Base Building Basics

Tier 1 (T1) is simple, rough built, low HP wood.



Tier 2 (T2) is mid range timber with a better HP and tighter fit to the panels.



Tier 3 (T3) is the best material, tough, high HP metal.

{images and better descriptions to come}To start building, access your crafting menu by pressing TAB. It is on the right of the screen. You will see it default to 'All' items, and you can see the separate tabs for various specialised groups. We will be looking at building, so select the house icon.All buildings in H2o are floating (at this current stage) and as such you will need to place 'Floating Platforms' down first as the foundation of the base. Select the Floating Platform icon and you will see the resources needed to create one Platform. If the resource is shown with a green tick, you have it in your inventory in the correct numbers, yellow dot indicates you have the resources in your inventory to be able to create this component in sufficient numbers to make one of these platforms. Red cross indicates you do not have the item, or enough resources to make this component. When you have green and yellow indicators, click on the icon to create one platform. you can queue up more items, and different items as well, just by clicking on them. You will be slowed, and unable to jump or run while crafting, but if you want to stop crafting all items in the queue just click the red 'Abort' button.Now you have your first Floating Platform, place it in your quick access tool bar (1-9) and find some free water to build on. Select the Platform by pressing the indicated number on your keyboard, and you will see an outline of the item in place on screen. If it is green, you can left click to action it and it will appear in the game world. if it is red, you may be too shallow, or touching rocks or another object. Move around a bit, and find a spot that will give you a green indicator.More platforms can be placed next to the existing platform, just be careful and watch the overhead preview image and ensure you have fully snapped onto the first platform. It is easy to place adjoining platforms that are not fully touching each other by mistake. You can use the Sledgehammer tool to remove these erroneous parts, but you will receive no compensation in return, so be careful.Now, in order to place walls, doorways and ceiling/floors, you need to place Pillars. Pillars are required to support any upper structural component, and are luckily made in pairs (2) for each time you press on the item in the crafting menu. Place the first set around and between the joins of the floating platforms. They will only place when they find a suitable position on the corner edges of the platforms. Once the lower pillars are placed, you can then place additional pillars on top of these base ones, going as high as you like. Walls, Doorways and Windows can now be placed between these pillars. If you don't have pillars, or cannot place them due to collision with shallow water, or overhead rock features, you may only be able to place a half-wall, or fence.Aside from floors pieces, stairs, ramps, ladders and window bars, just about all the remaining construction parts come in 3 tiers.So create some walls, door frames and doors, windows and window shutters as well as some window bars for added security.. Plus floors to stop aerial raiders from jumping in on you from above. You can mix building grades, and when you have the resources, use the Sledgehammer to remove and then replace the T1 and T2 parts with more protective T3.Quick notes on the advanced parts to help you create more than the basic box base:Standard doors will size to fit any opening.Doors, hatches and shipyard portals will all lock to allow only you, and clan members, access upon placement.Hatch ways require a ladder to access, if you want to go up through them. The standard door component in any Tier grade will re-size to fit the hatch.You can place a diagonal platform or floor piece if you have 3 other platforms/floors in an L shape. It will form a triangle between the outer edges of the parts bordering it. You can then place a standard Platform or Floor piece to form a large platform or floor at a 45 degree angle to the rest of the parts. You will only be able to re-join this part to the rest of the base parts by diagonal placements that will align back to the basic standard platform orientation.All standard sized components will re-size to fit the openings created by this diagonal piece.The Stair part can be used in two ways: Firstly it will form a stairwell if placed on top of a large diagonal platform, with 4 pillars, one of each corner; or, you can place a stair on a standard platform against 2 pillars on one side going up to a floor piece.Advanced constructions including Watch Towers and Wind Turbines require a free standing 4 pillar support with a platform/floor below in order to place them.There is a whole electrical system that will allow you to create Elevators (this will require another full guide I reckon) as well as power your food processing and possibly more.Additionally, turrets can be placed on top of your base, and are modular, in three tiers, from MG/Flamethrower, Auto Cannon/Recoiless Rifle, to Anti-Air and Anti-Tank (ship) - more details for another guide in my estimation.. :D