FAQ: Where should I build my base?

Quick rundown of base location areas on the map. Intended for beginners.
Last updated: v0.66

Map

Areas

Beginner

Players who don't yet have a good grasp of the combat mechanics (or are afraid of the cannibals) should start here.

1. "East Point": Very safe. No patrol routes, raids start very slowly. Lizards, rabbits, deer, raccoons, and squirrels, fish in the ponds downhill. There is a tiny village below to the southwest, which is good for gathering a few resources as it's rarely occupied. No cave entrances nearby. Highly recommended.
   
2. "Snow East": Usually safe.
   
3. "Snow Central": Usually safe. Recommended out of the snow areas (safest and best resources).
   
4. "Snow West": Usually safe. Fewer resources than the ones above.

Advanced

For players that want more challenge and reward. Includes the richest areas in The Forest.

1. "River Island": Surrounded by a creek that connects two branches of the main river. Attacked very frequently, but fun to defend because of the terrain. Plenty of most resources nearby.
   
2. South Lake: Rich in resources. The village on the east side is a good target for your first big "hostile takeover". Cave 2 entrance is right next to the village, and there are a couple others around the lake.
   
3. Geese Lake: Rich, lush, and scenic. Not as dangerous as it should be. Multiple cave entrances close by.
   
4. Crocodile Village: Another good place to try and take over from the cannibals. Plenty of resources, nice views, and surprisingly easy to defend.
   
5. "Central Hill": Good central location overlooking the river and sinkhole. Plane often crashes around this area. Some resources, a 2-hut village, and plenty of enemies.
   
6. "Yacht Peninsula": Many players like to build fortresses here. Has a big "weirwood tree" at the tip. No resources beyond a few herbs and leaves. Totally exposed, but enemies usually can't get up the sides so attacks will come from the north. And they will come often. You can also try a little further up (submerged cave south entrance) for more resources and slightly less combat.

Expert / Not Recommended

• the west coast: Highly dangerous because of the constant patrols, day and night. Nothing will go unnoticed for more than a few (in-game) hours. Personally, the only thing i build here is an outpost at the cave 6 (lawyer's cave) entrance near the containers.

1. Cave 7 Entrance: You have about 20 seconds to get ready for the fun.
   
2. Northwest Village/Snow Lake: Often as bad as the big one. Enjoy the mutants and molotovs.
   
3. Main Village: This is it, Crusoe. You're not a real conquistador until you kick them out of their own land.

[GeekPunk]

Guys it's been 20 days & haven't even seen any mutant above lol except the preprogrammed ones in caves(normal)

[Sparlax]

I always go with an island because the cannibals can't spawn or swim there. :]

[A-10 WARTHOG AMMUNITION CARRIER]

central hill, yellow 5, i love that area

[tubbs]

house boats are also great for new players as your base cant be attacked when it is in the water and you can safely travel across the map with it

[tubbs]

build on the 2 islands on the left side if your new you never get attacked, when you build a bridge to the island for some reason cannibals never go on it and you can break their spawns if you put walls in certain spots on the beach making it so you only get attacked if you go into the caves

[parsco73]

me personally i would recommend building next to a lake

[Shakon_Krogen]

so one of the better places to make a base (surprisingly) is just above the red 3 boarder.

it's a small flattened area that goes down to beach and the water is just shallow enough that you can easily make a bridge to the larger island on the east side (also close to an underwater cave), the mountains/plateaus above are for the most part safe as long as you don't go to the top of them, where you want to base is basically a wall connecting from the southern section of beach (a bit closer to north than to the cliff) to the river on the north (note there are boulders so you'll have to adjust for that) but after you set up a bridge and wall most enemies won't attack and the only one that really can reach you is worm but he only spawns on day 40 and above

[Shakon_Krogen]

so for note of key stuff (not story items) in this location...
Rocks spawn like wildfire here
Food/Water turtles spawn like crazy here and so do birds
Logs move west into the forest
Berries plenty west and south
Rabbits/Lizards in the forest to the west
Cannibal Patrols seem to break here (most are on the top of the plateaus or on the hill for sword cave)
Mutant spawns seem to only appear sword cave hillside or to the north plateau and inner river (between green 1 and red 3)
Main Cannibal Village is southwest (also near a gun part)
if you make a raft you can get the other gun part and the yacht with ease

so the hardest part of this location is bringing logs back and fourth otherwise you shouldn't have much issues until day 20 or 30 but you'll be pretty damn prepared by them or have already finished the game

[John Helldiver]

Instructions unclear. I have built a base on all of the cannibal camps and am now the dictator of the peninsula.

[Runner Gunner 201]

you should probably build it on the ground