Originally posted by Ryzilynt:

oh yeah, the ditch is tried and true protection for sure. the alternative is ground raised to max height. Very stone intensive. No mobs can jump a gap, and no mobs can destroy earth. So take your pick if you want ultra safe. outside of that you can build an island base.

Until you get the Drake event, then walls and moats are useless. I find that event the hardest to deal with.