Guide for hermit: How not to get scalped

[Tomki]

I decided to give this short guide of Tribe tactics when trying to get your scalp. This is due to increased demand by Mr. Puggels and his rewards. So if you live in tribal lands and don't have your own village yet this is for you. I write this from my own experiment and am noob myself regarding to PvP area of the game.

1st priority is to get the silver for village bell and fence the perimeter. Without that you're never really safe (and only get 24h warning with those).
You should also bring alt/alts at your claim for scouting. Also build a fully fenced area inside your claim.

Telltales of tribal influence - steps

Phase 1) Initial appearance - these may not be related to tribe but be cautious
-There's suddenly an unidentified occupied leanto near your claim
-A guy with noob clothes wanders near your claim and may start a conversation: "Hi, I was just spawned here by wilderness guide" or similar to mislead you
He tells you he just learns the game

Phase 2) Scouting/scent fishing
-That "noob" you saw yesterday lies KOed inside your claim (he said he's noob but got trespassing already!!)
Whatever you do, don't loot or kill him! - you only leave scents (he may have a pioneer jacket or other nice things to lure you)
Send him to his homestead and run to nearby leanto to see if he spawns there (you have only a short time period to check that)
If he does - claim that leanto and destroy it (no scents)

Phase 3) Preparations for raid (by now extreme caution is advisable outside your walls)
-When you log in, a lonely guy in noobish clothes stands outside your borders (can't log out due to crime debuff)
-Parts of walls are missing, some are damaged - 3 empty braziers in a row have appeared inside your claim (to nerf your own brazier fire)
(This phase is for bringing down your defences)
-If you open gates and try to repair walls / destroy empty braziers, red dots appear at your minimap - run immediately inside your fenced area and observe/port to Providence

Phase 4) Scalping
-Guys in admirals jackets and feather headdresses try to mislead you to join their party or negotiate for your life
They are only trying to convince you to stay there for scalping. Their trustworthiness is questionable at best. After you cancel party requests they try to direct you to forums to read PMs or screenshots. If you have your defences up you may stay online and observe the situation (stay away from stomp area of influence!). Otherwise log out to Providence and do not port back home (it may be village claimed and you will get stuck there and scalped).

Hope this saves some scalps during these hard times we are experiencing..

[Thor]

I think it would be advisable to destroy any unknown leanto near your claim.

[alprice]

Great advice!!

[Frakked]

One thing more...

Never discuss membership and/or negotiate anywhere but Boston. If you follow them onto their own land... you'll be that peon who can't log-out... and they'll kill you at their leisure.

Never give up your location...it's usually the first question they ask- so if negotiations fail they know where to get you.

If they won't respect your privacy... then it's a done deal already.

[nonsonogiucas]

A nice and detailed guide, thanks!

By the way, I really hope shipwreck island gets implemented in a way that the transition from defenseless to self-sufficient becomes a little smoother.
I know many players believe it really easy to get a town bell even for hermits. But even now that I could afford it I'm convinced that it is too harsh of a requirement for newcomers to have a townbell (especially since the game itself doesn't suggest it nor does it suggest a safe-ish alternative play style).

[TruthTeller]

I think it would be advisable to destroy any unknown leanto near your claim.

Unless they changed mechanics, that would leave a waste scent node.

[Kandarim]

I think it would be advisable to destroy any unknown leanto near your claim.

Unless they changed mechanics, that would leave a waste scent node.

claim it
smush it
revile in your scentless asociality

[zekko00]

And how many braziers should I build for each side of my claim?

[Thor]

I think it would be advisable to destroy any unknown leanto near your claim.

Unless they changed mechanics, that would leave a waste scent node.

claim it
smush it
revile in your scentless asociality

Exactly.

[DarkNacht]

And how many braziers should I build for each side of my claim?

As many as you can with out having them overlap.