Hildir (and probably Haldor) mystical force radius

[Yapilp]

The radius of the cylinder around Hildir is approximately 25m. I just tested this yesterday with some pals in the hopes that we could create a large enough workbench zone to protect form mob spawns within the base we built around Hildir's area. It was fairly difficult to get a reasonably accurate idea given the terrain near her in our seed is only 1-4m above sea level, but we were able to set up a square around the cylinder of unbuildable area that measured 50m a side.

I am putting this out there for those who might have the desire to build around the traders without modifying the game to eliminate their 'no-build' zone. Given how much trouble we were having with mob spawns inside the base, it became necessary to actually do some math on things in order to eliminate the possibility that the mobs were spawning as a consequence of the uncovered area within and around the cylindrical 'no-build' zone.

If you're having the same trouble, then you should build 4 fully upgraded workbenches in a '+' shaped pattern at the midpoints of each of the 50m sides of the square or on the corners of the 50m sides. Each of the four fully upgraded workbenches have an active radius of 36m. Collectively, they fully block out the entirety of the area of the 25m radius 'no-build' zone cylinder and ensure that spawns near the edge of this zone are blocked. Alternatively, you can do 4 workbenches with only two upgrades in the '+' pattern and an additional 4 non-upgraded workbenches on each corner of the 50m square.

We love having Hildir close to home for her nice non-portalable fireplaces. However, the base's large area of approximately 25 square kilometers is a breeding ground for food mobs and aggressive mobs. They seem to start coming in and eliminating workbenches from her camp, so the clearest solution at the moment is eliminating the possibility that the game tries to spawn things near her camp and doesn't stop until they find an open pixel untouched by workbenches and other structures.

There are lots of conflicting arguments about what does and does not stop mob spawns. I am unaware of a full-proof solution, save for those which involve disabling the mystical zone and allowing players to build directly within her camp (one fully upgraded workbench directly in the center of the camp would solve this entire problem). Many people recommend fires, flattening/pathing out the ground, and even trying to make an intentional mob spawner within the base that is outfitted with spike defenses to automate material collection. I have seen no clear evidence one way or another on these alternatives to workbenches, but if there is a better way (without altering the game) please give me a shout. I don't want to waste 16 iron for this dwarven lass.

[Frank Dunn]

Why do the workbenches need to be "upgraded"? If I understand correctly, you are building a base around the trader barriers, like a big circle? And you think mobs spawn from the trader's bubble?
The two times I have found Hildir she has been in the meadows adjacent to a Fuling village in the plains. I did eliminate one village and built a farm nearby but it was a ways away. I always use workbench enclosed in house walls and a roof to prevent spawns in my moated base.

[Nerevar]

enemies cannot spawn within thier bubbles at all. it works the same as the no build zone around the spawn just smaller. it extends infinitly upwards aswell.

[JP_Russell]

Originally posted by Frank Dunn:

Why do the workbenches need to be "upgraded"?

Workbenches increase their build radius by 5m per upgrade added to them. I don't actually know if that also increases their spawn prevention radius, but I assume that's the logic.

[Frank Dunn]

Originally posted by JP_Russell:

Originally posted by Frank Dunn:

Why do the workbenches need to be "upgraded"?

Workbenches increase their build radius by 5m per upgrade added to them. I don't actually know if that also increases their spawn prevention radius, but I assume that's the logic.

Really, I didn't know that. Thanks

Edit: Time to destroy all the fuling villages :)

[bacon]

Originally posted by JP_Russell:

Originally posted by Frank Dunn:

Why do the workbenches need to be "upgraded"?

Workbenches increase their build radius by 5m per upgrade added to them. I don't actually know if that also increases their spawn prevention radius, but I assume that's the logic.

let's see a source on that

[avatar.zero]

Originally posted by bacon:

Originally posted by JP_Russell:

Workbenches increase their build radius by 5m per upgrade added to them. I don't actually know if that also increases their spawn prevention radius, but I assume that's the logic.

let's see a source on that

Sure. They're known as patch notes.

0.217.4

2023/08/19 - Hildirs Request

Fixes & Improvements:

• ...
  
• Enemy spawn block and item despawn now matches workbench build radius
  
• ...

Quality of Life:

• ...
  
• Workbench and Forge now get slightly increased build range when upgraded
  
• Crafting benches’ build range is now cylindrical instead of spherical
  
• ...

Originally posted by JP_Russell:

I don't actually know if that also increases their spawn prevention radius, but I assume that's the logic.

According to above, yes it does.

[JP_Russell]

Originally posted by bacon:

Originally posted by JP_Russell:

Workbenches increase their build radius by 5m per upgrade added to them. I don't actually know if that also increases their spawn prevention radius, but I assume that's the logic.

let's see a source on that

In addition to what avatar.zero said, I actually had the number wrong, it's 4m per upgrade according to the wiki.

https://valheim.fandom.com/wiki/Workbench

You can test it in-game by looking at where the dotted line representing the radius is and how it moves out as you add upgrades.

[bacon]

Originally posted by JP_Russell:

Originally posted by bacon:

let's see a source on that

In addition to what avatar.zero said, I actually had the number wrong, it's 4m per upgrade according to the wiki.

https://valheim.fandom.com/wiki/Workbench

You can test it in-game by looking at where the dotted line representing the radius is and how it moves out as you add upgrades.

thanks, i had text searched the wiki for "5 meters" and gave up prematurely after not finding anything. but the concept is there, youre right.

back to the original topic - spawn blocking with workbenches. i recommend completely encasing your workbenches in wood with no line of sight to the workbench itself. i find that enemies will not aggro as easily, if at all, as they perceive only plain building materials, which carry less aggro. this is somewhat anecdotal but has been my observation. if you just place a naked workbench, it will catch aggro fast.

[Horemvore]

Originally posted by bacon:

Originally posted by JP_Russell:

In addition to what avatar.zero said, I actually had the number wrong, it's 4m per upgrade according to the wiki.

https://valheim.fandom.com/wiki/Workbench

You can test it in-game by looking at where the dotted line representing the radius is and how it moves out as you add upgrades.

thanks, i had text searched the wiki for "5 meters" and gave up prematurely after not finding anything. but the concept is there, youre right.

back to the original topic - spawn blocking with workbenches. i recommend completely encasing your workbenches in wood with no line of sight to the workbench itself. i find that enemies will not aggro as easily, if at all, as they perceive only plain building materials, which carry less aggro. this is somewhat anecdotal but has been my observation. if you just place a naked workbench, it will catch aggro fast.

They dont perceive anything, there is also no aggro meter. There is 3 options for each piece:

Attack Player Built - Yes/No
Random Target - Yes/No (Usually set for build pieces)
Primary target - Yes/No (Usually set for crafting stations)

[Sono]

Originally posted by Frank Dunn:

Originally posted by JP_Russell:

Workbenches increase their build radius by 5m per upgrade added to them. I don't actually know if that also increases their spawn prevention radius, but I assume that's the logic.

Really, I didn't know that. Thanks

Edit: Time to destroy all the fuling villages :)

also building on top of a fuling village is sweet, you get that funky tribal music to always vibe to

[blprice61]

A possible alternative to using upgraded workbenches is to use Wards.

[bacon]

just build workbenches inside of wood cases. i have farms in the plains and mistlands. no walls at all, just scattered workbench outposts to spawn block.