Originally posted by Trike:

First time playing got leather set flint arrows and weapons and go after the first boss with good food to boot; get mugged by ten greylings in the middle of the fight and the boss combos me while on a sliver of health. ♥♥♥♥ this ♥♥♥♥.

Yes, this game isn't for everyone

Originally posted by Gladi8er65:

Originally posted by Trike:

I need a buddy for these cause I can't even get copper without getting mobbed by everything.

I ONLY play solo vanilla and have cleared the game several times up through the plains, but it means you have to adapt and come up with creative ways to do things...

Instead of mining on the surface, where all the baddies show up, find an edge of the copper node, and dig straight down as far as it lets you... This should leave a hole that mobs won't jump into (same principal as "moats" around bases)...

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2908211198

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2858958865

Once you dig down as far as it lets you, then start mining into the node... This creates a safe place to mine, rest, sleep, even process the ores on-site, while all the baddies have no idea you are under there.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2858960285

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2858959032

Later on, when you go to the swamps... build an outpost way up in the indestructible trees, where it IS possible to place fires / hearth, and/or coal kiln, smelter, up out of harm's way, while you process Iron, etc.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2661983674

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2908647883

Excellent post, and I must add for OP's sake;

The devs made it possible for us to employ combat engineering, so I would say you are fully empowered to shape the environment to your advantage at every opportunity and highly recommend doing so with each boss. They aren't going to hold back, so you might as well utilise every tool you can get your hands on.

Run back. Grab your stuff. Don't fight at night. Kill the lightning moose.

okay...fine

It's not "cheating" to prepare the area for the boss fight you know.. maybe down the trees, level the ground, build some protective walls, clear nearby enemies before the fight.
Generally, level up your items to max, like you said, max foods and all that, survey/scout the area and have fall-back plan if you get overwhelmed, in all situations.

Originally posted by dimmyzor:

It's not "cheating" to prepare the area for the boss fight you know.. maybe down the trees, level the ground, build some protective walls, clear nearby enemies before the fight.
Generally, level up your items to max, like you said, max foods and all that, survey/scout the area and have fall-back plan if you get overwhelmed, in all situations.

Yeah, true.

@Trike
Definitely worth clearing it out at a minimum.

Learning curve can feel unforgiving, however, once you learn the nuances it is really a sweet game.

the random maps have issues sometimes. If you got hit by greylings, your alter may be too close to the black forest, and you may want to seek another alter or start another map (keep the character, get your stuff back).

The game is hard and at times, really unfair. You have 3 real options... overprep all the time, which is tedious but some people play permadeath on an honor system and manage, and they are never unprepared to fight the unfair fight. Or you can roll with it, and die from time to time, which is what I do. Or you can give in, as it just gets tougher from here.
Running away in bad situations is perfectly acceptable too, but sometimes you just get mashed no matter what you try. Also just running away to a good place to die so you can get your stuff is viable.

Welcome to Valheim. Where we are dead and then dead again. You'll get the hang of it or go play another game. Either option is good.
Travel safe.

Originally posted by Trike:

First time playing got leather set flint arrows and weapons and go after the first boss with good food to boot; get mugged by ten greylings in the middle of the fight and the boss combos me while on a sliver of health. ♥♥♥♥ this ♥♥♥♥.

Sounds like a real exciting battle! Don't give in, it only gets better -as in you will face some horrible deaths and mad corpse runs. You will die a lot! Nature is out to get you

Originally posted by Trike:

okay...fine

Did you manage to get your stuff back?
Did you kill Sparky yet?

I need a buddy for these cause I can't even get copper without getting mobbed by everything.

take your time to gear up, train a bit with the weapons
rushing into the black forest will surely get you frustated - especially at night
creatures hear ya, and can see if you have a torch (despite greydwarfs hate fire)

take it slow, pick up stuff - build workbench extensions and upgrade your gear
take on enemys with weapons so the lvl raises a bit

valsouls....

if you struggle with the first boss......good night dude...

Originally posted by Trike:

I need a buddy for these cause I can't even get copper without getting mobbed by everything.

You can do this! You don't need help, I believe in you
Go get your gear first

Besides playing co-op has a catch if I have understood it correctly; You will face more mobs and they hit harder, and they have more health. So you are actually better off playing solo in that sense

Originally posted by Trike:

I need a buddy for these cause I can't even get copper without getting mobbed by everything.

Black forest can be tough at first, especially when brutes or trolls spawn. Make sure you have a resting buff, eat the best three food items you can come up with, do stuff during the day only for now, don't get wet and maybe try to search the edges of black forest for copper first, only head in deeper if you really have to. Upgrade gear asap. Parrying is also super helpful in dealing with stronger enemies. But it's kinda a thin line when a shield is good enough or not, some hits will still make you stagger or a lot of damage will go through. Especially doing that with trolls is a kinda bad idea unless you're sure you have outgeared them.

Originally posted by Trike:

I need a buddy for these cause I can't even get copper without getting mobbed by everything.

I ONLY play solo vanilla and have cleared the game several times up through the plains, but it means you have to adapt and come up with creative ways to do things...

Instead of mining on the surface, where all the baddies show up, find an edge of the copper node, and dig straight down as far as it lets you... This should leave a hole that mobs won't jump into (same principal as "moats" around bases)...

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2908211198

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2858958865

Once you dig down as far as it lets you, then start mining into the node... This creates a safe place to mine, rest, sleep, even process the ores on-site, while all the baddies have no idea you are under there.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2858960285

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2858959032

Later on, when you go to the swamps... build an outpost way up in the indestructible trees, where it IS possible to place fires / hearth, and/or coal kiln, smelter, up out of harm's way, while you process Iron, etc.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2661983674

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2908647883