Curious about windmill placement

[Morri]

So I finally stuck with a playthrough long enough to unlock the windmill! But now I'm sorta torn on where to place it exactly. Functionally ingame, I feel the best place would be near my barn and shed, since that's where I process/use all the grains already. But logically outgame, it would preferably be an area somewhere a bit higher up where it can catch a lot of wind.

Sadly I can't do both because my barn and shed are in the middle of fields in the lower forest clearing below my houses - and I like to keep them there,

So I was curious what placement did every one else pick for their windmill? Looking for some ideas.

[Milinia]

I have one village where I placed it near the barn and shed which are also in the middle of the fields. I demolished a field to make space for it. Looks really nice.
In my other village I put it on the highest point just beyond my fields. I put a couple of houses near it so now it looks like a separate little milling hamlet.

I don't know where your village is located but in this playthrough I am quite close to the main river so because of the good Dutch girl that I am, my next windmill will be along the waters edge.

[hubbemattsson]

In my PC save, I kind of put it on the lowes ground possible. The stream down East of my Lesnica, with my village in the valley outside the mine.

And for my way of looking at it, and historical, its not necessarily to be up higher. Its went where the wind did blow naturally, wich of course often are higher ground. But, also an open river side, or the "right side of a hill".

Speaking of. Are you still on the Hill over Gostovia? Cant be that hard to get a "natural" position, even if its not up top.

If we think Poland, I would go to the west with the mill in your case, if so. To take the wind coming from down the lake, sort of.

[Morri]

Ah, that's helpful! I thought they could only go on high places, but if it still makes sense to put them lower too, then I can indeed put mine near my barn and fields!

Originally posted by hubbemattsson:

Speaking of. Are you still on the Hill over Gostovia?

I'm in between Denica and Gostovia, more in the mountain area. I really like the view there.

[hubbemattsson]

Well, mostly put there for the wind, but not a law.
Yeah, then I know your place. Been there done that. 🤭 And checked your save 😁

[simeon]

Having the high ground was elemental for placing the windmill in my village.
As I tried to place it, where it can be seen from most angles down in the village, adding a point of interest to the horizon.
Thermodynamic wise, I thought of colder air coming from north gets heated up down in the valley above the streams and lakes and then moves up the hill towards the southern mountains. Even if this does not matter in game, I like how it looks
(without photo mode, as geforce now does not allow to opt in to beta branches):

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2945567912
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2945564952
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2945564929

[Morri]

That looks really nice Simeon! And it looks like you are in the same location as me as well with your village. I have an orchard where your windmill is, but I can make some room there.

[simeon]

For the farmers it may is quite a burden to bring their yields up the hill to the windmill, even tough no one complained so far. :)