I’m lost

[Zorgeck]

First i try i the swamp, atleast 24 ninjas show up and raid the hell out of me. “Well then just hire mercs” well all the godamn towns near me HAVE NO mercy other than the hub. Then i set up in the grand desert to start a cactus rum business. It’s all going well, i have 2 merc bands keeping me safe (only after mining for like an entire real life hour while on three speed) then i get the slaver raid, and I’m like “it cant be that bad right i will whoop them”. Then the day arrived and there was atleast 40 fucking slavers and they fuck u everyone at the outpost. Now I’m in slavery...I escape....I go to a different spot....get raided by more slavers....rinse no repeat. Seriously is there ANY way that doesn’t involve cheesing the guards or mining for 80 hours straight to make enough money to hire the 30 or so people i need to survive anywhere. This game would be hundreds of times better if you didnt attract the baddest of the bad with LEVEL ONE WALLS AND A SHACK. Seriously what are they thinking, they think they will hit the god damn mother lode worth of gold. Oh and dont mention thieving because when i get caught and sent to prison, I just get enslaved the moment slave traders show up near the town. This game cant be just mine until u got 30 guys because that just feels like bad game design to me. I’m tired of restarting every time i get to the point of constant loop of boring menial tasks and slavery

Now to my question: Anywhere in the great desert where i can produce cactus rum reliably without getting fucked in the ass by slavers and the fake ass protection service” the traders guild gives ya.

[Sammo]

Sounds like you’re enjoying Kenshi!!

This is only my preference, others will play differently.

Can’t say I’ve ever started in the great desert, wouldn’t be my first choice.

You are right, you will need to mine for a long time to get enough money to get enough people to defend your base.

I usually like to start in the hub. Get a crew of 8 or 10. One bone dog for sure, they always seem to get pretty tough relatively quickly.

I’ll buy a small shack in the hub fix it up and use it to get research through tech level 3 complete. Keep on mining and join the Shinobi thieves, you can usually buy decent weapons, armor, and bags from them for cheap.

Fight with starving bandits, dust bandits, occasional wild animal. Get your ass kicked, yep it happens a lot in the beginning.

I like to have most of my crew around 20 attack and defense before moving into the swamp. Do not rush to base building. Starting your base too early is the one thing everybody regrets.

Setup in the swamps, probably one of the easiest places to start your first base. Yes, you will get crops eaten by swamp raptors, yes they will kick your ass. Yes you will get raided by stone rats, yes, they will kick your ass. Yes, you will get raided by black dragon ninjas, yes they will kick your ass. Yes you will get raided by dust bandits... but no, they won’t kick your ass...

Soon the raptors won’t be a problem, then the stone rats, and finally the black dragon ninjas.

[swillo]

Now to my question: Anywhere in the great desert where i can produce cactus rum reliably without getting fucked in the ass by slavers and the fake ass protection service” the traders guild gives ya.

Quick answer "NO". Building a base early is will get you killed. and the great desert is a second level area at least, skimmers can make it third level.
To get established in the desert, Start by buying a cheap place in town. Get some skills you can even try and start making and selling rum there, but it will depend on the resources that the other shop keepers have on hand. If you want to make real money faster you will have to learn to fight. There are several ways to do this without kiting them to the gate guards.
One tactic I use when I have only one or two peeps is to work on stealth and sneak up on the last person in a group and knock them out. start with vagrants or famers. Steal their stuff and then carry them away from the group and beat the snot out of them several times. You can always drop them off at a slaver shop for a few bucks when you are tired of training.(and the more you sell the more the slavers will like you, and the less they will attack you.)

Another way is to get a cross bow and learn to hunt skimmers. Skimmers are tougher to do this with then dogs or river raptors, but if you stay light on your feet you can get a few shots in then run for space and shoot again. It trains your speed as well.

Finally if you want to play a trader start, I suggest start in a town and make some money on whatever has the best mark up. go to another town and buy what ever they are selling cheap and then find were you can sell it high priced. For me this actually takes some notes on paper to track where I should sell what. And don't be afraid to follow another trade caravan and leech their guards protection.

And when you do finally build a base make sure you have money for bribes and crossbows for the front gate. ( I like to build near the gut, free meat and skins to sell if your crossbows are set up properly.)