I know this is going to sound like a stupid question, but what is the advantage of building permanent structures?
I understand the advantage of having a base camp with various items nearby. But what purpose do walls, etc. serve? Is it a way to keep hounds, werepigs, and others from attacking at night? Do they keep you warm?
Basically, is it worth the effort of building a structure that utilizes resources in a game with no real points system or final outcome to be achieved?
Best Answer
Walls are a way of limiting access to an area, from monsters that are not the Deerclops.
There are several practical reasons to build them, and they all involve keeping creatures in or out of a particular area:
On a side note, even flooring isn't useless: the cobblestone patches you build act as actual roads, granting you +25% speed when moving along them. Consider building direct roads between your multiple camps or hunting grounds. Flooring also opens up a new potential food source: Lureplant farms. Eyeplants can't spawn on flooring, so you can farm Lureplants for their Leafy Meat.
Finally, there a completely impractical reason to build structures: You've lived so long that you have a massive surplus of resources, and there is nothing else that challenges you. It's time to build a monument to your invincibility: a luxurious castle! All shall hail you as king!*
* Being hailed as king is not yet implemented† in Don't Starve.
† or planned