Lake Base Idea, need advice

[Elder Drake]

I am new to the game and having a rough time starting off. I read up on good "Zombie Proof" bases and found a lot of lake base mentions. After trying several attempts (wonky ladder placement in the hole leading down being a pita and a royal pain to get working) I finally got a good base going and...zombies bashed in a wall above and the base was flooded (destroying everything).

I am thinking of building pylons in the water. Doing say a 5x5 grid in the water and dig down 2 blocks in the inner 3x3 area, place blocks going above water level in the center of that dug down 3x3 section, and then flooding the area with water again by removing the outer 5x5 temporary wall (just placed to displace water temporarily for digging). This would make the pylon submerged two blocks all around it. I would make enough pylons to support a structure above ground then and make a jump to ladder to get up. I am unsure though if this will prevent zombies from destroying the pylon. Can the zombies destroy objects if the water is deep around it?

I could test this in creative but though I would ask here for advice first and see if people have any ideas. Thank you in advice for any tips and help.

[Akiic ToDaHead]

I build on stilts whenever possible and when I am on the 9.+ maps on an island or on a cliff with only one avenue of approach. Check my YouTube channel out for the newest series where this is in action.

[Elder Drake]

Originally posted by Akiic ToDaHead:

I build on stilts whenever possible and when I am on the 9.+ maps on an island or on a cliff with only one avenue of approach. Check my YouTube channel out for the newest series where this is in action.

Thanks for the quick reply. I watched your base improvement video and I see indeed that it looks like zombies can attack objects when submerged so loooks like my idea won't work. I'll take a closer look at your stilt idea. Thanks again for the advice and well done video.

[Akiic ToDaHead]

You are welcome-

[Aedile]

There is nothing zombie proof about water really. Not anymore anyway. Only benefit you get, as far as I know, is being to add huge amount of traps on the bottom and swimming over, while zeds walk on bottom rather than swim. On the flip side, if they are completely submerged, you cannot see where they are.



In any case all you need is few lines of upgraded log spikes, and a good wall, will keep most hordes away. If you put your base bordering 3 biomes...

Another weird thing I have seen people do is put log spikes in a trench. I don't know why would you give zeds the chance to undermine your base.

[Krighton]

If it has to be on/in water, either go straight out to the middle of the lake area where it's at least 4 blocks of water deep. Otherwise, use the side of a cliff and jump-mine about two blocks up above the waterline. (using wood frames is easier though) Even with a stone axe you can get two blocks in or so for the first night. If you have too for temp. purposes throw one of the stones you mined down at the entrance bottom so you have a window and sit tight. Otherwise, zombies usually (from what I've seen) don't have a problem coming after you in water until it gets about 4 blocks deep. They still try to get to you, but the AI pathing messes them up a bit.

Honestly, it somewhat depends on where you are building too. If there is anything around, say a prefab, or another base, CITY... etc, you're going to get some above average spawn. If you are out in BFE or just off the beaten path, however, you should be able to make it with just a temp wood place. (upgraded wood to at least 2nd level) Also the second layer up (from ground) should be where you put your most effort. That is where they are probably going to hit. After that, I haven't had a mob problem that 2-3 rows of the permanent wood spikes couldn't take down while I repair from the inside. So... gather a lot of wood (depending on how big you're going to start) and make the frames, upgrade them to 2nd level, put out wood spikes and upgrade them to 2nd level. Should be okay unless you're in a city or high populous area. I've been okay (ie attacked by a horde) with a wood base with only the 2nd row reinforced with metal and 3 rows of metal reinforced wood spikes, but I was all alone in the area and also put metal siding up on the outside 2nd row too (forgot to add that). That stuff takes a heck of beating before breaking. (currently) If you can't get the materials farmed up before nightfall on that first day for whatever reason...

HIDE!

Which can be using wood frames stacked up to 10-12 above the waterline in a deep lake. Get on a roof. Burrough into the side of a cliff, etc. Then busy beaver it the next day and you should get should be on your way to safety. This is usually how I spend my first night, because you also have to loot loot loot for food, etc. G'luck. :)

[Elder Drake]

lol, I hid in a bathroom on top of a shower with a crossbow. A zombie randomly attacked a wall but stopper after exposing the frame. So the entire night was spent with us looking at each other through the frame (me on top of said shower) and the house full of zombies wandering around.

The best part follows, at 5:30am I needed some water so I figured grab some from the toliet (my friend that I named "Bob" seemed oblivious to me right?). The thing flushes and the whole house goes Night of the Living Dead on me, and Bob became upset. Somehow I shot 3 zombies in the head (sparing Bob, I felt we bonded after all), smashed out a second story window and ran till the sun came up. Wish I had recorded that, twas an epic moment.

Pro Tip Follows: Do not flush a toliet in a house full of zombies in the dead of the night/early morn hours...

Edit: Looking forward to the challenge. Thanks again everyone for your tips and help.

[John The Bodge]

If you look at my screenshots, there is our base in a lake (the deepest part. So far there have been no problems. If you are on a PvP server it would be easy for someone to demolish, though.