For further tips:

You can do a lot to alter the landscape. Doing so will give you a definite tactical advantage. It has a limit as to how high or how low it will go. Dig or build in line with the compass for straight lines. No caves except under existing structures.

Poison resist only works if you take it before you get poisoned. Also the swamp absolutely hates your boat. Most new people who say the game is unfair tried to land their boat at the edge of the swamp. The other people who come on the forums and complain thought that pretty open area with the brown grass would be nice to them.