THE DEAD WE KNEW base / camp loop

What this gets you: Numbered first-camp setup from FOUNDING and fires to cabin walls — notebook HUD names plus Steam night/food needs.

2026-09-15

Run order

Gather sticks, logs, stone/stones, leaf/leafs for notebook costs.
Place FIRES (BASIC FIRE / CAMPFIRE) and RAIN SHIELD if rain is a risk.
Place FOUNDING, then TINT / HUNTER CABIN / SMALL CABIN and wall pieces.
Add STORAGES holders, garden plots, and reinforce before night.

Where this comes from

First-party	Steam About: simple cabin → stronger livable base; organize shelter; prepare for night. EA FAQ: hunger/thirst/energy; hunt deer; plant tomatoes. Notebook HOUSE / FIRES / STORAGES stills (app 4890760).
Multi-source	GameRant lists base building among confirmed features.
Our own runs	Blueprint log-carry, multi-level wireframe, coastal cabin, garden plots, night campfire stills (2026-09-15 pack).
Unknown	Base upgrade tiers beyond notebook names; shared-base permissions in 4-player co-op; exact garden crop HUD names beyond Steam tomatoes.

Steam describes starting with a simple cabin and expanding into a stronger, more livable base: gather from abandoned structures and forest, craft what you need, make a place to rest, and prepare for night. Notebook pages name the placeables; Steam stills show the placement loop.

Player carrying a log into a wireframe shelter blueprint in foggy forest

How to set up a first camp

Gather early materials named on notebook costs: sticks, logs, stone/stones, leaf/leafs.
Open the notebook FIRES section and place a BASIC FIRE or CAMPFIRE for light and heat.
If rain is a risk, place RAIN SHIELD (7 logs) so fire and supplies stay dry.
Open HOUSE. Place FOUNDING (4 logs) where walls should stand.
Add shelter: TINT (rainwater), HUNTER CABIN, or SMALL CABIN (20 logs) depending on materials.
On a FOUNDING footprint, place WALL / DOOR WALL / WINDOWED WALL / WALL DOOR pieces.
Carry resources into the translucent wireframe blueprint until the structure completes (Steam still).
Add STORAGES holders/shelf so sticks, stones, logs, and tools stay sorted.
Place garden plots and grow food (Steam still shows coastal plots including tomato-like red fruit; Steam text names tomatoes).
Reinforce before night — Steam ties night danger to shelter readiness.

Multi-level wooden base with wireframe sections and campfire

Camp piece roles

Piece (HUD)	Role in loop	Source
FOUNDING	Defines wall footprint	HOUSE notebook
WALL / DOOR WALL / WINDOWED WALL / WALL DOOR	Enclosure and room passages	HOUSE notebook
TINT / HUNTER CABIN / SMALL CABIN	Shelter / rest / rainwater (TINT)	HOUSE notebook
BASIC FIRE / STANDING FIRE / CAMPFIRE	Light and heat	FIRES notebook
RAIN SHIELD	Keeps fire and supplies dry in rain	FIRES notebook
STICK / STONE / LOG HOLDER · SMALL SHELF	Resource and tool storage	STORAGES notebook

Full material costs for each piece live on /guides/crafting.

Coastal log cabin camp with fence dock and multiple survivors

Three wooden garden plots on a coastal shoreline

Stone-ring campfire at night with two survivors

Needs tied to base (Steam EA FAQ)

Need	Steam statement
Hunger	Hunger, thirst, and energy systems are part of gameplay
Thirst	Same EA FAQ list
Energy	Same EA FAQ list
Food production	Hunt deer; plant tomatoes; cook meals / soup

Dense fog and night change when you should stop expanding and hold the cabin — see /guides/fog-weather. Co-op camp roles: /guides/co-op. Personal shelter here is distinct from world location types on /guides/outposts.

Unknowns

Base upgrade tiers beyond notebook placeable names.
Raid / night attack spawn rules tied to base size.
Shared base rules in 4-player co-op (permissions, griefing).
Exact garden crop HUD names beyond Steam “tomatoes”.