Desirability makes little sense

[gooner.12]

I'm new to the game but the desirability structure makes little sense to me. I have to create/build it seems like dozens of other items (gardens, amenities, shrines, celebration poles... the list goes on) to make desirability go up very incrementally and if it's not at 100, the houses get abandoned. If happiness had to be 100 for anyone to live in a house, no one would live anywhere. Maybe I'm missing something but it's killing the enjoyability of the game as I am constantly having to just focus on making housing desirability get to and stay at 100 which prevents me from doing other things.

[mauvbot]

Hi and welcome to the game. Desirability doesn't have to be 100 and it's unlikely to be reach until later in the game. Your settlers will move into a house that has 0 desirability.

What you are describing, regarding a house being abandoned is the result of a loss in desirability. This will occur when a building that provides desirability is no longer affecting the house that was abandoned, eg raiders destroy your school, hospital, market. If this loss of desirability pushed the house's desirability below it's current tier (30, 60, 85 guessing the numbers right now) then it can be abandoned. Simply rebuilding that which was lost can fix this problem.

Also make sure you don't build a building that reduces desirability near houses. I always separate my working accommodation from my living accommodation. With the exception of neutral desirable buildings.

With all that in hand, I don't think I ever have to worry about desirability. I do build my villages with plans to ensure that I reach desirability levels and that allow for expansion and maintaining those desirability levels.

Hope that helps, if not I'm sure someone smarter will come along and help.

[KO]

In my plays, I usually only focus on desirability when I'm getting to manors. Also I've found that providing school and clinics provide high desirability, every single house don't need to be covered by them. The new temple, theater and festival pole provides huge desirability at a wide range. Couple that with a few upgraded gardens here and there, it's easy to reach 100, but I only need 85 really, and that makes me focus on beautifying my town naturally rather than it being a burdensome task.

[Faust Wither]

having school, altar, festival pole & market in middle of residence usualy enough, the rest of it from temple & grand theater. and place decoration last where desirabilty is at lowest.

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