Starting a new game in Endzone: A World Apart can be challenging, especially for newcomers unfamiliar with survival city-building mechanics. This guide will walk you through the essentials of establishing a solid foundation, managing resources, and ensuring the long-term survival of your settlers. By following these steps, you’ll optimize your early game and set up for success.

Step 1: Assess Your Starting Location

The first thing you should do is pause the game and assess your surroundings. Your map layout significantly impacts your settlement’s efficiency, so take note of key resources:

• Mountain Ranges: These will provide coal and other essential materials later on.
• Bodies of Water: Ensure you have access to lakes or rivers for water collection.
• Scrap Piles: Scrap is a primary resource early on, so having it nearby is beneficial.
• Forested Areas: Trees are necessary for wood production and can be regrown if managed well.

Understanding the terrain will help you make strategic decisions about where to place buildings and optimize travel distances.

Step 2: Establish Basic Infrastructure

Essential Buildings to Construct Immediately

• Jetty & Cistern: Start by placing a Jetty (water intake structure) and a Cistern (for water storage). These two work together to provide clean water for your settlers.
• Builder Assignment: Assign at least two builders to construct essential structures quickly.
• Water Carriers: Immediately designate two settlers as Water Carriers to ensure a steady supply of drinking water.

Step 3: Planning Your Settlement Layout

A well-organized settlement prevents inefficiencies and bottlenecks. Consider dividing your area into functional districts:

• Industrial Zone: Near the mountains, where resource production buildings can be placed.
• Residential Zone: It’s wise to place houses near industrial areas to minimize worker travel time.
• Agricultural Area: Choose a fertile location for farmland, preferably near water sources.

Farming Setup

Food is critical for survival. Start by laying out a 10×10 farm plot, which is manageable by one or two farmers. If resources allow, consider multiple plots to ensure a steady food supply. Over time, diversifying food sources with fishing and hunting will help sustain the population.

Step 4: Building for Long-Term Sustainability

Education – Construct a School

A School is vital for improving worker efficiency. Educated settlers handle tools better, reducing wear and tear, which extends tool lifespan. Assigning a teacher early on will prepare your settlement for the future.

Resource Collection & Expansion

• Scrap Collecting: Scrap is a versatile resource. Assign settlers to collect scrap manually before you build a Scrapyard, which allows for more systematic scrap gathering.
• Forester’s Lodge: Essential for maintaining a steady supply of wood. Place it near trees and set it to cut and regrow for sustainability.
• Hunter’s Lodge: Useful for acquiring meat, especially during droughts when farming struggles.

Step 5: Addressing Housing and Population Growth

Settlers need homes to maintain happiness and productivity. Build at least six houses near your industrial district, ensuring a balance between worker convenience and expansion space. Keeping houses near workplaces prevents settlers from wasting time commuting.

Step 6: Preparing for Long-Term Challenges

Radiation & Tools Management

Your settlers will need protective clothing and tools to remain effective:

• Recycler: Converts scrap into useful materials like cloth, metal, and plastic. Essential for producing protective gear.
• Tailor’s Shop: Produces radiation-protective clothing, which is vital for keeping settlers healthy.
• Workshop: Produces tools necessary for workers to maintain efficiency.

Temporary Storeroom

A Temporary Storeroom is useful for resource storage, reducing travel time and improving overall efficiency.

Step 7: Adapting to Droughts and Environmental Hazards

Droughts significantly impact farming. When one occurs:

• Pause crop planting to conserve water.
• Increase hunting and fishing efforts to sustain food production.
• Consider irrigation buildings if you have the resources to mitigate dry soil effects.

Step 8: Expanding Industry and Resource Management

As your settlement stabilizes, gradually expand industrial production:

• Build additional workshops to increase tool output.
• Set up multiple recyclers to ensure a steady supply of materials.
• Continue expanding housing and food sources to support population growth.

Final Thoughts

By following these steps, you’ll establish a well-balanced and sustainable settlement in Endzone: A World Apart. Understanding resource management, efficient building placement, and proactive planning are key to long-term survival. If you found this guide helpful, keep experimenting and refining your strategies to tackle the game’s challenges. Happy surviving!