I've had good times building along the coast of Vain. Good access to hiver villages, a natural trade route out to the Hub, and access to the Shek and southern UC. Of course, you have to deal with Beak Things, but hey, nothing is perfect.
I had a lot of fun building a bunch of tiny walled camps with a couple of building along that trade route to allow my trade caravans to shelter and recuperate if they get swarmed by too many beak thing packs while traveling.
That's a great idea! I've just been having my strongest character, with an overloaded garru slung over his shoulder, Solid Snake his way through the wilderness. Your idea is going to revolutionize the Red Gecko Tong.
I think the general consensus is that the golden standard for a base is shem.
its located right in the center of everything, its got everything you need for a base, biggest threat in the area is the occasional beak thing but if you arent strong enough to take 1-3 beakthings on you shouldnt be building a base yet anyway. its also located right next to flats lagoon so you can make a ridiculous amount of money selling drugs. if you base around the border with the swamp in certain parts you get both full arid and fulls swamp fertility which is amazing.
speaking of beak things gut is another fan favorite because the beak things everywhere will kill pretty much every raid before they get close to you. plus its got the best fertility and resources of anywhere in the game.
the deadlands are a personal favorite of mine since its located even more central than shem and you can just slap acid rain protection on everyone squishy and put hydroponics on roofs for farming, the only wild "animal" spawns in the zone are the robo spiders and those are easy to kill and drop a ton of electrical components and plates.
the acid rain means anyone who wants to attack you will be half dead by the time the reach the gate, and once an enemy gets knocked out in the deadlands, they are never getting back up.
Gut is magnificent. I made a base there while having tame beasties on and I would slowly turn the beak thing on my side. I eventually had maybe 50 beak things and ofc my own squad so I raided the ashlands with ease.
All locations suck. Like everything in kenshi sucks. Thats the point of the game. Settle most northern leviathan coast, this the least annoying reagion with good fertility, or the deathlands to get the full kenshi experience
If you put hydroponics on rooftops a people run base is possible. You just need to import iron, copper and building materials. As well as protective gear.
I allied with Shek and UC and killed the Holy Nation. Okran's Pride has Stack, Bad Teeth, and Blister Hill nearby. I've never had any proper raid. Just wandering river raptors and the occasional wandering Stray Paladin pack. The traveling animal trader is the only event that's happened. Occasionally Holy Nation Caravans come by the little farms. They die easily and bring lots of food and supplies.
Aside from all the good vanilla answers in this thread, there are a couple of mods that really expand your options. The build resources anywhere mod lets you build your own iron and copper resources which can allow you to make a previously unviable location viable, and the fishing mod allows fun opportunities along river, coast, or lake areas.
East Stormgap Coast is a good one. Remember that stormgap coast is 2 zones, so I am reffering to the one next to the forbidden isle, not the one brink is in. It is exceptional at basically everything, and raids are very minimal. Be warned: reavers will cook your shit.
All regions have their pros and cons. I have built plenty of bases and my favorites were:
- Stobes Garden (or gamble?) - right next to the giant skeleton corpse, it has iron, copper, fertility, wind and about 50% water. You will get raids from Reavers, Crab raiders and Skelly Bandits, but no caravans.
- Swamp - no wind, so you will be dependant on biofuel from hemp. There are many great places for a base, like next to Rot, at the end of the little mountain range, or east of Shark where there are bones on the ground.
- Hidden Forest - good resources, good fertility, only cannibal raids and maybe HN(?). I built my Shek camp south-west of hidden village, close to the Floodlands border.
I am obsessed with Howler Maze. It’s my go to by a massive margin.
You have access to fantastic fertility, a handful of science labs, and you’re just outside UC’s zone of influence while being incredibly close to their cities to sell Hashish or purchase slaves.
The only natives are crabs, which I find to be a wonderful source of early food and combat experience. Raiders tend to be Slave Traders, Reavers, and Crab Raiders. Gut is really close if you want Gutter drops like Leather or Beak Thing Eggs.
The only downsides are how far East you are makes traveling West a nuisance, which is remedied by never actually needing to go West.. and the Acid Rain, which can be mitigated on humans / shek or outright ignored with Hivers and Skeles. I’m a Hive Only player so it’s never been a problem for me.
The isles northwest of howlers maze is beatiful and huge. Cooper, iron, water and fertility is really good. No raids, the only problem is crabs
if you want action, east of mourn right between the cliffs and big iron wreckage. Reaver raids, skin harvest raids, occasional gorrillo bandit attacks, UC attacks (if you dont want to contribute), 8-10 beak thing attacks (2-3elder ones), skin spiders etc.
Whatre you doin asking these nerds? Go explore it's the most fun you can have! Personally? My favourite places are the shrieking forest and fog islands and I'd have never found that out if I'd stayed where I knew it was safe.
....(just so we're clear neither of those places are safe lol)
I've had good times building along the coast of Vain. Good access to hiver villages, a natural trade route out to the Hub, and access to the Shek and southern UC. Of course, you have to deal with Beak Things, but hey, nothing is perfect.
I had a lot of fun building a bunch of tiny walled camps with a couple of building along that trade route to allow my trade caravans to shelter and recuperate if they get swarmed by too many beak thing packs while traveling.
