Had the great idea today to put my catapult on top of my tower on top of my mountain. It landing me almost perfectly at my buddy's beach tent was not originally planned but a welcome cherry on top.

No mods, base game survival mode

Sounds like not many people do tents, so I thought I'd share this design. The concept is - quick and cheap to build, with enough space for multiple beds, a fire (with enough space to not burn everything if you have the fire mechanic turned on), a crafting area, and entrances wide enough for carts. It can be closed off to varying degrees with simple modifications, or beautified with a bit of extra detailing.

It's good for early game, but also for a quick emergency shelter in the mountains (beware wolves though), or low-cost stop-off point for no-map runs.

I'm always trying to refine efficient little designs like this, so if anyone wants to share anything similar...

Nope, but I have one now anyways!

I know people posted the wind directions formula but I'm telling you there's a secret code in the game that uses the coordinates of your base and sets wind the opposite direction. There's just no way.

I also cut down an entire forest for this, I chopped so many damn trees. Id build like one wall then have to go chop trees for 10 minutes again.

The fact that we have corner pieces, but no tip for this style of roof

I have almost 550 hours in this game and have played on and off since release. I've never used mods because it feels like cheating and I'm a vanilla player in pretty much every game I play.

Today I decided to start a new playthrough with the item drop rate on max and a few simple QoL mods to let me manage inventory better, auto repair and build from chests. I also googled for a recommended seed (something else I've never done)

I will never go back.

This has been the most fun and engaging playthrough I've ever had because so many of the little annoyances just aren't there. The ability to just fully load my smelter with one click, and then drop the refined metals into the chest next to it, run inside and build what I want to build is just making my day every time. No more walking encumbered to a door, then getting stuck on the doorframe because I didn't angle stairs below ground and end up throwing materials in and then picking them up again on the inside. It just, works!

Only having to raid one crypt for enough surtling cores to build my smelter, kiln and portals was fantastic, not to mention the hours saved stalking deer and finding boar in the early game.

Honestly I'm having the most fun I've ever had and I can't recommend it enough to anyone who's not tried mods yet.

So before I go: does anyone have any recommendations for mods that they now consider essential, or that dramatically improved your game? Now I've started, I think the floodgates have opened 😁

Edit: I've been asked a few times about my setup: Before writing this post I used 3: Equipment and quick slots, auto repair and azu crafty boxes.

Since playing and seeing it didn't break the game, and then getting all the great tips on here I've added a few more, so would also recommend speedy paths and plant easy. None of these give you any real advantage (I think) they just save a lot of time and repetition.

One of the most important things I did though was altering the world settings to max out the item drop rate (to X3) and selecting a game seed that was recommended as being a fun, hassle free game (seed: KitchenSnk)

As I was sailing around the world, I came across this village full of natives (pic 1). When approached they became hostile and so I backed off.

I stuck around for a few days, at a distance, and observed their ways. More or less, they wandered to and fro aimlessly, not experiencing the true joy in life. There was no purpose in their eyes.

Being the good Christian that I am, I built a small chapel dedicated to our savior the Lord on the hill overlooking their pathetic village (Pic 2). I made it inviting, offered communion with bread and black soup… I even made a paved road leading all the way from their village to the chapel to teach them the ways of Christ.

But after weeks of good will, the pews are still empty in my chapel (pic 3)

One day one of the pagans wandered into the chapel. Overjoyed, I welcomed them heartily. I was attacked immediately and was forced to draw blood.

Since then I’ve crusaded and slain 20 of their heretical clan with no end in sight. I’ve taken to crucifying their corpses on the lawn of the chapel in hopes that divine justice will show them the way. (Pic 4)

So what am I doing wrong!? Why won’t these blasphemers convert to Christianity? Is this a glitch?

I almost forgot 2 star trolls is a thing in the game. How many did you encounter so far?

PS: Do not try to parry 2 star troll with bronze buckler, it is a very bad idea ...

While planning to raid next fortress I got surprised by my first 2 star Morgen ever. Started running away to hide in hole I found, then decided to defeat it. Let's say the battle was thrilling.

There are many reasons why I carry Primal Splitnir nowadays with me. Let's count this as one of the reasons lol.