GUEST C.A.M.P. BUILDS
I feel joy when visiting CAMPS and shelters of friends who love building really, really well, but may not promote their work. Typically, their style is quite different to mine, with structures and decor I would simply never have thought of.
When a visit tells grabs my attention AND tells me a compelling story, I’ll try to share it here with you.
RIVER COTTAGE
Builder: Talibe specializes in authentic builds that speak with humility and integrity. The River Cottage exemplifies this humble, honest approach. Built before relaxed rules, there is a lot of detail here that most visitors, including builders, will miss. We often talk of the detail that goes into the things people don’t notice, simply so they don’t notice, and nobody is better at this than Talibe.
Build: Built for young Tali, the cottage is humble and rustic, apparently hand-built for practicality and homeliness without frills. It is all a single person (and a bunch of cats) needs and not one bit more. There is no decor for the sake of it and no junk just being junky. In-game it is a beautiful haven, a place to retreat to, with dappled shadows and a lovely, peaceful outlook.
Music: Based around some melancholy progressions I’d been working with, THE PASSING is an original song about loss and sadness completed without a specific location or story in mind. Talibe graciously allowed me to set it to the river cottage, adding the graves and a few other elements to make it just right for the video.
Location: Northwest Forest Region.
Owner: Talibe
TIKI SHACK
BUILT SEPTEMBER 2025
Builder: Ta_a~chan is my secondary character, created mostly to help with recording videos. She is humble and conservative in her tastes, caught all 3 local legends in a combined total of 14 castings of the rod using improved bait, and despite only having only one combat build is an amazingly capable fighter. I honestly don’t know how she does it. Yes, I know, it doesn’t make sense, but this is FO76…..
Build: a~chan typically wears a floral dress and lives a simple, modest lifestyle in post-apocalyptic Appalachia. Her Tiki Shack reflects this humility, with a simple one-room layout surrounded by verandahs on all sides. There is a separate small covered area beside for fishing and cooking, and water gardens at the front and rear. Access is via a meandering rock path and her onsen requires no steps to access, right at the back door. There are some small surprises, such as fish displayed directly on walls, axolotls crawling around the place here and there (you have to look for them, they can be sneaky) and a floating sign that is invisible from behind created using a horizontal de-merge (good luck finding a tutorial on that one) for perfect alignment of letters. The placement of items in and below water and in-ground used a pre-update technique that doesn’t require going underground - it’s wet down there!
My first build after the great relaxation, Ta_a~chan’s Tiki Shack is a peaceful and relaxing break from the harshness of post-apocalyptic Appalachia you will love visiting.
Location: Tranquil pond at the north-east of Skyline Valley.
Owner: Ta_a~chan
SOLDIER’S COTTAGE
Builder: Lady Calamity has developed in short time to become a quality builder, asking questions, collaborating and learning quickly along the way. She has an eye for proportion and balance, happily using multiple elements to create interesting spaces. The Soldier’s Cottage exemplifies her open, tasteful and adventurous approach.
Build: Calamity’s 5th build, the soldier’s cottage welcomes a return from active duty. Chickens freely roam the well-kept front yard under autumn skies, a scavenger hangs around for no apparent reason, and a life partner talks about stars and headaches (I think she’s a druggy, blame the loneliness). Each room is cozy and functional, tastefully decorated and nicely kept, with a myriad of different yet somehow complementary finishes, as if the home has been renovated bit by bit over time, with different owners all putting their own stamp on it within their limited means.
Many builders construct cottages, but concepts can easily become unbalanced, disjointed and cluttered as things seem to be shoved into every nook and cranny (whatever a cranny is - maybe a cranky granny?). Calamity's soldier's cottage hasn’t fallen into that trap. Rather, there are appropriate decor pieces and casually placed items in a cared-for home, always ready for the soldier’s return. Note: The structure’s style and proportions are not unique in Appalachia, but as this is a generic period design built within a fixed budget, interior/exterior decor and lighting, along with overall vibe, make all the difference. In particular, the front yard is so amazingly authentic it takes the visitor a moment to realize it’s part of the build.
Location: Forest Region between Anchor Farm and Lady Jane’s Softserve (which is an ice cream shop, not some sort of adult distraction).
Owner: Lady Calamity