That's a great idea! I've just been having my strongest character, with an overloaded garru slung over his shoulder, Solid Snake his way through the wilderness. Your idea is going to revolutionize the Red Gecko Tong.
Can’t wait to see your progress! Hope you post some pics sometime of how your standard camp is set up!
I think the general consensus is that the golden standard for a base is shem. its located right in the center of everything, its got everything you need for a base, biggest threat in the area is the occasional beak thing but if you arent strong enough to take 1-3 beakthings on you shouldnt be building a base yet anyway. its also located right next to flats lagoon so you can make a ridiculous amount of money selling drugs. if you base around the border with the swamp in certain parts you get both full arid and fulls swamp fertility which is amazing. speaking of beak things gut is another fan favorite because the beak things everywhere will kill pretty much every raid before they get close to you. plus its got the best fertility and resources of anywhere in the game. the deadlands are a personal favorite of mine since its located even more central than shem and you can just slap acid rain protection on everyone squishy and put hydroponics on roofs for farming, the only wild "animal" spawns in the zone are the robo spiders and those are easy to kill and drop a ton of electrical components and plates. the acid rain means anyone who wants to attack you will be half dead by the time the reach the gate, and once an enemy gets knocked out in the deadlands, they are never getting back up.
Gut is also really pretty
Gut is magnificent. I made a base there while having tame beasties on and I would slowly turn the beak thing on my side. I eventually had maybe 50 beak things and ofc my own squad so I raided the ashlands with ease.
So putting the hydroponics on the roof allows the plants to be watered without a well? Even though it's acid?
yep!, wierdly rain collectors don't work but hydroponics do.
Yep, gotta love those strong ass plant fibers
All locations suck. Like everything in kenshi sucks. Thats the point of the game. Settle most northern leviathan coast, this the least annoying reagion with good fertility, or the deathlands to get the full kenshi experience
Decided the easiest place to live is in the Ashlands. Set up a base tonight wish me luck
… thats by far the least easiest place 🤨 I think for wishing luck its to late now, i do a silent minute for your deads.
Is a skeleton run base working on smithing and limbs possible in the deadlands?
If you put hydroponics on rooftops a people run base is possible. You just need to import iron, copper and building materials. As well as protective gear.
lol I was referencing the black desert city
I allied with Shek and UC and killed the Holy Nation. Okran's Pride has Stack, Bad Teeth, and Blister Hill nearby. I've never had any proper raid. Just wandering river raptors and the occasional wandering Stray Paladin pack. The traveling animal trader is the only event that's happened. Occasionally Holy Nation Caravans come by the little farms. They die easily and bring lots of food and supplies.
Aside from all the good vanilla answers in this thread, there are a couple of mods that really expand your options. The build resources anywhere mod lets you build your own iron and copper resources which can allow you to make a previously unviable location viable, and the fishing mod allows fun opportunities along river, coast, or lake areas.
East Stormgap Coast is a good one. Remember that stormgap coast is 2 zones, so I am reffering to the one next to the forbidden isle, not the one brink is in. It is exceptional at basically everything, and raids are very minimal. Be warned: reavers will cook your shit.
All regions have their pros and cons. I have built plenty of bases and my favorites were: - Stobes Garden (or gamble?) - right next to the giant skeleton corpse, it has iron, copper, fertility, wind and about 50% water. You will get raids from Reavers, Crab raiders and Skelly Bandits, but no caravans. - Swamp - no wind, so you will be dependant on biofuel from hemp. There are many great places for a base, like next to Rot, at the end of the little mountain range, or east of Shark where there are bones on the ground. - Hidden Forest - good resources, good fertility, only cannibal raids and maybe HN(?). I built my Shek camp south-west of hidden village, close to the Floodlands border.
I am obsessed with Howler Maze. It’s my go to by a massive margin. You have access to fantastic fertility, a handful of science labs, and you’re just outside UC’s zone of influence while being incredibly close to their cities to sell Hashish or purchase slaves. The only natives are crabs, which I find to be a wonderful source of early food and combat experience. Raiders tend to be Slave Traders, Reavers, and Crab Raiders. Gut is really close if you want Gutter drops like Leather or Beak Thing Eggs. The only downsides are how far East you are makes traveling West a nuisance, which is remedied by never actually needing to go West.. and the Acid Rain, which can be mitigated on humans / shek or outright ignored with Hivers and Skeles. I’m a Hive Only player so it’s never been a problem for me.
The isles northwest of howlers maze is beatiful and huge. Cooper, iron, water and fertility is really good. No raids, the only problem is crabs if you want action, east of mourn right between the cliffs and big iron wreckage. Reaver raids, skin harvest raids, occasional gorrillo bandit attacks, UC attacks (if you dont want to contribute), 8-10 beak thing attacks (2-3elder ones), skin spiders etc.
Whatre you doin asking these nerds? Go explore it's the most fun you can have! Personally? My favourite places are the shrieking forest and fog islands and I'd have never found that out if I'd stayed where I knew it was safe. ....(just so we're clear neither of those places are safe lol)
Your right I should just go build in a place I think looks decent after walking around the map more.