the more i play this game, the more time i seem to spend building up access to a new place after i get there.. now i'll spend several days building forts and paths in the swamp, to make getting the iron out easy and safe.. portals are obviously key, but i'm learning that putting up little fortifications here and there is a huge help.. just to have a place to retreat to out in the wilderness where they can't surround you as easy can make the difference in a lot of bad situations.. especially heading into the swamp for the first time.. just a few sections of stakewall here and there along a path is enough to mess with the swamp critters and make life much less stressful out there..