This is just based on what i have observed so far. It may turn out to be a bunch on bunk once we get further in (day 7), so feel free to comment if you have been further along. I will be practically testing these soon once the new villages start running.
Premise 1: Unless a wolf or a fox is attacking, you are better off with a wooden structure. Assumption: only working from fox to monster. Beyond that is unknown.
Why? In my experience, survival games are a matter of attrition, not overwhelming force. As such, resources and work days are precious, and the wasting or not of them determines who survives longer. For every creature that attacks, barring fox and wolf, they deal more 'work-day damage' on stone structures than wooden.
If you consult
http://schwarzwald.lemuria.org/manual/creatures, you will see that typically stone reduces damage by one, except in the case of boars. But every 1 point of damage done to a stone structure will require at least one work day to gather 1 stone, while a wooden structure must sustain 3 damage per gathering workday in repair materials.
Conclusion: Depending on the ratio of wolves/foxes to other animals, wood may be the better option. However, for every wolf/fox hit, you are potentially saving some time (but the wooden structure wood only be repaired after more attacks to be efficient, so it would not be a great loss).
Premise 2: If you are not building a stone wall (building from premise 1), huts are your best option.
Why? Well, wood walls take 2 workdays to build, 3 to gather (with 2 wood left over), and have 5 hp. Huts take 1 workday to build, and also need 3 to gather, (with 1 wood left over), and have 8hp. So 1 less day, 3 more hp, and no chance for them to get damaged inbetween!!! And even somewhere to sleep if desperate ( you may even get another family in it, to help repair it).
Conclusion: Huts ftw!
Premise 3 : It is almost never worthwhile to repair a fence
Why? It costs 2 wood and 2 workdays to repair a cumulative of 2 damage to a fence (1 damage 1 day, 1 damage the next). It costs 2 wood and 1 workday to build a similar fence. And optionally another workday to clear the destroyed fence, with a chance at lumber return. In addition, the damaged fence will protect the new fence, if you desire to upgrade it (although why build fences anyway?
- refer Premise 1 & 2). Only if it is in a vital position and can't be reinforced with additional walls might it be worthwhile.
Conclusion: Don't repair fences, if you do build them. And if you do build them, put them on the outside row, so if they get damaged, you can place one on the inside row.
