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'''Pressure plates''' act in similar ways to [[lever]]s, in that they require [[mechanisms]] to be built, and then a pair of mechanisms to be linked to a [[floodgate]], [[Trap_component|spike trap]], [[bridge]], or what-have-you. Their accompanying activity is triggered the instant a creature has stepped on them (not including the delay associated with the triggered item); leave a time delay space for traps based on enemy movement as necessary.
[[File:pressure_plate_preview.png|right]]'''Pressure plates''' act in similar ways to [[lever]]s, in that they require a pair of [[mechanism]]s to link them to a [[bridge]], [[cage]], [[chain]], [[door]], [[floodgate]], [[hatch]], [[grate]] (wall or floor), [[bars]] (vertical or floor), [[support]], [[Trap_component|spears/spikes]], [[gear assembly]] or [[minecart|track stop]]. They send an "open" signal the instant any of their trigger conditions are met (though linked items retain their normal [[Pressure plate#Build order & delay|reaction delay]], if any), and reset with an "close" signal after their conditions have not been met for 99 consecutive [[Time|ticks]]. Proper [[trap design]] will often leave a time delay space for traps based on enemy movement.
 
  
Pressure plates are not targeted by [[building destroyer]]s.  
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Pressure plates are sensitive to some creatures and uninfluenced by others (see [[#Unusual Triggers|Unusual Triggers]]). They are not sensitive to inert weight. Pressure plates trigger when the accumulated weight of sensitive creatures reaches a threshold specified by the player (see [[#Choosing Weights|Choosing Weights]]). Pressure plates are not targeted by [[building destroyer]]s.  
  
==Trigger conditions==
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==Types==
 
 
There are currently four possible trigger conditions:
 
 
 
# water levels
 
# magma levels
 
# track (minecart) weight (only works on tracks)
 
# creature weight (including a separate toggle for citizens)
 
 
 
The first two can be set to trigger on the presence or absence of liquids, or any particular fluid level range. The latter two can only trigger on present weight within a user-configured range (though they can be set to 'untrigger' when a weight is removed).
 
 
 
Triggering signals for water and magma: CLOSE < min <= OPEN <= max < CLOSE
 
 
 
Pressure plates are sensitive to some creatures and uninfluenced by others (see [[#Unusual triggers|Unusual Triggers]]). They are not sensitive to inert weight or [[trapavoid]] creatures. Pressure plates trigger when the accumulated weight of detected creatures reaches a threshold specified by the player (see [[#Choosing Weights|Choosing Weights]]).
 
 
 
== Types ==
 
  
 
'''One-use''' pressure plates send their signal, then deconstruct the first time they're triggered, leaving behind the mechanism used to construct them and destroying any mechanisms used to link them to other objects.  As such, use low quality mechanisms to link with these.
 
'''One-use''' pressure plates send their signal, then deconstruct the first time they're triggered, leaving behind the mechanism used to construct them and destroying any mechanisms used to link them to other objects.  As such, use low quality mechanisms to link with these.
  
'''Resetting''' pressure plates can be reused as many times as you want.  They reset 99 ticks after their trigger is removed. That is approximately 2 hours of Fortress Mode (game world) time passage; since 1 hour = 50 ticks.
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'''Resetting''' pressure plates can be reused as many times as you want.  They disengage 99 ticks after their trigger is removed.
 
 
== Uses ==
 
Pressure plates are used as triggers for a variety of other device actions, such as [[bridge]] raising, or [[trap design|traps]] involving the release of [[magma]] or [[water]].  Most linked devices are obvious, on the "open" signal they open as expected. Cages and chains "release" their occupants on the open signal.
 
 
 
Pressure plates send an ''open'' signal the [[Time|instant]] their criteria are met, and a ''close'' signal 99 ticks after their triggering criteria are no longer met.  If a pressure plate sends an ''open'' signal to a device that is already opened, nothing happens.  The only exception to this is the [[gear assembly]], which toggles its engaged/disengaged state on every signal from a [[lever]] or [[pressure plate]].
 
