Blog Updates on Hiatus

Due to some unforeseen events, I will be putting this blog on temporary hiatus. Hope to continue playing the new Haven and Hearth again soon.

Good luck to all you Hearthlings! Until next time.

The Emperor's New Clothes

Tired of wandering naked, I decide to make some basic clothes.

You can start foraging for Nettle after putting 3-5 points in Exploration.

It took some time, but I finally made myself a Nettle shirt and Nettle pair of pants.

I'm Hunting Wabbits

To hunt a Rabbit, you need to chase after them at your highest run speed. They can be tricky to catch, but a Dead Rabbit provides Fresh Rabbit Fur, Raw Rabbit (meat), Bone Material and Entrails.

More Cliff Climbing

Upon experimenting, it seems that you can climb fairly high cliffs. I wonder if there is a height limit to this superhuman ability?

Early Casualties

I bump into this fallen traveler and his camp while wandering. Poor fellow.

After checking the area for threats, I quickly examine the body.

 Unlike previous worlds, you can now lift and carry player corpses.

I don't feel very comfortable with that angle, though...

Permanent death is a key reality in Haven and Hearth. You only have one shot - make it count!

Not long after, I bump into another dead player. Danger lurks in every corner.

After some time, corpses decompose into skeletons.

You can take the player's skull and use it as a curiosity. The LP gain is often low, but it makes for an interesting souvenir.

Really Digging It

While digging around for Soil, I got this Lore worth 175 Experience Points.

This small settlement looks a bit active. The owner isn't nearby, though.

This Frog gave me some Learning Points when I picked it up. Note that they don't appear on the mini-map.

With some Spruce Boughs, a Spindly Taproot (that serves as String) and the Sewing skill, I craft a Spruce cap.

I pass by a wild Aurochs. This animal seems peaceful, but I bet they are pretty dangerous if attacked.

Using the Stoneworking skill, I take some time to build a Runestone from this boulder.

I leave this small reminder as I continue my dangerous journey.

While finishing up for the day, I find this Itsy Bitsy Spider! Seems like there is a small chance of picking these up while Foraging.

Cliff Climbing

In the new Haven and Hearth, you can now climb up and jump down from some cliffs. This video demonstrates this for new players.

Journey to the West

I take my few belongings and decide that it is time to explore further from my starting area.

While traveling, I find some Spindly Taproot. This common string can be found while Foraging.

Climbing down from a cliff may grant you this Lore worth 200 Experience Points.

With a few points in Exploration, you can find Blueberries. Raising Perception also helps in Foraging.

After some time, I sit down on this chair that someone left behind and take a quick break.

I also take a few Beautiful Dreams from this Dream Catcher so I can rebuild my Hearth Fire in new locations.

This is the first Runestone I've seen in a while.

I catch and roast a couple of Rats for dinner before calling it a night.

Cleaning up a Fireplace

Once you are finished with a fire, be sure to clean up. Putting out the fire allows you to save on fuel and firewood so you can reuse it in the future. Remember that resources are often limited in Haven and Hearth.

Roasting Meat

You can use a Roasting Spit to cook prepared animal meat, such as a Cleaned Chicken. In this video, I demonstrate how to carve two delicious pieces of Sizzling Spitroast Chicken.

New Store Changes

Good news, everyone! Some new store changes have been included with today's patch:

• Free Play Time has been increased from 12 hrs/month to 7 hours/week
• Verified Account Play Time has been increased from 24hrs/month to 14hrs/week

Also note that purchased cosmetic items have become permanent upgrades and can be retrieved if lost or stolen. Due to the nature of permanent death in Haven and Hearth, this is an important change.

A new patch item has been added to the online store as well. I imagine that the developers may have gotten the idea from the recent events...

Discovering Fire

Creating a fire has changed slightly in the new Haven and Hearth. You need to build a Fireplace using stones, a Fire using branches and use a Firebrand to light the fire. This video demonstrates the procedure.

Note: The Firebrand turns into Ashes very quickly, so you need to right click the unlit fire as soon as it ignites.

Meeting the Neighbors

Since the game just started, I bump into a number of players while exploring.

Most of them seem to be in a hurry, but I do my best to be friendly.

Here, I bump into a flock of chickens. Lucky!

Chickens don't run away when you approach them. You can pick them up easily.

After plucking, cleaning and butchering the chicken, I use the Bone Material and a Bough to make a Bone Saw.

Rune stones seem to work the same way as in the old version of the game.

After learning Carpentry, I craft a Bucket and a pair of Clogs. Note that you can now drink straight from the Bucket!

Most players seem to be friendly at this stage of the game.

I found this cave while exploring. These will be key sources of early game metal.

While settling here is tempting, I decide to move on. There is still much more to discover!

Humble Beginnings

As I step into this new world, I take some time to learn the updated game mechanics.

Like before, you can chip stones from boulders. Character animations and sound effects have been added for activities like this.

Crafting is still a key part of the game. Here, I make myself a Stone Axe from a branch and a stone.

Looks like you can gain Experience points from achieving certain tasks, such as stepping into shallow water for the first time.

Experience points are separate from Learning points. Studying now requires both types of points.

Learning lore and skills is also a key part of the game. I recommend learning Foraging, Hunting and Lumberjacking as soon as you can.

Skills that can be improved incrementally are now called Abilities. The Study Report is in this page as well.

While definitely more polished than the previous versions, I often find myself worrying about my remaining play time. I like the game, but I can't say that it is worth the rates they are currently charging. Haven and Hearth is still in "Eternal Alpha", after all.

First Impressions

Like previous versions, you start out in the new Haven and Hearth as a formless wisp in the character creation area.

New players are guided by a short narrative as they follow the main path.

You can start out as either a male or female character.

The character portrait on the upper left reflects what you are currently wearing, which in this case, is absolutely nothing.

Talk to the wizard character at the end of the path to name your character.

You can also find this small garden with a mysterious rune stone. Like before, you can take some time to discover basic items before leaving the area.

To enter the actual game world, just walk through the campfire near the wizard. Another adventure begins!