Starting a Second Town - And Bandit Camps

[VanillaPCStrategy]

Hey, I'm loving this game so far and am really impressed with it. I've gotten a decent amount of time in and recently I've tried to start a second town in both the games I'm playing, but I'm really struggling keeping up the second town. I feel like there's some balance issues here maybe?

It starts out with animal attacks, which I guess should be expected in the wilderness, but it still really makes for slow going. Even if I buy a ton of planks for the new town, I find it very difficult to get housing, food, water, lumber, and stone production up for even the first eight colonists before they start getting very upset. Horses are dying, people are dying and spreading disease, and meanwhile my main town is living it up with plenty of resources and stuff just a short walk away.

I love the concept of it but it definitely seems harder than it should be, especially since a second town is critical for getting mining and advanced economy going for the first town.

I also feel like there's some potential big problems with the fact that you can't start a second town too close to the first town. I definitely wasn't able to choose my ideal location for my second town, and I feel like the options for my third town will be even more limited. With copper and gold mines near the edge of the map, I may not even be able to get to them since a town hall may be too close to the second town.

Anyway I just wanted to share my thoughts on it. The biggest issues I've run into have been in my offline game that I've just been playing, but you can see some of it in episode 4 of my Let's Play series which should be released in the next few days.

Also, what can I do about the bandit camps that are popping up? I've sent my sherrifs over there and they don't do anything. Do I just have to accept that buildings will be burnt down from time to time?

Great game! I love playing and am so impressed with what you have to offer so far. Can't wait to see how it develops going forward.

[Hardy91]

Sending your deputies out who did nothing, did you make one attack a tent, to pop bandits out to kill/arrest, followed by the aftermath of actually burning the tents down at the end? You can pause just as they come out, to better manage the deputies. Found out by trial and error. If you bring in a good income, I would suggest getting the advanced production chains, by buying what you need time to time. even if it has to idle. In my new game, I actually have a sizable military force to deal with the bandits. Mainly armed with rifles. If you are unsure about the engagement, I reccomend sending any hunters with your deputies, since they do have a rifle. So they can be safer at a distance. I don't find the game harder, more of a constant learning experience. I accidently deleted my first save, so my current game, I got to be on par with my old game in less time. Learned from my mistakes. Hope anything I said may be of use/help.

[Evil Bite]

Originally posted by VanillaPCStrategy:

... and meanwhile my main town is living it up with plenty of resources and stuff just a short walk away.

Just to make sure, you did use the trading post to transport goods from town to town?

It is really hard starting a second city. Your second city should be not as big as the first one, so you just need the minimum goods to please your residents.
The town radius is a problem, yes. We try to find a better solution

[Hardy91]

A suggestion on the town radius. Would it be possible to map a button to the town hall, linked to a price that allows custom drawing of your town/city zones. Maybe no initial radius or a smaller one, then for a fee, whether larger, or per certain amount of land, the price raises, and can be adjusts for a price as you go. I know if I had those tools, I could make my perfect map over time. Several small towns scattered, one being a really big city. Just a thought.

[Evil Bite]

Originally posted by ykcir30:

A suggestion on the town radius. Would it be possible to map a button to the town hall, linked to a price that allows custom drawing of your town/city zones. Maybe no initial radius or a smaller one, then for a fee, whether larger, or per certain amount of land, the price raises, and can be adjusts for a price as you go. I know if I had those tools, I could make my perfect map over time. Several small towns scattered, one being a really big city. Just a thought.

Yeah, we could give that idea a try. Thank you! :-)

[VanillaPCStrategy]

Originally posted by Evil Bite:

Just to make sure, you did use the trading post to transport goods from town to town?

Well I have always tried to focus on getting housing and food and stuff set up for the second town before I build a trading post, I guess I could build the trading post before I even build housing? I will give that a try.

The main thing is that you need a second town for iron and coal, which I want to get so I can start some advanced production like tools. If you try to start your first town with iron and coal it makes it very difficult to have enough space for homes and shops and food.

Being able to expand the original radius like you were saying in the thread does sound like a good idea and would help with this issue.

[VanillaPCStrategy]

Originally posted by ykcir30:

Sending your deputies out who did nothing, did you make one attack a tent, to pop bandits out to kill/arrest, followed by the aftermath of actually burning the tents down at the end?

I was thinking after I posted that I probably need to do something like you described so I will give it a try. Thanks for the suggestion, it makes sense.

Originally posted by ykcir30:

I would suggest getting the advanced production chains, by buying what you need time to time. even if it has to idle.

Yeah that would probably be better than trying to produce iron and coal on my own. It seems like the natural thing to to, to expand to a second town, but importing raw materials is probably the most effective way of handling things.

Originally posted by ykcir30:

I accidently deleted my first save, so my current game, I got to be on par with my old game in less time.

I'm on my third game now and it's definitely going more smoothly! I'll have to start a fourth with the tips you've given me here and maybe it will be even more successful. Thanks for the great ideas!

[Hardy91]

You guys are welcome. It surely would give the player more freedom of choice on how to survive. Of course with a big city, You have to make sure you feed your people and protect them very well. Some people do a single town/city challenge, others lay down multiple cities. Just like 4X Strategy games.

My thoughts of the matter is a draggable circle you expand or shrink. Maybe shrinking could earn you a few bucks. But you lose current properties where it got shrunk at. They get torn down, now you got a homeless problem.

My other thought would be you pick 4 points, So lets you find an ideal spot in the corner of the map, you can put two points along the edge, and the other two further along so you don't lose territory. Maybe a cap can be placed on the initial section but you can buy more land. This method could also bring in possible assignment of land. Which could tie in new ideas in the future. Maybe hostile natives or bandits take that section, claim it as their own, Allowing for them to grow. Or a mechanic for a revolt, this sector once the players is now assigned to the rebels, which is where your army can come into play. Now survival is tougher, as that was your agricultural area. You want it back. But that stuff is way out there, ans is not an option for everyone. But just tossing out ideas. With the options for the newer radius, It could help with keeping towns closer, but not too close. If the player wishes to do such a thing.
This option of a land deed could also be used, if you guys decide to do bigger maps. Sections can be bought out, to expand your frontier. Maybe secret settlements may be hidden. New trade partners, or a foe. Keep up the good work on the game, and community engagement. If you guys are able to do either, or have other ideas on the radius work for the town hall, I could suggest a poll, and see the direction the playerbase may be more in favor of.
Looking forward to the next update, even if it was very minor.

[Hardy91]

Showcasing some of my army in action. Pesky bandits. lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4VkCu5d8NE