Okay so this isnt a hardcore indepth hunting or foraging guide so leave now if thats what you wanted... this is a guide on ways to get your village or small home set up, safe, and nicely place...
Tip 1: Look for a place with a Swamp, Mountains, nice river system, etc. and always stay away from central grid its a noobs nightmare there...
(http://sabinati.com/HavenMap/) Central grid is just the center area of this huge map for those derps out there.
Tip 2: Set jobs for people if your in a village, if your not in a village you should probably just be a hermit imo... This game is all about strategy, numbers, and teamwork. Invite friends or make friends to survive. back on point if your starting a village Everyone should have a primary job that they will always have to do, Forage, Farm, Cook, Hunt, Mine, etc. And protip: alts are great for this game cause you dont want to have one toon OP in all stats then have him die and be SoL for months as you try to rebuild that toon.
Tip 3: Have a strategy for your Village/Home Layout.. I like the way I do my Villages. Pali's up asap, Mine out a spot brick wall the mine and brick wall a area in the mine use that to store all your Pearls, Iron, Steel, etc etc. and use the upper ground for Tree farm and regular farm. And always try to get a Bwall around your main area asap aswell, as this reduces your chances of being raided on the outer grid greatly sometimes... not all the time.
Tip 4: don't raid noobs and come on the forums talking all high and might posting screenshots of how you raided a palisade... no one cares and they will laugh at you and your reputation will be as bad as Saxony4.
Tip 5: Be paranoid. If you think you cant trust someone your probably right, This is a game of survival and its a eat or be ate world in haven...
Tip 6: dont ever leave scents, even if your thinking oh its just trespassing they wont care i didnt do anything bad really. your wrong alot of people will kill you just for the lulz cause of this...
hope these things help some of you guys and give guys a better understanding of how to get up in the brutal world of haven. <3
PS : Take advantage of the forums make friends, especially with traders like Ramone for example. Hunting bears and Mussels for pearls can be traded to someone like him for basic needs like clay, Herb table, equipment, etc. Bears are simple to obtain but a tad bit hard to find at times but i promise it will pay off to just start out kill 10 bears give them to ramone and hook yourself up with some decent items to get a boost. Trust me. Traders like him are great, and have great reputation and if you are kind and give them alot of business they have no problem donating simple items like farming hats.