Noob questions....

[BadRaZoR]

Hello all :)

First question is my leather backpack I started with is about to die and I'm wondering what can I make to replace it and is it too early to replace and I'll have to suffer with half my carry capacity I had?

Second is more of some guidance. I've set up camp in the grotto cave at starting area. I've created a workbench and a carpentry bench as well as a bed, water catcher and fire. I've gathered and saved a bunch of the normal stuff (leaves, stones etc). So far I've gotten to the map tree near the center of island and made a map from it. However, I've barely explored the island as it seems to get dark in like 2 minutes of exploring lol. My main worry is now my carry capacity soon to be cut in half. What would you guys do if you were where I am at now? Just go explore as much as possible or should i be trying to find certain things to progress my tools and such?

Thanks in advance. I LOVE survival/crafting and I love feeling stranded in this game

[CrankyOldGamer]

Have you made a cart yet? I always take a cart with me whenever I go out exploring or gathering. The large one that carries 160 lbs. There is a smaller one you can make right away until you get plans or skill for the larger one. Plus my characters 88 lbs of carry weight (it will improve over time.) And there are some carry weight medicines you can make if you really need more, forgot the name. Items I always take with me in the cart are sleeping bag, wood sticks to make a couple of fires, dried food and water for a few days as yes it almost always takes a day or two and you will end up camping overnight at least, medicine for things like poison, cuts, healing, etc. Extra tools like axes for gathering, pick axes for mining, etc. After awhile it gets to be so routine you know what to grab and can be packed up in a few minutes then off you go into the wild.

[Kaos]

If you have the Navy Coat, then you can sacrifice it to repair your backpack. Repairing or creating a new backpack requires going to the next region for Copper Ore and Strong Branches.

[Amyrlyn]

If you go ahead and hunt a boar, you can make dried hide. With that, you can make a small bag. It will not carry as much as your backpack, but it's better than the pack made from leaves. I know someone has already mentioned sacrificing the Navy Coat if you have it, which isn't a bad idea, but you may want to hang onto that as it will help you when you go into colder areas (hint: the mountain top).

[themany]

Learn to empty your back pack in your base. Make storage boxes for food and for items, then put everything in containers, you need water, axe, 2 weapons and knife with you.

You can grab and bring home more if you are at 20% of capacity on the beginning of your journey.

Set up small bases where you go... leaf bed, campfire and small storage box.

Use your belt to carry heavy weapons.

[CrazyMom]

The leaf box and cart are a must at the beginning for exploring, if you do not have any dry skins yet (boars and Peccaries). Always carry a couple of stones and sticks in the cart for tool replenishment as well as a couple of thin and fat leaves for clothes repair and an emergency water bottle (if you already have found the materials for this).

If you have the resources, build a Hut of Leaves in the Grotto, will give you better energy return while sleeping than the leaf bed or even the improved bed of leaves.
I also always set up a Hut of leaves near key areas (with rain canopy and fire pit, at the entrance/banana side of a very important tool material area and at a water spot in the Mountains) for easier energy replenishment.

At the beginning of my games I just made piles of everything, including scorpions, flowers etc..., saved my sticks for the fire and starter tools and did not make storage boxes. The only one I do make at that point is the food storage one.
Keep all the seed bags you find, very important later on. Do not be tempted to start farming too early, you are not able to move planted boxes!

Later on you might want to consider moving your base, so check all areas out and do not forget to swim and dive for under water food!
Once you find/build your first raft, travel will become easier.

The used and not-worthy-of-further-repair leaf backpacks I set up as early "seating" by just dropping them to the floor. Be forewarned never to drop a just-built one, for it will loose its lifespan on the floor, unlike tools or weapons.

Happy gaming!! This is my most favourite game as well.

[BadRaZoR]

Thank you all for the good info!