Goals for starting out?

[NateTheGreatt]

I've read the wiki on starting out, and I've been through countless question threads on how to do this and that and how to gain LP quickly. After reading all of this, though, I still don't know what to do. I have no guidance. I need some goals to progress.

So my question is: What should be my first major checkpoint goal? To build a house? To find a fishing spot? To build a raft to get off of this island I've found myself on? To find a reliable source of food?

Any goal suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[bitza]

yeomanry, building a palisade and setting up a claim.

well, a steady food source first. rabbits and fishing are good ways to go early on.

also if you're on an island, depending on its size you're probably going to want to get a rowboat to get off of it. if you run out of trees you're screwed, you need at least 5 trees to make a boat.

[sabinati]

well, food is a concern, although not nearly as much as it used to be. when i make a new character i generally start with getting basic survival skills (foraging, fishing, hunting) and work on exploring the area for clay, water, and soil quality points (as well as looking for fishing spots and grasslands so i know where to go for some food), and adjusting my personal belief sliders to full peaceful for the LP bonus. then i generally alternate between buying other low LP cost skills (plant lore, hearth magic, farming, will to power, etc) and increasing marksman, exploration (helps you find those taproots, blueberries, chantrelles and wild windsown weeds) and survival.

next i look for a permanent (or at least long term) place to settle, build a cabin, get yeomanry, start farming, etc.

[NateTheGreatt]

Where is a good place to permanently settle?

Also how far away could the nearest already-established settlement be? Should I even bother looking for one, and just settle by myself?

[sabinati]

hmm, a good place to settle depends on your personal preference. i personally like to be near a grassland, near a forest, and near a river or lake.

a settlement might be close, but it might not be. exploring around will help you determine this. i'd take some shots with a sling at some animals from a boat. if you see any that aren't IX or X then you're somewhat close to a village.

[sandworm55]

how does that work with the lvls, do villages lower the lvl of surrounding creatures?

[sabinati]

yes