It's gonna feel difficult at first, but only for a short while, it has a nice learning curve to it.

Beginnings are usually hard. Especially in our lovely woods. If you get stuck, read journal (J). And take the advices of comrade Wolf to your heart. Literally. Everything he says is as real as it can possibly get. For example, go to the Silent Forest ONLY if you are P R E P A R E D. Dry Meadow is just an extended tutorial so comrade Wolf can see if you can prevail and be useful.

Also what the loading screen says is the most important. "Respect the Woods. Be patient. Focus."

Never underestimate the horrors that are crawling within the Woods. Plan your expeditions carefully - morning freezes time till you leave that rat hole you're hiding in, use it. And pay attention to everything once you venture forth, Meat.

Still reading? Quit wasting more time. Off to work you go, hop hop!

I don't find it difficult.

The map is randomly generated but there are set pieces each load. Run around till you find a log site, there you will be able to find many logs and can break them down into planks at your sawmill.

Remember to wear headphones and avoid going near the noisy beings if youre not equipped
a plank with nails works wonders
dont be afraid to use lockpicks on chests that require them as theyre often very useful
loot loot loot loot each place you can find
enemies dont drop good loot until later parts of the game
use meat to distract dogs
try to lure enemies into pre-placed bear traps instead of harvesting them, though this is case by case situational dependence
Barricades are sort of a waste of resources..... dont move around at night as much as you can as it attracts the monsters. Night time doesnt fall under a minute or two after it goes grey so try to save on gas (youll eventually get a watch and it officially starts at 20:00)
youll need to be good at kiting. if you are unaware of what this is, look it up as its useful for many types of games
just some quick tips i could think of.

It can be a bit tough to get a grip on the combat. Also normal is just as hard as the other difficulties, the only thing difficulty changes is lives afaik.

Chest code: 2919
And no, this code is from nowhere. Just a help for the first supporters of the game.

You just gotta get a pistol, game gets so much easier once you get a pistol and some clips. For me anyway, at the start what you should do is make a board and nails as soon as possible and don't engage anything unless you have to. Dogs are easy once you get the timing right (not big dogs don't fight them if you can help it, but not to many big dogs at the start long as you stay out the corn fields). Also savages can be a problem, not as bad as dogs but its best to run from them or avoid them. They can be killed with the club though, decently easy. But really you just wanna get a pistol and some ammo as soon as possible. And keep in mind this is survival horror not survival action horror. You don't wanna fight anything unless you have to. The shotgun is the strongest weapon but you won't get that anyime soon. And when you do you'll be using it against the strongest enemies in the game.

So path is basically, club, pistol, shotgun. Of course pitchforks and shovels will help, axe is one of the strongest and fastest melee weapons but it takes some time to get one. Molotov are great but can hurt you too so use them strategically. Bear traps always good for home defense, don't put them in front of doors cause then they can get you, in front of odd windows you don't use is good. But the best strategy, flight, always be prepared to run, and if you have to fight, make sure you position yourself to have the best advantage.

And the top threat imo and the one that kills me the most that I need to warn every new player about, besides chompers the lights out events. Sometimes spiritual or otherwordly forces will do a lights out. Which basically shuts off all your lights then invincible spirits will come out and pick you apart. This is imo the games nastiest surprise besides a Banshee visit . There's a number of things you can do to remedy a lights out. Flares can help when tossed, a spare light source also helps (lamps, flashlights, just remember to get batteries for the flashlight). Also always remember to fuel up your generator.. You don't wanna get caught at sunset with a low generator.

So that's basically about it, also do not under any circumstances understimate the savages just cause you kill a few of the morons. They may seem stupid and easy, but that's when one of their buddies will get you. They can hit quite hard, and can take quite a few hits as well. But its up to you if you wanna waste shotgun shells on them. Shotgun shells are precious and can put down basically any enemy. Its best to use pistols on savages. But there is one powerful enemy the shotgun will only get you killed against. The Banshee see these guys, if you shoot at them and kill them they will turn into a whole bunch of little monsters who attack fast as hell. Shotguns not gonna work before you need to reload. Best to take them down with fully loaded pistol, and even then you can easily run out before they are all dead. Ninjas can kill them with Molotovs but I don't trust all that skill crap. Just use pistol and pop the lil fers. And if you run out of ammo against these guys, RUN anywhere don't matter just keep running you don't wanna try melee on their spawn they will mess you up.

Well that's my advice I'm also a newb even tho I have all achievements and been through the game several times. The game will always make you feel newb no matter how much you done in it. Well good luck and have fun.

Then you are not a newb.

there's several areas in the 1st section with logs, at least 3, you bring the logs to your hideout and use gasoline on the saw to create everything else, you should have 2 nail boards with you.

the 1st hideout has very easy night encounters, always have a bear trap set up if you need to lure somebody in there. explore and gather things, there's no time limit, so explore.

maybe you have the wrong approach but it shouldn't be too hard to find things and set yourself up. obviously avoid combat if you have no nail boards yet.

keep in mind if you attack and hit charging enemies you interrupt their attack and can circle them and swing again. so time your attack right against charging enemies.

doesn't count for heavy enemies like elks.

You need to explore and make sure you get only the bare essentials first: wood, nails, gasoline, and something to heal yourself.

You should also take advantage of the things in the shelter and arrange them to block certain access points (closets and furniture) so that monsters can't move them. For example, in the first shelter, you can take a closet out from the house and use it to block the window on the right side of the house attaching it to the fixed chest on that side.

Don't fortify the entire house, just the room you'll be using as a shelter.

Enemies can see light through cracks and gaps. You should place lamps so they don't emit light to the outside.

Yea gery best strategy for elk is try and lure it into a bear trap. Then I guess kill it with whatever weapon you can. But elks will quickly dry up, the antlers are a good boost early though.