Originally posted by GeoForce:

Thanks all.

Currently I'm making workstations in virtually every (not too decrepit ) abandoned cabin or ruin I find, and am 'daisy-chaining; a row of portals as I spread. I've been told that I'll get a real boost when I find the trader, but hasn't happened yet either. I have located The Elder location but can't seem to figure how to sail to get there yet and it's close but past reasonable swim range.

This is a solid approach. Your first real base needs to give you access to the Ocean biome, so building it along a shore or inlet is good. Moats are key to defenses and you only need to dig 3 sides on the water. You will likely need to run metals by foot for a while until you can build at least the Karve. So build it in the meadows but not too far from Black Forest. If you have not found a location that supports that, continue exploring until you do.

I almost made a huge mistake on my first base. I found a fantastic shoreline spot off a clearing in the meadows and build it there; not far at all from the original spawn point. Only after I spent time exploring all the areas around it did I realize that the “Ocean” was actually a lake! Fortunately, I found a very thin strip of land between it and the Ocean proper and was able to excavate a small channel to sail my ship through

Disaster averted. It is a great base now and has grown a lot.