So, what's the deal with decorative trees...

[Larry]

Hi... I'm often needing to boost the desirability of an area, so I place some general decorative items around... usually the bushes, as they cost the least. They seem to be my go-to booster, for the most part... although I'm now seeing the power of the plant arch (...higher beauty boost, and still 'cheap' to make).

I use the sign posts sometimes, but obviously it would look weird to have too many of them spammed in one area... so that kind of dooms them.

The sheep statue has obvious umph, but at a high cost... (relative to bushes, you understand)... and the fountain is also high cost, but also larger than my average Steam post (...ouch, self-jab there...).

That leaves the trees, which are more expensive than the bush, yet seemingly give nothing more in return. So, it seems between the three of them (bush, tree, other tree), the bush is the way to go... unless you really have your heart set on a tree being put in that area, or you will gag if you see yet another bush).

So, I'm just kind of wondering... what's the deal with the trees? Why are they more expensive, yet not do any better than the cheaper bush?

(Plus, you have to wait for them to grow, too... So, there's that as well... compared to the insta-bush.)

Granted... trees are nice. I won't deny that. I'd be planting them all over the place, if it weren't for this whole thing I just talked about.

(...and I suddenly realize that, at this point in my gaming session, I have over 1000 gold coins in my treasury, so a few trees certainly won't create chaos in my little town... but, still, in principle, it is a little odd that you get nothing for that extra money... except the visual splendor of the trees.... and the gift of not having to place yet another one of those bushes beside the other 12 crowded around that house you are trying to boost).

Just curious... Feel like I'm missing out on something... like later in the game, they fire lasers at enemies or something.

[ƎϽ∀ƎԀ]

Originally posted by Larry:

.... and the gift of not having to place yet another one of those bushes beside the other 12 crowded around that house you are trying to boost).

You can stack them on top of each other. You dont need to spread them around. Only need to see one. I think its a stack of 8 will give max desirability ( I haven't played for a bit ). Move over about 2.5cm ( on my monitor ) and plant another stack of 8. Continue to cover desired area.

[Larry]

Crafty....

That's easily the most intriguing bush strategy I've heard all week.

Thanks for that.

[rkelly17]

Interesting. I have always gotten more bang for the buck from decorative trees. When I want to promote a houseful of serfs, I surround their house with decorative trees and it instantly goes from low to high or average to very high desireability. Then when I promote them to commoners they don't move out and end up homeless.

[Larry]

Maybe the indicated Desirability value in the Decorative build window is wrong? It's claiming its affect would be the same as a bush, yet are more expensive. Seems like the trees SHOULD give a bigger boost than they are claimed to.

Curious...