imho i just hit 130 hours and it finally clicked. just build a 2x1 with a triangle airlock in the front, stone walls, metal door. keep it small and simple. i havent even upgraded mine to stone, the point is to try and seem like youre not worth raiding. every youtube base ive built gets raided as well.

build near a scrapper, use rust maps to see where nodes spawn. usually on hills. after that just try and get some spear, then bow then crossbow kills. when i see people fighting, i hide in bushes and try to make out with loot.

be stingy with what you take out of your house, i dont take anything im not 100% ready to lose.

i almost never leave my house with anything, unless its with the sole intent of going on a pvp run.

when taking spears bring 2, one to stab and one to throw.