Hi Topheron,
A first remark is that total safety is probably what TFP tries to remove from the game, especially with the new IA. In the current state however, there still exist rather safe base designs. I would also say that now, building up is much safer than caving down.
A few advices for the first days:
- Crouch is your best ally early on. You can really move near zombies and gather resources if you remain crouched.
- A ladder starting at 3rd height is a safe entrance to any roof.
For the hordes, there are a few baseless options, depending on your build. A full str build with coffee or beer can take the horde fighting in the street. A full agility build may fight it in the water. A full perception build would use slowing traps in a corridor while shooting zombies from distance, a full int build could flee on minibike...
For base designs, from safest to requiring more active defense:
- Trader base. Unreachable, glitch, takes most of the fun out, but requires a few days to build
-> Build a deep gap all around trader and attach your base to the highest indestructible blocks.
- Fall bases. Requires a bit of digging and materials, reduces xp gain. Saves ammo.
-> 3 times 25 block falls should kill most zombies.
- Melee bases. Split Zs damages on many blocks. Requires a bit of material. Saves ammo.
-> Build a floor with horizontal pillar 50. Can be combined with fall.
- Toothless bases. Only special zombies are a threat (dog, spider, cops). Block damages are very low (cobblestone can stand the 3 first hordes with only little repair). Saves ammo.
-> Build walls as 1 block on ground, 1 empty, and 1/2 block facing up. Zs will see this as a path and wont damage blocks a lot, while you can melee them. There are tricks to prevent Zs from climbing above.
- Platform with traps all around.
-> platform 2 high, traps 1 high. Since the path goes on the trap, the Z will move to the next as traps break.