 
 
(See the individual device pages for complete details of how ''open'' and ''close'' signals affect each device.)
 
  
==== [[Bridge]]s ====
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==Uses==
Note that retracting and raising bridges have, effectively, the opposite reaction from an "open" signal, or can, depending on the design. When the "open" signal is sent, both bridges "disappear" from view - the retracting bridge disappears completely, and the raising bridge becomes a wall. But this means that the raising bridge ''closes'' the passage on the same level with that wall that it creates. This can be used to create either an "open" passage or "closed" passage on the "open" signal, depending on the design.
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Pressure plates are used as a variety of triggers for other activities, such as [[bridge]] raising or [[Trap_design|defensive and trap]] purposes, such as [[magma]] or [[water]] traps involving reservoirs of said substances.  
  
==== Screw pumps ====
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Pressure plates send an ''open'' command the instant their criteria are met, and a ''close'' command 99 ticks after their triggering criteria are no longer met.  If a pressure plate sends an ''open'' command to a [[door]], [[floodgate]], or [[hatch cover|hatch]] that is already opened, nothing happens.  The only exception to this is [[gear assembly|gear assemblies]], which toggle their engaged/disengaged state on every trigger from a [[lever]] or pressure plate.
Pressure plates are not connected ''directly'' to [[screw pump]]s. To trigger fluid flow via screw pumps, either have a pump permanently "on" and use a [[hatch]] over the fluid intake tile, or use some other barrier (door, floodgate, bridge, etc) to otherwise restrict the fluid flow as desired, or link to a [[gear assembly]] to toggle the [[power]] on/off - but note how pressure plates and gear assemblies interact, as mentioned above.
 
  
== Operation ==
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==Operation==
 
Making complicated devices with pressure plates requires a full and detailed understanding of how pressure plates function.
 
Making complicated devices with pressure plates requires a full and detailed understanding of how pressure plates function.
  
Resetting pressure plates send two signals: an ''open'' signal when first triggered and a ''close'' signal, set to occur 99 ticks after the pressure criteria are no longer met.  They do not send continuous ''open'' signals while the pressure criteria are met.  A pressure plate that is untriggered then retriggered before it has sent a ''close'' signal will not send an ''open'' signal on the second trigger, and will abort the ''close'' signal scheduled to occur from the untriggering.
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Resetting pressure plates send two signals: an ''open'' signal, when first triggered by an appropriate creature or fluid; and a ''close'' signal, set to occur 99 ticks after the pressure criteria are no longer met.  They do not send continuous ''open'' signals while the pressure criteria are met.  A pressure plate that is untriggered then retriggered before it has sent a ''close'' signal will not send an ''open'' signal on the second trigger, and will abort the ''close'' signal scheduled to occur from the untriggering.
  
 
Special care must be taken when linking multiple pressure plates to a single device.  When doing so, it's possible for one of the plates to become activated before another plate has sent a ''close'' signal.  Unlike with single plates, the triggering of the second plate will not abort the ''close'' signal scheduled from the first plate, and the triggered device can become deactivated (closed) despite a triggered pressure plate linked to the device.
 
Special care must be taken when linking multiple pressure plates to a single device.  When doing so, it's possible for one of the plates to become activated before another plate has sent a ''close'' signal.  Unlike with single plates, the triggering of the second plate will not abort the ''close'' signal scheduled from the first plate, and the triggered device can become deactivated (closed) despite a triggered pressure plate linked to the device.
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Similar situations can occur when activating a bridge or other refractory building with a pressure plate: if the pressure plate sends an ''open'' too rapidly after sending a ''close'', the bridge will ignore the ''open'' and wedge close.
 
Similar situations can occur when activating a bridge or other refractory building with a pressure plate: if the pressure plate sends an ''open'' too rapidly after sending a ''close'', the bridge will ignore the ''open'' and wedge close.
  
