A steam engine can be built anywhere, but requires coal to operate. nothing above it), but once built, they produce power automatically.

Windmills must be constructed outside (i.e. A gnome with the Mechanic skill must manually turn the crank in order to provide power, making them a less-desirable source of power. Handcranks are pre-built like other mechanics, and placed on any floor. They supply power to your mechanical systems in order to operate devices. Handcranks, windmills, and steam engines are power sources. It does not matter if there is water beneath the pump or not. Pumps can only be placed over a hole in the floor, but there must also be empty space beneath it. This can be used to make either a type of drawbridge, or (when combined with a pressure plate and a mechanical wall) a pitfall trap. It acts as a hole when unpowered, and as a floor when powered. Mechanical walls can also be used as a water pump or a canal lock.

If gnomes are likely to pass through, it is advisable to dig out the spot on top of the mechanical wall, to avoid unfortunate accidents. When activated, if there is a floor above them, they will crush any creatures on top of it, killing them instantly therefore, in addition to being able to make an impenetrable doorway, it can also be used to make a deadly trap. It act as a floor when unpowered, and as a wall (with a floor covering it, if there is not already one above it) when powered. A mechanical wall requires 20 power to operate.Mechanical walls, hatchs and pumps are devices. Robobob may add powered, continuously attacking traps as well as a mechanism for resetting traps automatically. Traps strength is affected by the metal they are made of (steel being the strongest). Once the trap triggers it will have to be reset by a gnome before it can fire again. The trap will make a single attack on the enemy, which can be dodged or blocked just like a normal attack. Once placed, the trap will trigger when an enemy creature steps on that space. A trap can be placed on any floor square. There are currently two types of traps - blade traps and spike traps. Traps are self-powered mechanisms and therefore do not require power sources or linkages to operate.

Gnomoria lever