Door Latches & Security

Doors Are Your First Line

Medieval Birmingham buildings have multiple entry points—shop fronts, rear alleys, apartment stairs. Securing them starts with crafted door latches mentioned on Steam alongside barricades and bonfires. A latched door buys seconds to wake up, grab a spear, or abort sleep with less panic.

Latches are not invincible. They slow and alert you rather than guaranteeing safety. Always pair with Physics Barricades for serious holdouts.

Crafting and Installing Latches

Door hardware is crafted through survival recipes on the Crafting page—gather metal scraps, wood, and tools from markets and workshops. Install on doors you actually use; latching an unused facade while leaving a back door open is a common beginner mistake documented in playtest streams.

Test latch direction from inside your sleep room. You should never trap yourself without a secondary exit plan.

Layered Security Model

Effective bases use three layers: latch, barricade mass, and kill funnel tactics from Combat Tips. When shout lure pulls zombies, they should meet you at a doorway you control—not inside your kitchen.

Windows and holes require furniture stacks or boards if recipes exist in your build. Audit upstairs access if you built exterior item stairs during Base Building.

Sleep and Door Security

The enhanced sleep system in beta rewards secure rooms. Attempting to sleep with unlatched ground doors risks interrupted rest—see Sleep & Rest. Establish a nightly routine: latch, barricade, extinguish unnecessary fires, place rushlights, then sleep.

If banging wakes you, check whether latch stress indicates imminent breach before returning to bed.

Co-op Considerations (Early Access)

Future co-op will need shared rules for who latches which door and when to open for loot teammates. Solo playtests establish habits that will transfer—communicate chokepoints even when playing alone by marking favorite buildings on your mental map from Map Overview.