=== Build order & delay ===
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===Build order===
 
One essential consideration with carefully timed devices is build order.  Pressure plates can send ''open'' and ''close'' signals at different times depending on what sort of building is being triggered and whether the building was built before or after the pressure plate.  That is because furniture is evaluated in the reverse order in which it is built-- when you build a pressure plate before the furniture it's linked to, in many cases that furniture will not receive a signal until the tick following pressure plate activation.
 
One essential consideration with carefully timed devices is build order.  Pressure plates can send ''open'' and ''close'' signals at different times depending on what sort of building is being triggered and whether the building was built before or after the pressure plate.  That is because furniture is evaluated in the reverse order in which it is built-- when you build a pressure plate before the furniture it's linked to, in many cases that furniture will not receive a signal until the tick following pressure plate activation.
  
* Linked [[Door|doors]] and [[Hatch|hatches]] always open the same tick that a pressure plate is triggered, but close depending on build order: if built before the pressure plate, they close 99 ticks after the trigger is removed, and if built after, they close 100 ticks after the trigger is removed.
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* Linked doors and hatches always open the same tick that a pressure plate is triggered, but close depending on build order: if built before the pressure plate, they close 99 ticks after the trigger is removed, and if built after, they close 100 ticks after the trigger is removed.
* Retracting [[Trap#Upright spear/spike|spikes]] built before a pressure plate retract 40 ticks after triggering and extend 139 ticks after the trigger is removed.  If built after the triggering pressure plate, they retract 41 ticks after triggering and extend 140 ticks after the trigger is removed.
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* Retracting spikes built before a pressure plate retract 40 ticks after triggering and extend 139 ticks after the trigger is removed.  If built after the triggering pressure plate, they retract 41 ticks after triggering and extend 140 ticks after the trigger is removed.
* [[Gear assembly|Gear assemblies]] will appear to be unaffected by build order-- they will engage or disengage on the same tick that a pressure plate is triggered, regardless of build order-- but gear assemblies built after a pressure plate will not transmit (or stop transmitting) power until the tick following pressure plate activation (or 100 ticks after criteria are no longer met), whereas gear assemblies built before a plate linked to them will toggle at 0 and 99 ticks.
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* Gear assemblies will appear to be unaffected by build order-- they will engage or disengage on the same tick that a pressure plate is triggered, regardless of build order-- but gear assemblies built after a pressure plate will not transmit (or stop transmitting) power until the tick following pressure plate activation (or 100 ticks after criteria are no longer met), whereas gear assemblies built before a plate linked to them will toggle at 0 and 99 ticks.
* [[Drawbridge|Bridges]], [[Bars|vertical bars]], [[Floodgate|floodgates]], and [[Grate|grates]] built before a pressure plate open 100 ticks after the trigger is sent, and close 199 ticks after the trigger is removed.  If they are built after a triggering pressure plate, they open 101 ticks after a trigger is sent and close 200 ticks after the trigger is removed.
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* Bridges, vertical bars, floodgates, and grates built before a pressure plate open 100 ticks after the trigger is sent, and close 199 ticks after the trigger is removed.  If they are built after a triggering pressure plate, they open 101 ticks after a trigger is sent and close 200 ticks after the trigger is removed.
  
 
Essentially, pressure plates send open signals immediately upon triggering and close signals 99 ticks after their trigger is removed; pressure plates built before the device they trigger work a tick later; and doors and hatches are always opened on the exact tick that they're triggered by a pressure plate, regardless of build order, although their close tick is still affected by build order.
 
Essentially, pressure plates send open signals immediately upon triggering and close signals 99 ticks after their trigger is removed; pressure plates built before the device they trigger work a tick later; and doors and hatches are always opened on the exact tick that they're triggered by a pressure plate, regardless of build order, although their close tick is still affected by build order.
  
