Dwarf Fortress Bug Tracker - Dwarf Fortress
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IDProjectCategoryView StatusDate SubmittedLast Update
0000990Dwarf FortressPathfindingpublic2010-04-11 02:132010-12-11 08:59
Reporterlastofthelight 
Assigned ToToady One 
PriorityhighSeverityminorReproducibilityalways
StatusclosedResolutionduplicate 
PlatformOSOS Version
Product Version0.31.02 
Target VersionFixed in Version 
Summary0000990: I tracked down the source of the pathfinding/job item misplaced bug
Description
There is a common bug where dwarves will stop a task because they cannot find the item in question, or a way to it. The only fix has, thus far, been to save and reload the game.

It seems to be dwarves blocking each other. Sometimes, a dwarf will just stand still. Perhaps this is related to laziness? In any case, sometimes it will stand still in a doorway, and other dwarves will not be able to get in. I saw a 'traffic jam' of 6 dwarves pile up this way, none of which moved until I dug out another square for them to move through.
Steps To Reproduce
Just play a game and wait, and eventually you'll see something saying that they can't find an item. Its very, very, very common. I never thought to look for lazy dwarves as the cause though, but once you spot it, it is very obvious. Its hard to do so because you have to pause the game in order to go looking for the cause, and you won't see the dwarf in question moving either way! I didn't realize the cause of the bug until I had a pileup of many dwarves.
Additional Information
TagsNo tags attached.
Relationships
child of 0000018closed Toady One Pathfinding fails to update after map changes 
Attached Files
Issue History
Date ModifiedUsernameFieldChange
2010-04-11 02:13lastofthelightNew Issue
2010-04-11 02:23supaIssue Monitored: supa
2010-04-11 02:24FootkerchiefNote Added: 0002763
2010-04-11 02:24FootkerchiefRelationship addedchild of 0000018
2010-04-11 03:41king doomNote Added: 0002773
2010-04-11 03:46supaIssue End Monitor: supa
2010-04-11 18:35FootkerchiefTag Attached: Still Present in 31.03?
2010-04-12 12:36FootkerchiefNote Added: 0003108
2010-04-12 12:36FootkerchiefStatusnew => resolved
2010-04-12 12:36FootkerchiefFixed in Version => 0.31.03
2010-04-12 12:36FootkerchiefResolutionopen => fixed
2010-04-12 12:36FootkerchiefAssigned To => Footkerchief
2010-04-12 12:40FootkerchiefStatusresolved => assigned
2010-04-12 12:40FootkerchiefAssigned ToFootkerchief => Toady One
2010-04-12 12:41FootkerchiefStatusassigned => resolved
2010-04-12 13:12FootkerchiefStatusresolved => assigned
2010-04-12 13:13FootkerchiefStatusassigned => resolved
2010-04-12 13:13FootkerchiefFixed in Version0.31.03 =>
2010-04-12 13:13FootkerchiefResolutionfixed => duplicate
2010-06-04 10:06FootkerchiefTag RenamedStill Present in 31.03? => Fixed in 31.03?
2010-06-09 06:46Toady OneStatusresolved => closed
2010-12-11 08:59DwarfuTag Detached: Fixed in 31.03?

Notes
(0002763)
Footkerchief   
2010-04-11 02:24   
This is very unlikely to be the only source, as pathfinding problems still appear when solitary dwarves are working in totally isolated areas.
(0002773)
king doom   
2010-04-11 03:41   
I've seen chunks of mined rock cause this issue, and I've seen stairs cause it as well. With the chunk of rock, a dwarf dragged it into a doorway to allow the dwarf to finish a workshop the stone had been obstructing, and the stone suddenly became an impenetrable wall. The stairs are.. Ugh, everything breaks pathfinding on those, but it seems especially bad with constructed stairs.
(0003108)
Footkerchief   
2010-04-12 12:36   
This and other issues are being marked resolved because they fit the symptoms of the general pathing bug described by issues 0000018 and 0000070. If this issue represents an additional bug, it will most likely present different symptoms in 31.03, and a new report should be submitted.