Mining 101

To start Mining, you will need access to a Cave or Mine Hole. I was fortunate enough to locate this abandoned mine some time ago.

Using a Stone Axe or Pickaxe, you can mine the black tiles for Ore. This Ore can then be processed in an Ore Smelter to obtain various metals.

Remember that your Personal Beliefs should be set to Industry for a higher chance of finding valuable metals. In this old mine, I found Cast Iron, which can be further processed to create Wrought Iron.

Hunting Tricks - Bear

Today, I encountered a Bear lurking outside my home. We'll demonstrate a simple trick to hunt it with ease.

You can safely attack Bears with ranged weapons from behind Palisade walls. However, they normally start running away if you deal a certain amount of damage.

The trick is to equip a relatively weak ranged weapon (I used a ~q30 Sling for the video) so that they don't flee. It can take a while, but this method can net you a free Bear kill with little risk.

Signs of Life

While rare, I do bump into some signs of recent player activity. This little settlement has a new player claim and recently plowed fields.

These Wooden Chests and Drying Frames are also fairly recent. No sign of the owner, though.

I almost jumped in my seat when this Dryad ran past me in the forest. But players seem to be rarer than these creatures, nowadays.

Murder in the Meadows

Having not heard from Nettle in a while, I decide to visit his settlement. To my horror, I find his Skeleton with its Skull removed and the disgusting Stench of Murder.

I quickly survey the area only to find more signs of death. I wonder if the culprits were bandits, or perhaps they simply enjoyed taking another person's life.

As much as I would like to help, I currently lack the skills, equipment and information to find the criminals responsible for this cruel act. Few players have the means to enact justice upon tyrants.

The Underworld

You can enter the underground layers of the world by exploring Caves or building Mine Holes. While most player activity happens above, some choose to spend their days mining and building underground.

I prefer to keep my belongings and activities away from prying eyes. Here is a glimpse of my little hole in the wall.

Living underground is not without danger. Mining out building space generally requires some Strength, a Pickaxe and Mine Supports. If you aren't careful, cave ins can knock you out or even kill you!

Hunting Lessons - Mouflon (butchering)

Mouflon provide Raw Sheep Skin, Raw Mutton, Intestines and Bone Material.

Remember that you can Tame them and raise Sheep for higher quality materials.

Hunting Lessons - Mouflon

A herd of Mouflon foolishly appear outside my home. They can easily be trapped using fences or sign posts, but today I won't need to do that.

If you attack one, the whole herd will swarm you. Thus, they are best hunted with ranged weapons.

Remember to use your Four-Leaf Clovers if you want wild Wool before hunting.

The Lonely Road

With the Haven and Hearth update so close, the current world is fairly quiet.

On a quick boating trip along a river, I pass by a number of inactive settlements.

 Even the homesteads that haven't been raided have gone silent.

Hunting Lessons - Bear (butchering)

Bears are the source of some key materials: Raw Bear Hide, Bear Tooth and Bear Meat.

You can craft a Bear Cape, which increases Strength, using a Dried Bear Hide and two Bear Teeth. You can also use the teeth to craft a Bear Tooth Talisman, which increases Strength and Charisma, or use them for a Village Claim. Bear Meat is used as an ingredient for various high FEP food.

Hunting Lessons - Bear

Bears are rare and dangerous creatures. The safest method is to hunt them from a Rowboat. Remember to raise the quality of your ranged weapon to do more damage. Avoid close combat until you have good armor and weapons.

Be careful when exploring forests, as Bears will attack you if you get close. These animals are a common cause of death to the unprepared. Avoid them if you encounter them on foot.

One Month Left

Only one month left to the release of the new version of Haven and Hearth! Besides the much needed graphics upgrades, the developers shared some improvements such as stockpiles to store materials and drag-and-drop user interfaces for basic tasks like plowing fields and planting seeds.

One of the major changes planned is the removal of hearth secrets and most forms of teleportation / fast travel. This concept is often debated in the Haven and Hearth forums. On one hand, this greatly discourages the abuse of alts and village oaths. But on the other hand, this makes it difficult (if not impossible), for players to start up together at the same location.