 
===Unusual triggers===
 
===Unusual triggers===
Pressure plates will not be set off by dead creatures - if a creature dies upon contact with the ground, as with a fall from a great height, that creature will not set off a pressure plate upon landing. They will be set off by any creatures that fall onto them and survive, even if those creatures [[gravity|fall]] onto another creature occupying the same tile.  Also, pressure plates ''will'' be set off by a sufficiently large [[undead]] corpse ''reanimating'' on their tile.   
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Pressure plates will be set off by a sufficiently large [[undead]] corpse reanimating on their tile. They will be set off by creatures that fall onto them, even if those creatures [[gravity|fall]] onto another creature occupying the same tile.  However, if a creature dies upon contact with the ground, as with a fall from a great height, that creature will not set off a pressure plate upon landing.  A mechanic who completes the first attachment job on a pressure plate will not cause an ''open'' to be sent to the building being linked, but a ''close'' will be sent-- when the ''open'' is sent, the building is not yet linked!  This tends to toggle gears upon linkage, and makes futile single-use, civilians-trigger pressure plates.  Neither [[Trading|merchants]], their pack animals, nor [[trading#Liasons|diplomats]] will set off pressure plates, even pressure plates set to be triggerable by civilians.  Should an invading force arrive, they will not activate any pressure plates that have been observed by any diplomat from their civilization.  Flyers and swimmers will set off pressure plates in any tile they move through.
 
 
A mechanic who completes the first attachment job on a pressure plate will not cause an ''open'' to be sent to the building being linked, but a ''close'' will be sent-- when the ''open'' is sent, the building is not yet linked!  This tends to toggle gears upon linkage, and makes futile single-use, civilians-trigger pressure plates.  Neither [[Trading|merchants]], their pack animals, nor [[trading#Liasons|diplomats]] will set off pressure plates, even pressure plates set to be triggerable by civilians.  Should an invading force arrive, they will not activate any pressure plates that have been observed by any diplomat from their civilization.  Flyers and swimmers will set off pressure plates in any tile they move through.
 
  
 
Regardless of whether a pressure plate is set to civilians-trigger or not, any creature that is [[unconscious]] or [[web|webbed]] will set off a pressure plate-- diplomat, sieging human, [[trapavoid]]er, or your own dwarf.
 
Regardless of whether a pressure plate is set to civilians-trigger or not, any creature that is [[unconscious]] or [[web|webbed]] will set off a pressure plate-- diplomat, sieging human, [[trapavoid]]er, or your own dwarf.
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===Hanging pressure plates===
 
===Hanging pressure plates===
 
Like other buildings, pressure plates built on top of a constructed wall remain even after that constructed wall is removed{{Bug|0377}}.  All linkages to such a plate need to be completed before removing the construction supporting the plate.  Creatures falling through a hanging pressure plate will not trigger that plate, but fluid falling through or pumped into a square occupied by a hanging pressure plate will trigger that plate as normal.  Flyers or swimmers moving through the tile containing the hanging pressure plate will trigger it as normal.
 
Like other buildings, pressure plates built on top of a constructed wall remain even after that constructed wall is removed{{Bug|0377}}.  All linkages to such a plate need to be completed before removing the construction supporting the plate.  Creatures falling through a hanging pressure plate will not trigger that plate, but fluid falling through or pumped into a square occupied by a hanging pressure plate will trigger that plate as normal.  Flyers or swimmers moving through the tile containing the hanging pressure plate will trigger it as normal.
 
For keeping the plate accessible while still allowing fluids to pass through, digging a downstair into natural floor, building a floor on that downstair, building the plate on the floor, then deconstructing the floor will work. In the case the natural floor is gone, obsidian-casting the plate will suffice for digging stairs.
 
  
 
==Advanced techniques==
 
==Advanced techniques==
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Note that only a few targets that don't have a built-in delay can handle switching at such speeds ([[door]]s, [[hatch]]es, and [[gear assembly|gears]]).
 
