Settling down

[elpreda]

I've finally decided to move from the first homestead the tutorial gives you and found a base. After walking for several hours I found an iron mine right next to a lime quarry and water at the crossing between a coniferous forest, grassland, swamp and crag. Looked great except for the fact that there's an enormous town at about 1 minute walk.
So what are the chances that they'll just come and squash me when I try to build there? Should I just move on?

Also is it even possible for a new player to just go and build a base by himself without being found and destroyed by older players?

[Dallane]

I've finally decided to move from the first homestead the tutorial gives you and found a base. After walking for several hours I found an iron mine right next to a lime quarry and water at the crossing between a coniferous forest, grassland, swamp and crag. Looked great except for the fact that there's an enormous town at about 1 minute walk.
So what are the chances that they'll just come and squash me when I try to build there? Should I just move on?

Typically people don't like you to move next to them. It's best to keep on moving. You could also try talking to them.

Also is it even possible for a new player to just go and build a base by himself without being found and destroyed by older players?

You will never be safe in this game. Having said that most people will not raid you if you have prepared enough defense for them not to waste their time and risk a character.

[elpreda]

Typically people don't like you to move next to them. It's best to keep on moving. You could also try talking to them.

How would I go about talking to them? Should I just wait around until someone's there and hope they don't kill me on sight?

You will never be safe in this game. Having said that most people will not raid you if you have prepared enough defense for them not to waste their time and risk a character.

I've only started playing for a few days, I'm nowhere near capable of building defenses that can repel... well pretty much anyone.

[JohnCarver]

How would I go about talking to them? Should I just wait around until someone's there and hope they don't kill me on sight?

You could always just get literacy and build a signpost outside their base with some basic information on how they can contact you.

[sephiroth]

If you found the mine and you didn't build it and the town is 1 minute away its most likely there mine i would either find new spot or talk to them before u build on there property

[elpreda]

Didn't think of a signpost... I do have Literacy but not Carpentry to make boards.

In regards to base defense as far as I can tell blazing braziers are the only real defense against raiders and I'm not going to be able to make those for a long time. That said I do need to set up shop somewhere, I can't advance if I just wander around and eat berries and snails. How should I defend myself until I can make braziers?

[DarkNacht]

You will never be safe in this game. Having said that most people will not raid you if you have prepared enough defense for them not to waste their time and risk a character.

I've only started playing for a few days, I'm nowhere near capable of building defenses that can repel... well pretty much anyone.

You don't need enough defenses to repel anyone just enough that the cost of raiding you is more than the benefit.

[trungdle]

Didn't think of a signpost... I do have Literacy but not Carpentry to make boards.

In regards to base defense as far as I can tell blazing braziers are the only real defense against raiders and I'm not going to be able to make those for a long time. That said I do need to set up shop somewhere, I can't advance if I just wander around and eat berries and snails. How should I defend myself until I can make braziers?

No, now torchposts are good too. They now counts separated from the braziers so build them.
Good defense are just some fences and lock, torchpost which are easy to get if you play regularly.
Fastest way to fend off raiders is claim. If you looks super poor and only have a claim they won't bother.
And, use anything of value right away or trade them for silver and THEN use that silver right away to advance your character. The best defense.

[elpreda]

So the best defense is bluffing and being poor. That's not going to be easy considering I'm a hoarder even irl.

How do fences stop raiders? Can't they just break them down?

[trungdle]

So the best defense is bluffing and being poor. That's not going to be easy considering I'm a hoarder even irl.

How do fences stop raiders? Can't they just break them down?

If you look like you worth the hassle, yes they can.
Give someone enough reasons and no matter how strong you are, they will find you, and they will rape you.
Look at Darwoth being camped for 2 weeks non-stop outside his town. God know what can people do to make you suffer.
Point is, don't make them feel like doing it.
On your point of view (complete safety) walls seem to be not enough, but on my point of view (ugly walled claims everywhere, condensed bases just because of wall efficiency) they are too strong.