After exploring the continent I spawned at, I learned a couple of things which I implemented on my second map. Built a big base inland on first map, had to build a very long road from coast to HQ, transporting metals was very time consuming. Second map; built a small base right on the coast, after thoroughly exploring the starting continent, I found tons of copper and tin right on the coast. Tin can be found along creeks that empty into the sea, so easy mining and transport using sailing vessel. Copper can often be found right on the coast, especially along steep mountain terrain in Black Forest biome. This copper was the easiest to mine because the mountain side bordering ocean tends to be quite barren and enemies can be seen coming from a long ways off. The steep mountainside also makes mining under the copper deposit a simpler task. Quite often I found 2 - 3 large copper deposits very close to one another. I always look for abandoned houses or stone keeps to repair, where I can dock my boat and install a portal back to my main base, so I am no working outside at night.

Docking my boat along the coast right beside copper deposits, made transporting ore a breeze on my second playthrough. Having a base with smelters and crafting tables, on a peninsula with a somewhat barren & flat meadow, made it so I did not have to build any roads or even build a cart to transport my ore. I could dock my ship 50 feet from my base, to unload the copper & tin I mined within 50 feet of the coast. When I moved up to mining silver & iron, I followed the same strategy, always looking for ore sources close to the shoreline. Many mountains that contain silver can be found where one side of the mountain ends at the sea coast. This makes mining silver easy & safe, because mountain sides tend to have little or no enemies, and running downhill means one is not going to have to worry about stamina loss if they are being chased ...