Can't add any task to the Magma Smelter

[Onosendai]

I put a Magma Smelter below a magma river, when i click on "Add a task", nothing happend. Also, i told my dwarf to smelt some ore but they don't do it. Is it a bug ?

[CPT Chthonbeard the Pirate]

You put the magma smelter BELOW a magma river? It should be one tile above a magma tile, with a gap along the edges, preferably in the top middle, and the magma should be at least 4/7 deep there when you build the magma smelter. Then it will be functional.

[NK | Sweetlemonade]

I think you must place it over the magma too work

[NK | Sweetlemonade]

i also not knowing how too carft Floor bars

[CPT Chthonbeard the Pirate]

Just to be clear, when I say above, I mean the z-level above, not north of the magma river. And when I say gap, I mean channel out the tile in the top middle to show the lava through the floor, then build the smelter over the gap.

[Erei]

To build a magma (anything) :
-make the usual 3*3 workshop room (or more)
-channel a single hole where the "forge" is in the sprite (in classic it was easier to see, I'll admit). The place of the forge vary, smelter have it on the middle top while metalsmith have it on the middle right, for example. That hole MUST lead to magma directly (IE magma is 7/7 just below). Make sure you are not "below" the magma "sea" level (IE, there are no magma above you, even if surrounded by walls). Otherwise the magma can "push" up the hole, and well....
-put the magma (anything)


Be aware that magma creature may come through that hole. Even with a forge (that's very rare if you have a forge, in my experience, but I've seen it happen). Traditionally, we used fortification to let the magma flow in a reservoir below, but there is an issue where swimmer can go through fortification no matter their size.
If you have a magma crab that's causing trouble, use military with shield. The shield will block their magma throwing attack.

Also, use magma safe in a magma forge :) I put the actual storage a level above myself.

[CPT Chthonbeard the Pirate]

Originally posted by Erei:

To build a magma (anything) :
-make the usual 3*3 workshop room (or more)
-channel a single hole where the "forge" is in the sprite (in classic it was easier to see, I'll admit). The place of the forge vary, smelter have it on the middle top while metalsmith have it on the middle right, for example. That hole MUST lead to magma directly (IE magma is 7/7 just below). Make sure you are not "below" the magma "sea" level (IE, there are no magma above you, even if surrounded by walls). Otherwise the magma can "push" up the hole, and well....
-put the magma (anything)


Be aware that magma creature may come through that hole. Even with a forge (that's very rare if you have a forge, in my experience, but I've seen it happen). Traditionally, we used fortification to let the magma flow in a reservoir below, but there is an issue where swimmer can go through fortification no matter their size.
If you have a magma crab that's causing trouble, use military with shield. The shield will block their magma throwing attack.

Also, use magma safe in a magma forge :) I put the actual storage a level above myself.

7/7 magma is not required. 4/7 is all that is required, but if it's not a flat 4/7 across the level, and there is some 3/7s there, your forge will deactivate occasionally when a 3/7 moves across the hole. It's best to have a little extra.

[Erei]

True, but it's a lot harder to make a 4/7 magma pool than a 7/7. Also, uneeded, since 4/7 vs 7/7 magma is basically the same. It may also create some FPS issue if the magma "flow" (IE not all tile are at 4/7).
Also, 1-2/7 will "evaporate" over time.

[CPT Chthonbeard the Pirate]

Originally posted by Erei:

True, but it's a lot harder to make a 4/7 magma pool than a 7/7. Also, uneeded, since 4/7 vs 7/7 magma is basically the same. It may also create some FPS issue if the magma "flow" (IE not all tile are at 4/7).
Also, 1-2/7 will "evaporate" over time.

My point is to get correct information there, and he sounds like he's working with an existing magma flow which might not be 7/7 from the start.

[Erei]

Well, if it's flowing then it's 4/7 might turn into a 3/7 and the forge will stop working, cancelling the task. It will not be reliable at all, as tasks will cancel a lot without being completed.

Also, somewhat related, flowing magma is a FPS killer and I strongly advise against it (unless it's temporary). Not only flowing liquid is bad, but magma calculate temperature all the time, which is even worse.

[CPT Chthonbeard the Pirate]

Originally posted by Erei:

Well, if it's flowing then it's 4/7 might turn into a 3/7 and the forge will stop working, cancelling the task. It will not be reliable at all, as tasks will cancel a lot without being completed.

Also, somewhat related, flowing magma is a FPS killer and I strongly advise against it (unless it's temporary). Not only flowing liquid is bad, but magma calculate temperature all the time, which is even worse.

That's why I said to be wary if there were any 3/7 tiles. If it's flowing and there are only 4/7 and 5/7 tiles, you won't get a 3/7 tile as it won't ever reduce a tile to 3/7.

[Onosendai]

Thanks ! I totaly forgot to dig a hole BEFORE placing the smelter.

[Erei]

Originally posted by Onosendai:

Thanks ! I totaly forgot to dig a hole BEFORE placing the smelter.

It's not super intuitive, honestly. Especially in Steam. While the forge is in the model, you don't have some indication you need a hole or anything. I wouldn't be surprised if some people drop magma on it or whatever :D

[Lunarius]

Originally posted by Erei:

Originally posted by Onosendai:

Thanks ! I totaly forgot to dig a hole BEFORE placing the smelter.

It's not super intuitive, honestly. Especially in Steam. While the forge is in the model, you don't have some indication you need a hole or anything. I wouldn't be surprised if some people drop magma on it or whatever :D

Hmmm could be worth a try to kill an Fortress :D :D :D