As a passionate gamer and Sons of the Forest expert with over 200 hours of playtime, I‘ve become obsessed with building elaborately fortified forest bases.
The key to defense in Sons of the Forest lies in controlling enemy access. As any passionate gamer knows, strong perimeter walls with integrated gate structures provide the foundation for secure buildings that can withstand the toughest cannibal onslaughts.
In this comprehensive 2000+ word guide, I‘ll tap into my extensive experience to breakdown everything you need to know about constructing superior defensive wall gates for your forest strongholds.
Why Defensive Gate Structures Matter
Before jumping into the building specifics, it‘s worth covering why fortified gate structures should be an integral part of your base defense plans:
1. Funnel Enemies into Kill Zones
Gates create openings in otherwise solid perimeter walls, allowing you to channel attacking enemies into designated areas saturated with traps and defensive platforms.
This allows a solo player or small group to take on entire tribes by engaging smaller groups at a time. The key is controlling opponent movement.
(Funneling enemies in Fortnite via wall/ramp structures)
As a passionate gamer, I cannot stress enough how vital layout is. I always try to build maze-like wall structures that force waves of enemies into multiple overlapping funnel zones:
This allows me to pick cannibals off from the safety of elevated log platforms as they attempt to navigate the walls.
2. Layered Gates Protect Against Breaches
Another excellent tactic is stacking two or more vertically separated gate structures:
Gates form inevitable weak spots that enemies endlessly attack. Adding a secondary gate a few feet inside my perimeter walls has saved me multiple times when the exterior one eventually fails under pressure.
It drastically slows enemy progress, buying me precious minutes to shore up defenses. Based on my extensive experience testing base designs, I highly recommend integrating backup wall gates.
3. Controlled Access For Allies
Finally, gates allow me to control entry and exit from my forest base. I can:
- Quickly seal myself inside when attacked
- Safely observe enemies from behind my walls
- Open protected sally ports to permit ally entry/exit
By integrating wall gates properly, I can turn my base into a literal fortress able to withstand the most hellish hoard attacks!
Construction Guide: Vertical Log Gates
Now that I‘ve covered the main advantages of wall gates, let‘s get into the specific build details, starting with my preferred vertical log design:
Step 1: Gather Materials
For a standard set of integrated wall gates you will need:
Logs:
- Perimeter walls: 150-200 logs
- Vertical gates: 25 logs per gate
Rope: 60-100 rope lengths
Tools: Axe, chainsaw (optional)
I tend to overstock on logs/rope since they are essential base building materials.
Step 2: Plan Gate Locations
Carefully planning gate placement based on terrain and planned kill zones is vital.
I typically aim for 3-4 gates evenly spaced around key access points:
This achieves 360 coverage for entry/exits while allowing enough wall space to setup overlapping fire zones.
Step 3: Foundation and Wall Construction
With the perimeter layout planned, I:
- Clear out trees and rocks from the gate areas
- Lay horizontal foundation logs spaced ~1.5 feet apart
- Build up the side walls using vertical log placement, leaving gaps for the gates
Step 4: Gate Installation
For each gate:
- Cut notches in the upper foundation logs using an axe or chainsaw
- Lifting individually, insert vertical gate logs until the gap is filled
- Add rope braces across the top to temporarily hold logs in place
- Remove/replace vertical logs easily to control access
Step 5: Testing and Improvements
No build is complete without testing!
I rigorously check gate functionality, sealing them closed and re-opening multiple times. Any loose logs get additional rope braces.
I also continously optimize the nearby area, adding:
- Traps/snares: Slow enemies that breach the gate
- Raised platforms: Rain projectiles safely from cover
- Upgrades: Extra defensive walls and gates layer defenses over time
With the basics covered, let‘s analyze optimal methods and material requirements.
Analysis: Horizontal vs Vertical Log Gates
While my personal preference is vertical log gates due to speed/strength, beginning players may find horizontally stacked logs easier to construct initially.
Let‘s break down the differences:
| Gate Type | Building Difficulty | Structural Strength | Ease of Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horizontal | Easy | Weak | Hard (removing logs each time) |
| Vertical | Intermediate | Strong | Easy (removing a few key logs to open) |
Horizontally stacked log gates basically jam logs tightly into an opening. This simpler concept works well short term for small bases.
But constantly removing/replacing multiple logs is tedious long term. Structurally they are also weaker compared to vertical designs.
That‘s why I advocate learning to construct the more complex vertical log gates from the start. The time investment pays dividends later on.
Material Requirements By Base Size
To give you an idea of scale, here are the approximate material requirements for different sized bases with integrated wall gate defenses:
| Base Size | Perimeter Wall Logs | Rope | Vertical Gate Logs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (16×16 ft) | 100 | 50 | 15 per gate (x2 gates = 30 logs) |
| Medium (32×32 ft) | 300 | 100 | 20 per gate (x3 gates = 60 logs) |
| Large (64×64 ft) | 600 | 300 | 25 per gate (x4 gates = 100 logs) |
These are rough estimates – material needs will vary based on specifics of your forest base layout and construction methods used.
I always overstock 30-50% extra logs/rope whenever possible. They are essential materials that enable rapid repairs and upgrades.
Defense Tips: Protecting Your Wall Gates
Wall gates form inevitable weak points that enemies will continuously attack. Use these advanced tactics to turn them into defender strongholds:
Chokepoints
Guide perimeter walls to create chokepoints that enemies must pass through when targeting your gates. Narrow gaps make it impossible to swarm your defenses all at once.
(Historical castle using landscape choke point)
I exploit cliffs, rivers, thick forests or build additional walls to funnel approaches towards my gates. This allows me to engage tribes sequentially as they struggle to reach my defenses.
Redundancy
Like any passionate gamer knows, redundancy saves bases! Protect critical gate structures with additional inner gates and rotate damaged components out rather than leaving weak spots enemies can exploit.
I like to stockpile extra pre-built gate components near vulnerable areas for rapid repairs.
Flanking Towers
Finally, flank all gates with raised shooting platforms and integrate boulder traps nearby. This provides supporting fire to gun down hordes occupied with smashing themselves against my gates below!
Combined together intelligently, these tactics transform wall gates from liabilities to near impregnable redoubts able to withstand the worst attacks!
Final Takeaways
After 200+ hours perfecting defense in Sons of the Forest, my overall key learnings for constructing impenetrable wall gate structures are:
- Vertically stacked log gates balance strength, speed and access
- Carefully plan multiple integrated gate locations during initial base layout
- Funnel approaching enemies into overlapping fields of fire
- Layer redundant inner/outer gates to react to breaches
- Flank all gates with elevated platforms and boulder traps
- Overstock essentials like logs/rope to enable rapid upgrades
Learning to build layered defensive gates takes practice but pays off long term. Your fortresses will be able to withstand siege-like conditions from even the most aggressive tribes!
With these passionate gamer tips, your forest base can develop into an awe-inspiring stronghold while keeping you safe as you master the wilderness.
Let me know in the comments if you have any other great defensive wall/gate tactics to share!