I look forward to the game's new features: horses, plum trees, firebrands and more! Hopefully, these changes all lead towards a great new chapter in the history of Haven and Hearth.

Iron Chef

Cooking is an integral part of life in Haven and Hearth. Prepared food provides more Food Event Points (FEP) than raw food. This allows you to increase Attributes, such as Strength, faster. Roasted Meat is a basic cooking method that requires a lit Fire.

Boiled River Pearl Mussels require a lit Cauldron full of Water. You can find River Pearl Mussels while exploring along rivers. There is a tiny chance to obtain valuable River Pearls from boiling mussels.

Sausage Making allows you to create processed meats with a Meat Grinder. Sausages provide a lot of FEP compared to raw and roasted meats. Try to save your higher quality meat and Intestines for sausages!

Hunting Lessons - Deer (butchering)

Deer provide two unique materials: Raw Deer Meat and Deer Antlers. The latter are required for building Village Claims.

Although more difficult to hunt, Deer provide higher quality materials compared to Boars. Raise your Attributes and craft better Slings to hunt them!

Hunting Lessons - Deer

Note that Deer have a skill that can heal themselves and other animals.

To hunt them successfully, you should have at least the following:
1. Marksmanship at skill value 30 or greater
2. Sling at quality 30 or greater
3. A Rowboat

Luckily, this one spawned alone. They often spawn in herds, so you should try to separate them to prevent them from healing each other. Deer are not aggressive, so you can trap them with sign posts or fences before attacking.

Raining Runestones

Today, I'll share some interesting Runestones that I recently found.

Death is a painful and often unavoidable reality in this game.

Unfortunately, I only found an abandoned settlement when I followed these directions.

That skeleton in the corner gives me the feeling that these aren't just empty threats.

This game can be frustrating to master, but I find that the experience can be fairly rewarding over time.

Villages 101

Villages serve as shared claims which prevent outsiders from using their property.

To build a Village Claim, you must have the skill Lawspeaking and you must have Discovered the following:
1. Stone, Block of Wood, Board and Bone Material (see New Character Checklist)
2. A Beautiful Dream! from a Dream Catcher
3. Deer Antlers from hunting Deer
4. Bear Tooth from hunting Bears

Villages need to maintain Authority by ensuring that its members gain Learning Points regularly. Failure to do so will render the village claim inactive, allowing outsiders to do as they please on village property.

While a village claim can provide a basic level of protection, remember that it cannot directly protect you or your property from criminal acts, such as Theft and Vandalism.

Tomorrow is a New Day

After meeting Nettle, I decide to explore a bit further than usual.

Along one of the river systems, I find some Banners and this Runestone.

 I also find another area that seems to be good for Fishing.

But after stopping by this little graveyard, I quickly decide to make my way back home.

Meeting Nettle

I bump into this friendly fellow named "Nettle" while traveling. After sharing a few words, he asks me to wait for a moment.

To my surprise, he gives me a few quality pieces of equipment: a Stone Axe, a Bone Saw, a Bear Cape, and a Chainmail Shirt!

Before I leave, he also hands me a Militia Sword to defend myself. Sometimes it really pays to make friends with your neighbors.

I Prefer the Term "Treasure Hunting"

I stumble upon an unclaimed settlement with a breach in its walls. After carefully checking the perimeter, I venture inside.

To my surprise, I find a number of Wooden Chests full of assorted items. I decide to search for any trinkets and valuables.

No Gold or Silver here, but I find a bit of metal, some tools and a number of Curiosities. Pretty useful stuff, and it's all free!

Hunting Lessons - Fox (butchering)

Since Foxes are not aggressive animals, you can trap them in Fences and use a Sling to easily hunt them.

A Dried Fox Hide can be used to make a Fox Hat. While stylish, it doesn't provide any defense.

Pork is a Nice Sweet Meat

Usually, you need to tame a wild boar to obtain a domesticated pig. This one must have escaped its pen.

I quickly decide to take it home for dinner before it escapes.

Raw Pork can be used as a substitute for Boar Meat in recipes. In addition, it can be used to make Bierwurst.