Note that only a few targets that don't have a built-in delay can handle switching at such speeds ([[door]]s, [[hatch]]es, and [[gear assembly|gears]]).
  
Keep also in mind that quickly switching buildings will dramatically reduce the performance of your game due to map connectivity information being constantly rebuilt - a single door opening and closing every dozen steps may reduce your frame rate by about a third.
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Keep also in mind that quickly switching buildings will seriously hurt the performance of your game. A single door opening and closing every dozen steps may reduce your frame rate by about a third.
  
 
===Priority close===
 
===Priority close===
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==Construction==
 
==Construction==
Pressure plates are built on any [[floor]] using {{k|b}}, {{k|T}}, {{k|p}}. You will be prompted to enable what type of things should trigger the plate (water, magma, creatures, minecarts, or some combination of the four). You are then instructed to set up a range between two values of weights - a minimum to a maximum. {{k|e}} and {{k|r}} affect the minimum weight, and {{k|d}} and {{k|f}} affect the maximum.
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Pressure plates are built on any [[floor]] using {{k|b}}, {{k|T}}, {{k|p}}. You will be prompted to enable what type of things should trigger the plate (water, magma, creatures, minecarts, or some combination of the four). You are then instructed to set up a range between two values of weights- a minimum to a maximum. {{k|e}} and {{k|r}} affect the minimum weight, and {{k|d}} and {{k|f}} affect the maximum.
  
 
The number of mechanisms required to build a pressure plate depends on how many types of things (water, magma, creatures and/or minecarts) can trigger it. If only one of them can trigger it, it takes one mechanism. If two can (water and magma, water and creatures, or any other pair) then it takes two mechanisms. If all four can trigger it, it will take four mechanisms.  
 
The number of mechanisms required to build a pressure plate depends on how many types of things (water, magma, creatures and/or minecarts) can trigger it. If only one of them can trigger it, it takes one mechanism. If two can (water and magma, water and creatures, or any other pair) then it takes two mechanisms. If all four can trigger it, it will take four mechanisms.  
  
NOTE: The creature selection screen has an additional setting that allows the pressure plate to ignore, or be triggered by, your citizens.  "Citizens" include [[Domestic animal|tame animals]] but not merchants or liaisons.  Pressure plates that can be triggered by citizens will remain triggerable by non-citizens as well-- there is no way to make a pressure plate that is triggerable by only civilians, although a pressure plate with a narrow weight threshold could potentially trigger for only goblins and dwarves.
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NOTE: The creature selection screen has an additional setting that allows the pressure plate to ignore, or be triggered by, your citizens.  "Citizens" include [[Domestic animal|tame animals]] but not merchants or liaisons.  Pressure plates that can be triggered by citizens will remain triggerable by non-citizens as well-- there is no way to make a pressure plate that is triggerable by only civilians.
  
Construction is done by a [[mechanic]], who will require one to four [[mechanism]]s. After construction is completed, use the {{k|q}} key to view the building, and press {{k|a}} to link the pressure plate to choose which trap, floodgate, or other device will be triggered by it. Your mechanic will haul one mechanism to the desired device, work for a while, and then take another mechanism to the pressure plate itself and complete the task. Your pressure plate is now ready for action.
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Construction is done by a [[mechanic]], who will require one to four [[mechanism]]s. After construction is completed, use the {{k|q}} key to view the building, and press {{k|a}} to link the pressure plate to choose which trap, floodgate, or other device will be triggered by it. Your mechanic will haul one mechanism to the desired device, work for awhile, and then take another mechanism to the pressure plate itself and complete the task. Your pressure plate is now ready for action.
  
 
===Choosing Weights===
 
===Choosing Weights===
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For a table of creatures you can organize by increasing or decreasing [[size|weight]], see [[List of creatures by adult size]].
 
For a table of creatures you can organize by increasing or decreasing [[size|weight]], see [[List of creatures by adult size]].
  
