I would argue that going faster gives a better chance, cover more area in less time. Again, I don't think you can miss them, and I don't think you can go so fast that the spawn trigger fails.

It depends on how the spawning works, if they spawn in at static locations then yeah going as fast as possible is best because you'll have a greater chance to aggro one. On the other hand, if it's a event or spawn that happens when you are in the right circumstances (night/storm, in an ocean biome) then going slower is more convenient. After doing quite a bit of hunting for them, I'm going to guess it's probably static and faster is better.

Yes but the world generates 500m (2x2 floors are 2m square) out from what you have already explored. I used the same mod mentioned above. It generated tar pits outside a base i made before H&H. Upgrade World - https://www.nexusmods.com/valheim/mods/1485

Spent a few hours looking for tar pits and nothing. Supposedly you can find them in unexplored areas of the plains. Problem is if you sailed past it in a boat that area is considered explored.
Guess what I did while waiting for a new boss. I went sailing to find the Mistlands. Built a new base with a portal right next to it for a quick start on the boss campaign. My map is toast for tar and onions.

Will probably switch to a new world just for tar and onion seeds.

Originally posted by XAPMech:

Spent a few hours looking for tar pits and nothing. Supposedly you can find them in unexplored areas of the plains. Problem is if you sailed past it in a boat that area is considered explored.
Guess what I did while waiting for a new boss. I went sailing to find the Mistlands. Built a new base with a portal right next to it for a quick start on the boss campaign. My map is toast for tar and onions.

Will probably switch to a new world just for tar and onion seeds.

You sailed a LOT if you discovered even 1/3 of your plains areas... maps are so big. Its possible, its been a long, long time, but uncovering more than a small % of the whole map is a big undertaking...

Originally posted by jonnin:

Originally posted by XAPMech:

Spent a few hours looking for tar pits and nothing. Supposedly you can find them in unexplored areas of the plains. Problem is if you sailed past it in a boat that area is considered explored.
Guess what I did while waiting for a new boss. I went sailing to find the Mistlands. Built a new base with a portal right next to it for a quick start on the boss campaign. My map is toast for tar and onions.

Will probably switch to a new world just for tar and onion seeds.

You sailed a LOT if you discovered even 1/3 of your plains areas... maps are so big. Its possible, its been a long, long time, but uncovering more than a small % of the whole map is a big undertaking...

I actually like the sailing in Valheim even though I keep Bonemass as my main power. Moder would make it faster but Bonemass is great for Sea Serpents. Never know if I will set ashore in the swamp or on the Plains.
My main harbor on my first world has nine permanent portals so far and I keep supplies on my longboat to build an open portal whenever I need the 24 hour rested bonus or to repair armor and tools.
That is why I wanted the tar so bad. I needed the hot tub to get back to the 24 hour rested level.
It took a few trips of traveling back and forth between worlds to build a new base, harbor, longboat and repair armor and tools. I found a nexus on the new world between Black Forest, Plains and Mountains a few days sailing from my start point. Even found the Merchant close at hand. Tomorrow I plan to build a troll proof base and harbor with all the furniture for my 24 hour rested bonus on the new world. After that it will be off to the mountains for onion seeds.

Thanks a ton, Upgrade World mod worked fabulously. I guess I worded my question about the serpent poorly, what I was wondering is if I have the same chance of triggering the spawn going slow as I do going fast, as going slow would mean I could remain in the ocean for longer.

They seem to spawn in different areas after storms, I've heard just sailing across different biomes over the ocean gives you a better chance of encountering one.

use the command console look up how to activate it now as its a new method
then in console type

GenLoc and wait for the world to load it can take serveral minets depending on ya pc then look in the plains for tar pits, they wont show on you're map if you have revealed the area already but they will spawn.

I've got tar pit's just arround the corner of my old base. Didn't have to start over all again.
Just used some little mod to rebuilt my world while keeping some choosen places saved: Upgrade World - https://www.nexusmods.com/valheim/mods/1485

Not sure if that's the method Mortucus was talking about or if there is even some built in possibility?

Also somewhat unrelated side question, when looking for serpents at night in the ocean is it better to be at full sail or is going slower just as effective?

tar is in old saves in unexplored areas. same for anything else new like seeds...

the serpent glow and are bigger than a longship and aggro you from quite some distance. Can't miss em at any speed, even if you want to!

you can regenerate your map seed (that is, restart that seed from scratch) but not areas. You can fix damage, like fill in a hole and grass it over, but its never quite like it was.