Compass and Navigation

The aim of this page is to explain how to successfully navigate in no map mode.

### Finding North

There are lots of ways to find north. Obviously in a game with a map then finding north is trivial. But in no map mode then finding north is more difficult.

#### The Sacrificial Stones

When the character spawns at the very beginning of the game they stand on a large disc in the middle of the sacrificial stones. The Valkyrie conveniently carved a compass on this round stone platform. North is pointing towards the Elder’s left hand. Thank you Valkyrie!

#### Yggdrasil

The world tree in the sky, Yggdrasil, points roughly east. Points? When the character has a good view of the sky then it can see two side branches make an arrow. Actually the tree points a little bit south of east but that’s ok because the next method gets a more precise calibration of north.

#### Dig a Hole (or build a wall)

When the character digs a small deep hole eventually the tiny patch of ground they are standing on resembles a rectangle. The rectangle's sides are oriented north/south, east/west. Combining this with an observation of Yggdrasil the player can figure out which direction is North. If the character doesn’t have a pick then they can do a similar thing by erecting a tall narrow wall using the hoe. It helps to dig the hole in an open meadow so you have good lighting and a view of Yggdrasil.

#### Astronomical Methods

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. It is possible to build a type of sundial which will help determine north and south. Some people claim they can navigate using the starmap.

### Recording North

After determing north then the player should record it. Different people have different ways of doing it. The Wood Wall 26 degree piece makes a good arrow. My method is to build a north pointer like this at every base so I can correct my portable compass.

### Portable compass

There is a mod which will give your character a compass but that is not necessary. It is possible to use the build system as a compass. The build system has a built in direction and that direction remains set until the player changes it. After building a north pointer the player can orient the build system using north pointer. Then the build system will remember north for you!

When the build system is set to north (or any other direction) your character can use the hammer and follow the building piece through the forest.

When adventuring in the forest it might be necessary to build something. If possible, the player should build a north pointer before changing the orientation of the build system. If not possible, then building the player can use one of the methods above to determine north, make a north pointer and set the build system to north.

### Recording Vegvisir Direction in a Burial Chamber or Crypt

It is possible to change the direction the character is looking without moving the character. This means that the character is pointed in one direction but the point of view of the camera is pointed in a different direction. When the character reads a vegvisir the character doesn’t move but the camera rotates to face the boss. This gives the direction of the boss. After the point of view has rotated the player can use the hammer and rotate the wood wall 26 degree until it is pointed in the same direction as the camera. That sets the build system in the direction of the boss. It is not possible to build in a dungeon but that’s ok, the build system will remember its orientation when the player exits the dungeon. When the player exits the dungeon they can build a pointer in the direction set at the vegvisir. The player should have some system to mark that direction as NOT north. My method is to use wood wall 45 degree pieces to mark boss directions. That way wood wall 26 is always north, wood wall 45 is the boss direction.

Good Luck Warriors!