How Far Down Can You Dig?

[japerson34]

I was disappointed at the map size when I first began playing until I dug down to level -171. The next game I played I could only go down to level -151. Not as deep but still impressive. Then I played a game an could only dig down to -15.

So is there a way to ensure the location I am selecting to live will go deep?

[Teemo]

There isn't, you hit the magma sea at -15 one game?

[Avloren]

Was the -15 a different spot in the same world, or a new world? FYI there are some options in advanced world gen that control minimum z-levels between various underground features. It's heavily random, but if you raise the minimum you should be able to guarantee a certain amount of depth.

[Bralbaard]

There are settings in detailed worldgen mode to add extra layers, and in addition I think sites with high elevation compared to their direct surroundings likely will go deeper from the surface. Do note that too many levels might slow down your game!

[Bralbaard]

Also the magma sea might not be the end..

[Ferocious Kitten]

I hit the magma sea at -15 or so and -20 was the furthest I could get. Couldn't manage to get around it anywhere. Lost two dwarves in the attempt!

Haven't tried a new fortress in that world yet to test if it is a worldwide feature or unique to that specific embark location or region.

[japerson34]

Originally posted by Avloren:

Was the -15 a different spot in the same world, or a new world? FYI there are some options in advanced world gen that control minimum z-levels between various underground features. It's heavily random, but if you raise the minimum you should be able to guarantee a certain amount of depth.

It was a new world

[japerson34]

Originally posted by Bralbaard:

There are settings in detailed worldgen mode to add extra layers, and in addition I think sites with high elevation compared to their direct surroundings likely will go deeper from the surface. Do note that too many levels might slow down your game!

When I play with these settings, I usually screw something up.

[RoyalFox]

Originally posted by japerson34:

I was disappointed at the map size when I first began playing until I dug down to level -171. The next game I played I could only go down to level -151. Not as deep but still impressive. Then I played a game an could only dig down to -15.

So is there a way to ensure the location I am selecting to live will go deep?

You can change world settings in the detailed settings to increase or decrease the Z levels. There is also methods to get past the magma sea without doing anything game breaking, and game-breaking ways to drain the magma sea by turning the edges of the map into obsidian so you can build inside the magma sea. If you dig too deep past the magma sea you reach spoilers that we will refer to as clowns and cotton candy.

[McFuzz]

Originally posted by japerson34:

I was disappointed at the map size when I first began playing until I dug down to level -171. The next game I played I could only go down to level -151. Not as deep but still impressive. Then I played a game an could only dig down to -15.

So is there a way to ensure the location I am selecting to live will go deep?

You can make the map wider. But only a little lol. 6x6 is the max now.

I have no idea how you found a level that only went -15 deep. I've never in my life seen anything under like -80.

[Dirty_Curty]

In world gen you're creating a brand new "world" each time, with its own topography and mineral deposits. Depending on how it gens and your location, depths can vary. Although -15 does seem unreasonably shallow. The "bottom" will be a "magma sea", as if you're hitting the earth's core or something.

And then there's.... other things.... beyond....

[RoyalFox]

According to the wiki the minimum depth of the magma sea is -5, and the max depth you will find it at is -450. In practice you'll have to experiment with how far down you want to dig and what settings affect it.

[RoyalFox]

Originally posted by Frank McFuzz:

Originally posted by japerson34:

I was disappointed at the map size when I first began playing until I dug down to level -171. The next game I played I could only go down to level -151. Not as deep but still impressive. Then I played a game an could only dig down to -15.

So is there a way to ensure the location I am selecting to live will go deep?

You can make the map wider. But only a little lol. 6x6 is the max now.

I have no idea how you found a level that only went -15 deep. I've never in my life seen anything under like -80.

Due to lag I usually make a fortress that is 3x3 or 2x2. That was on the classic version but the Premium I could see that as being even more necessary until we get more performance improvements.

[Lamp]

So when I was scrolling down to see how far I could dig it stopped me at -25. Does this mean that if I dig down there I'm gonna be able to scroll down farther? For the record I've got magma and demons popping out of walls at like -5.

[japerson34]

Originally posted by Frank McFuzz:

You can make the map wider. But only a little lol. 6x6 is the max now.

I have no idea how you found a level that only went -15 deep. I've never in my life seen anything under like -80.

My current attempt, my map was 7x7. And I couldn't even get to level 0 this time.

Is it the bigger map I make, the shallow it gets? Or is it that I was making my home in the mountains and now I am making them in the flat forests? Will test both of these theories in a bit.

[Vex Werewolf]

Yeah don't worry there's nothing underneath the magma sea ;D