cooler. Is that still true?
Wait. Then that means that rot from being on dirt is the real reason for a floor now? Are shelves better than a floor or do you need both? ie: does the effect (rot reduction) stack?

Larger rooms are cooler (up to a point), and rooms with thicker "walls" (regions of surrounding undisturbed dirt) are cooler, but typically you can get a cellar cold enough for food preservation (i.e., below 5 degrees even on hot days) without doing anything special in that regard.

The purpose of flooring in a cellar is indeed to prevent contact with the ground, so if you only store items on shelves you can omit it. The effects do not stack, since anything on a shelf is already off the ground.

[Thor'sHammer]

Originally posted by Philtre:

Originally posted by Thor'sHammer:

Larger rooms are cooler (up to a point), and rooms with thicker "walls" (regions of surrounding undisturbed dirt) are cooler, but typically you can get a cellar cold enough for food preservation (i.e., below 5 degrees even on hot days) without doing anything special in that regard.

The purpose of flooring in a cellar is indeed to prevent contact with the ground, so if you only store items on shelves you can omit it. The effects do not stack, since anything on a shelf is already off the ground.

Cool! ;-) TU!