They don't step over things. They have to walk around a log, for example. You can keep them out with a single pick ax deep moat, theoretically, if it's done cleanly enough. (I had one pacing back and forth along a shallow river bank before.) It's just easier to make certain that you've broken the pathing, and haven't accidentally left any passages, with taller earth walls.

Personally, I try to make it high enough that I have to sprint to jump out, which does work out to about two characters high. It also helps to align with the compass for straighter walls. The more creases in it, the more likely there's a path there. The greys will be happy to show you if you've missed any spots.

They do reach over things though. Leave a wide margin between the moat and your builds or your garden to protect from attacks.

I don't have a screenshot of a Troll encounter, but it works the same. You just need a single wood pole. They can't step over objects.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2786862626

Land walls are a bit schizophrenic. Ive had the draugr moonwalk up them. You will be better off digging trenches or crafting walls.

build on a hilltop or island. much easier to terraform to your needs.

If you do not have sharp straight near 90 walls made of earth you are wasting time. In order to test your walls you should not be able to run in place and move up the wall.

Same goes for making motes which should be 8m wide and 8m tall.

Your wall can be made "taller" by digging down a little bit in front of it. Basically a trench/wall combo that makes the wall taller on the outside.

Originally posted by CritMasterFlex:

Your wall can be made "taller" by digging down a little bit in front of it. Basically a trench/wall combo that makes the wall taller on the outside.

I mostly do this especially if the perimeter hasn't been flattened and/or too low elevation that moat hits water.

Also I really like the tree idea but rolling them into place is sometimes difficult as they are so fragile. You have to do lots of hoe'ing and obstacle removal.

There is also the wooden beam approach. Saw it here on forums, can't find the post and picture to reference, but if you have a *very* flat and level perimeter and are *very* careful in placing the 2m long wooden beams, you can create a barrier the mobs can't step over nor hit.

Another approach to defense is to use the various blocking methods in combination with spawn denial so that the shortest paths leading to your base interior passes within bow range of a small 'fort' that is accessible by portal from your base.

Lately though I just use the 'rule of three and forty' (see wiki for event mechanics) and place small satellite farms, ports, whatevers outside the raid range of my main base.

I used to keep mobs pacified by pushing tree logs against my base. Enemies won’t attack them typically because they’re not player owned objects. If it works, it’s far less effort to farm materials for.

Originally posted by Chaoslink:

I used to keep mobs pacified by pushing tree logs against my base. Enemies won’t attack them typically because they’re not player owned objects. If it works, it’s far less effort to farm materials for.

That´s a great idea, I will definitly try this for an improvised outpost, though on my mainbase I wanne roll with a wall this time and it´s almost finsihed anyway so yea ;)

Originally posted by TAZjr:

Wall needs to be at least half the Trolls height to keep them out. Its not like they climbs straight up but it does need to be high enough that Troll doesnt step over it.

Thanks for the advice.

i usually go 3 high and 2 deep after. if the wall isnt straight / vertical they can walk up your wall. so by going up and then down it straightens the wall and stops it happening. that.s for a main base.

Originally posted by Chilli con Carno:

Originally posted by Chaoslink:

I used to keep mobs pacified by pushing tree logs against my base. Enemies won’t attack them typically because they’re not player owned objects. If it works, it’s far less effort to farm materials for.

That´s a great idea, I will definitly try this for an improvised outpost, though on my mainbase I wanne roll with a wall this time and it´s almost finsihed anyway so yea ;)

Originally posted by TAZjr:

Wall needs to be at least half the Trolls height to keep them out. Its not like they climbs straight up but it does need to be high enough that Troll doesnt step over it.

Thanks for the advice.

I have always dug moats because they keep trolls out and provide tons of stone for other projects.

Bases along the water I also fell trees into here and there as further obstacles for mobs. I haven't had one enemy get into my base in over 1000 days.

Only real issues are constant maintenance and lighting of my base for nighttime. TONS of resin used.

i've read elsewhere that a pit two character heights deep should work, but I haven't tried it myself.

This is the how it looks like right now:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2824359449
I havent upgraded every tile to max height yet which is why it looks so uneven. I think it would look better if it isn´t max height but not sure if it then keeps trolls out

Wall needs to be at least half the Trolls height to keep them out. Its not like they climbs straight up but it does need to be high enough that Troll doesnt step over it.

I usually dig a trench around my area. Doesnt need to be but one pickaxe width and 2 or 3 wall pieces deep.