City buildings and Hearth and services

[mallen.mb]

So my confusion started with why some of the city buildings like Tavern and Bath House have the Hearth Aoe highlighted when selected. Are these buildings supposed to be built within that Aoe just like the houses? Although the tooltip explanation doesn't indicate this. So looking deeper in the help/encyclopedia I come across the Service section, I'm assuming these buildings fall under Services? Thats why they need to be built closer to the hearth? So they can distribute their stuff to the residents? (beer for tavern, tea for bathhouse etc).
So I've been surviving just fine without paying too much attention to these gameplay elements, but I'm assuming at higher difficulties and much further into the game these will play a larger part. Maybe it would be beneficial to have these gameplay dynamics smoothed out in their presentation to make it easier to understand.

[mk11]

Level 3 of the Hearth upgrades requires a service building in the radius. This is the only reason that matters.

[Stübi Senpai]

Service buildings are notably not just good because they fulfill your villagers needs, they also have either one or two passives that can massively inform your overall strategy. Certain Service Buildings like the Temple or the Guild House can win you a game if you lean into their benefits.

Otherwise it is as you said, while on lower difficulties their impact might seem minor due to the decreased game length, on higher difficulties they can be critical to reach reputation levels or to enable some of the more vulnerable races to get through the storm (Harpies are a big example of this).

[mostly willing]

Originally posted by mallen.mb:

looking deeper in the help/encyclopedia I come across the Service section, I'm assuming these buildings fall under Services? Thats why they need to be built closer to the hearth? So they can distribute their stuff to the residents? (beer for tavern, tea for bathhouse etc).

these are service buildings. your villagers don't actually visit them - all consumption happens at the hearth. you can put these buildings in any place you want, but they are not going to count towards the lvl 3 hearth upgrade unless all of their tiles are within the range of one hearth.

[mallen.mb]

Originally posted by mk11:

Level 3 of the Hearth upgrades requires a service building in the radius. This is the only reason that matters.

Ah ok so that Aoe overlay indicates the area in which things will affect it (the hearth). Which is why, as you mention that for a level 3 hearth, a service building is required. Also makes sense why decorations also trigger the hearths Aoe. I thought the Aoe overlay was just to denote where you can build houses.
thanks for the tidbit of info!

[mallen.mb]

Originally posted by Stübi Senpai:

Otherwise it is as you said, while on lower difficulties their impact might seem minor due to the decreased game length, on higher difficulties they can be critical to reach reputation levels or to enable some of the more vulnerable races to get through the storm (Harpies are a big example of this).

yeah I'm having a hard time keeping the harpies nice and happy.

[mallen.mb]

Originally posted by a mostly willing son:

Originally posted by mallen.mb:

looking deeper in the help/encyclopedia I come across the Service section, I'm assuming these buildings fall under Services? Thats why they need to be built closer to the hearth? So they can distribute their stuff to the residents? (beer for tavern, tea for bathhouse etc).

these are service buildings. your villagers don't actually visit them - all consumption happens at the hearth. you can put these buildings in any place you want, but they are not going to count towards the lvl 3 hearth upgrade unless all of their tiles are within the range of one hearth.

Ah ok so this was what I was wondering. Excluding the Hearths upgrade mechanic, I can place these services anywhere I want, and all the benefits, including the added stuff like tea, beer, wine, should affect the villagers provided I have those products, right?

[mostly willing]

Originally posted by mallen.mb:

Excluding the Hearths upgrade mechanic, I can place these services anywhere I want, and all the benefits, including the added stuff like tea, beer, wine, should affect the villagers provided I have those products, right?

yep

[el Darkness]

You may still want to place service buildings nearby the hearth and a warehouse (WH more important) because yourbworkers wtill need to carry luxury items to the building. Usually it will not matter, but sometimes it may make a difference if goods can be delivered quickly.

[mallen.mb]

Originally posted by el Darkness:

You may still want to place service buildings nearby the hearth and a warehouse (WH more important) because yourbworkers wtill need to carry luxury items to the building. Usually it will not matter, but sometimes it may make a difference if goods can be delivered quickly.

Cool, yeah that makes sense.

thanks all for the responses!