The weight of a creature depends on individual [[Creature_token#BODY_APPEARANCE_MODIFIER|build]]: skinny, small creatures weigh less than enormous, fat ones of the same species.{{cite forum|180213/8399792}} As shown in the list, children and adolescents are usually smaller than fully grown creatures and may not trigger plates adjusted to adults' size. Equipment adds to a creatures weight; dwarves in steel armor will activate plates set to higher triggers.{{cite forum|180213/8399792}}
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[[Vermin]] inherently do not trigger traps - aside from their weight being consistently less than 10000, they aren't treated as actual creatures for the purpose of triggering any sort of trap. Only adult weights appear in-game. Children creatures will still trigger pads, even though they are unlisted. Creatures with the trapavoid token will not trigger pressure plates, regardless of weight.
 
 
Creatures with the [[trapavoid]] token will not trigger pressure plates, regardless of weight. [[Vermin]] do not trigger traps since they aren't treated as actual creatures for the purpose of triggering any sort of trap, and weigh no more than 2000 anyway.
 
  
On-screen numbers are shown divided by 10 (rounded down). For example 50,000, the default minimum weight, will appear to be 5,000 in-game.  It is easy to double check what you want to set it to by using a lookup and reverse lookup on the list, to compare what the game says about a creature, and what the list says.
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On-screen numbers are shown divided by 10 (rounded down). For example 500,000, the default minimum weight, will appear to be 50,000 in-game.  It is easy to double check what you want to set it to by using a lookup and reverse lookup on the list, to compare what the game says about a creature, and what the list says.
  
{{k|e}} and {{k|E}} lower the minimum creature weight to which a pressure plate will react, {{k|r}} and {{k|R}} increase it. {{k|d}} and {{k|D}} reduce the maximum registered creature size while {{k|f}} and {{k|F}} increase it. The lowercase letters adjust sensitivity in steps of 10 000 (1000 on-screen), the uppercase letters in steps of 100 000 (10 000 on-screen).
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The weight settings are set up in what appears to be an odd way, but makes sense for the large scale of numbers we can work with. {{k|e}} or {{k|d}} will decrease the weight by 10,000 (1,000 on-screen), and {{k|r}} or {{k|f}} will increase the weight by 100,000 (10,000 on-screen).  It is slightly clumsy but it would be annoying to increase digits by units of 10,000 when trying to get from crundles to whales.
  
A pressure plate set to trigger on {{k|T}}rack can also be adjusted to respond only to [[Minecart]]s of defined weights. The default settings are 1 as minimum and "any" as maximum, which responds to carts of any weight. If only carts of specific weights are supposed to trigger a signal, different minimum and maximum values can be chosen, in steps of 50 kg, ranging from 1 to 2000. {{k|t}} and {{k|y}} lower and increase the minimum, {{k|g}} and {{k|h}} affect the maximum weight setting. Only carts falling within the limits specified will trigger a signal, carts that are too light or too heavy will not. The gross weight of the cart will be consulted, i.e. the weight of the cart including its cargo (and potentially rider). Differing weights of empty carts only cover part of the choosable weight range - the heaviest empty carts are made from platinum and weigh 856 kg.
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A pressure plate set to trigger on {{k|T}}rack can also be adjusted to respond only to [[Minecart]]s of defined weights. The default settings are 1 as minimum and "any" as maximum, which responds to carts of any weight. If only carts of specific weights are supposed to trigger a signal, different minimum and maximum values can be chosen, in steps of 50 kg, ranging from 1 to 2000. {{k|t}} and {{k|y}} lower and increase the minimum, {{k|g}} and {{k|h}} affect the maximum weight setting. Only carts falling within the limits specified will trigger a signal, carts that are too light or too heavy will not. The gross weight of the cart will be consulted, i.e. the weight of the cart including its cargo. Differing weights of empty carts only cover part of the choosable weight range - the heaviest empty carts are made from platinum and weigh 856 kg.
  
 
{{buildings}}
 
{{buildings}}
{{Category|Machine components}}
 

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