Serf housing feature debate

[The Jerker]

This is the second game in the Stronghold series (since the use in Stronghold 3, I think) where the size and population of serf housing is affected by proximity to the Lord's keep. While I understand that the serfs feel "safer" being close to the keep and will, accordingly, allow for greater # of serfs for that building, couldn't there be a feature where the serf houses can still be great if --- oh, I don't know ---- maybe placing the serf houses near a watch tower or established troop barracks (or maybe a sheriff's office)?

In many ways, I think serf housing proximity = # of serfs sucks. I just hate the dirty, smelly, pox-infested louts anywhere near my keep. Yet, I know that I *don't* have to have them close. I can set them out in the boonies somewhere where one or two of the lice-infested breeders can rub noses together or whatnot, I don't care, so long as they pay their taxes and give their succeeding generations in indentured servitude and bootlicking fealty. And if I wanted them close so that they'd house 8, then that's ok. I guess. I really haven't notced if the resource amounts change in decreasing amounts the further away you place a serf house. Could someone clarify that if they'd noticed or not?

I just miss the original intent of serf housing in SH1 and 2 where you could put a hut anywhere you wanted on the map and it'd crank out a fixed amound of people ready to toil away their pathetic existance to satisify my needs. I'm just not really enjoying the idea that your serf houses are bigger and better close to your keep. A main but real gripe is that a house for 8 is really big in comparison to the Lord's keep and the map sizes are pathetic in some areas.

So, wouldn't it be better to:

a) keep this feature,
b) use the fixed population per house feature (SH1&2),
c) use a new feature where you can specifically choose a house size in relative cost in gold, resources, and conditions (maybe noble houses and houses for the middle class).
d) other

What do you think, all?

[Lord Benevolent]

The idea behind this is realism. The closer you got to the castle centre or keep, the richer and more pompous the houses were. So when you build a hovel next to the keep, think of the peasants living in these houses as more noble than the "lice infested breeders" living in the small huts on the outskirts of your empire.

[Lord Benevolent]

And of course it adds the challenge of building an efficient castle

[VanillaSky]

Originally posted by Lord Benevolent:

The idea behind this is realism. The closer you got to the castle centre or keep, the richer and more pompous the houses were. So when you build a hovel next to the keep, think of the peasants living in these houses as more noble than the "lice infested breeders" living in the small huts on the outskirts of your empire.

I agree.

[Sanny]

I know that increasing your army increases happiness, never seen that before in a Stronghold game but I agree with your points

[The Jerker]

Did you guys thoroughly read my post? I know all about that. I'm asking: is this feature okay, in comparision to the other SH games that have existed? Wouldn't it be ok to establish serf housing in proximity to other "beneficial" structures? Such as, even distantly away, I could place a 8-pop house for a serf on a prime choice of land, in promimity to a watch tower and garrison building.

And, I verified, yes, the serf housing resources does change to reflect size as you scroll across the map.

[The Jerker]

I was also thinking that housing could upgrade or downgrade in accordance to nearby features: green farmland, decorations, safety (towers, walls, etc.), but this idea may be too much like what's in Sim City, too.

It's just an idea. Roll/don't roll with it. =/

[LicHaRd]

Originally posted by Sanny:

I know that increasing your army increases happiness, never seen that before in a Stronghold game but I agree with your points

Interesting point! Does it depend on the troop size? Or can ı just make a lot of cheap troop to gain more popularity? And gain more taxes then