is there a trick to setting buildings?

[hidaway52]

You can raise or lower them when placing. But how to tell if they are at the right height?
For example, I just placed a chicken coop and it looked okay at the location, but when I placed it the back was fine, but the gate is about 3 feet off the ground and the feed area markers are floating in the air. area wasn't exactly flat. Do you need to level the ground first?

[TybeeMutt]

It can be a test.

My general rule of thumb, lets use the Easy Shed as an example.
The base of each pylon you will see a block. I typically make sure 'all' of those blocks are just under the surface.

If that leads some to be 'buried' and some above ground then you're on a slope. Just can't be avoid you'll have to do some ground leveling around the building.

That said, I typically will create a save point.
TURN OFF AUTO SAVE.
Then level the ground as much as you can and place the building after.

If all is well and you like it, turn on auto save and save.

[Jon]

I just put in my animal pens in a new farm ...

Agree with TybeeMutt, but I added one step further:

Since landscaping near a bldg is not always possible, I removed the bldg, to get it out of the way, and then landscaped the area to get the ground height just like I want it.

Replace the bldg and - everything looks & works great ...

Downside is it costs extra $$$ to do the bldg twice.

[MustangMR]

One thing to watch for... I've had terrible luck with these stupid chicken farms and grass growing up in the egg drop off area and blocking it. Seems it's a bug that's been around forever and it's a real pain. I don't know if it affects other pens, but I'd clear the area with the construction tool to get all the grass out of the area by painting dirt over it.

[TybeeMutt]

@MustangMR AMEN BROTHER! AMEN!

I haven't had it happen with any others, except ONE horse stall mod. And that one wouldn't let you dismount the horse of all things.

[Usedfireball]

Yep, best is turn off autosave, make one final save of the game and then go to work. If it does not look acceptable then exit without saving, and try again. Once you are happy with the placement then you can turn autosave back on and save it, or save, and work on the next building.

[the.lovewyrm]

Use a mod that allows you to place stuff wherever, like global company. (You don't have to use the company part, you can only install it for its utility, including nicer icons for crops)

[joridiculous]

Global company, Install it.
Also you can use buildings to landscape. Its easier than using the landscape tool.

[Uncle Fester]

If you have no choice but to build on uneven ground, first save the game just pre-placement, place the building, inspect it and re-load if necessary. One additional hint no one else mentioned, when you are placing the building, note the cost of the building pre-install, let's say it costs $5000 to place the building, this is just the cost of the building. The greater the cost difference, the more the ground will be adjusted. So, when you raise and lower the building, the costs change, and the closer to the buildings original cost, the better. If you place the object, and you don't like the way it placed, re-load the game and make adjustments. Good luck.

[HeTiCu7]

I agree with TybeeMutt, but with one revision: I don't let placeables do the terrain deformation. I ALWAYS use the landscape tool and perfectly flatten the whole area where I want to place anything. In fact, my whole farm is all one consistent level. I prepped it before placing anything, or laying it out. This can cost plenty $$ depending on how hilly your area is, but if you plan ahead and save up $$ so you can do it, you will never again have to deal with any placeable anomalies.

But even if you do it this way, for sure, do the SAVE and turn off AUTO-SAVE before you make any changes. The landscape tool can be fickle as well.

[Uncle Fester]

Originally posted by Jon:

I just put in my animal pens in a new farm ...

Agree with TybeeMutt, but I added one step further:

Since landscaping near a bldg is not always possible, I removed the bldg, to get it out of the way, and then landscaped the area to get the ground height just like I want it.

Replace the bldg and - everything looks & works great ...

Downside is it costs extra $$$ to do the bldg twice.

If I am not mistaken, there is a mod that will allow you to place buildings without conflict. I cannot remember the exact name of the mod, but try to search "placing building" or some variant and see if anything comes up. I hope I am not mixing up with another game which I know this is a thing.

[joridiculous]

Originally posted by Uncle Fester:

Originally posted by Jon:

I just put in my animal pens in a new farm ...

Agree with TybeeMutt, but I added one step further:

Since landscaping near a bldg is not always possible, I removed the bldg, to get it out of the way, and then landscaped the area to get the ground height just like I want it.

Replace the bldg and - everything looks & works great ...

Downside is it costs extra $$$ to do the bldg twice.

If I am not mistaken, there is a mod that will allow you to place buildings without conflict. I cannot remember the exact name of the mod, but try to search "placing building" or some variant and see if anything comes up. I hope I am not mixing up with another game which I know this is a thing.

Global Company

[Usedfireball]

There is an old mod called "Place Anywhere" but it will conflict with Global Company if that is installed. Not sure if it works for version 1.7 but it does with 1.6.

[the.lovewyrm]

I think Place Anywhere works with 1.7 but I switched to Global Company myself due to the extremely superior crop icons GC brings with it.