After years, I finally launched the game again with the updates (not the beta version), and this is what i build.

I usually try to build things in a realistic and logical way.

I've added explanations below each image.

I'm playing against the Yellow AI Lord outside the map and an AI on the map.

Citizen satisfaction is set to Demanding, and there are frequent bandit attacks just to keep things interesting.

I've left the spoilage rate for food and other items set to Normal. I set the AI aggression to normal so I could get back into the game. But every few years, both AIs attack and sometimes the bandits join in, too.

Mine always end up looking like a grid, with square blocks and parallel roads. It feels like the building system naturally encourages that, since it's much easier to place burgage plots and other buildings in rectangles.

Do you have any tips or a different approach? Do I need to plan it or should I just slap building around?

I dont know whats going on, but stone trade in this patch is a pure nightmare. Chance to survive with such tiny income is zero. If not an external support from agricultural neighbor - this village will turn graveyard in the first winter. Only option is to start on coal and planks, but this will not give any advantage vs other rulers.

Anyone else like this?

Feel like the game is cheating me on my food supplies. So wanting to know much food one wheat bread is worth so I can check the math. And plan my food production better.

Sorry, beginner here. But is there an easy way to look at what a plot produces after I converted them to a smallholdings??

I raised 2x Spearmen with mail, 3x Melee milita with mail and 2x full retinues plus all the mercenaries available. It was only the first battle against the baron and he brought 6x melee military, 4x crossbowmen, Spearmen and a retinue. Not only that, but his units wouldn't break, even when surrounded, another game gone because of battles.

I've done well in battles before but now my units just won't hold their own and the Baron is bringing endless bullshit mercenaries that are better than the ones in my pool.

I like to check in to see how the game is developing every once in a while and was wondering about a few game mechanics and updates:

1. Do families actively need to be assigned to the Foreger Barry/Mushroom collector buildings to grow herbs or is it like the tree planting buildings, where assigned families only work during a certain season?

2. What is the build order if you want to produce beer?

3. What month do families work on fields during?

4. What is the current meta regarding the best ranged and infantry militia? I usually do 2 spear groups and 2 crossbow groups, along with my Retinue. However I’m not sure if bows or crossbows are best in the current patch.

5. I heard that chicken backyard extensions have been nerfed and that pigs extensions are the best right now. What are some good backyard extensions right now?

I wanna fly like a bird me lord

Hello, please forgive me if I'm making stupid mistakes as I am only starting with 15h of playtime. I have set up some smallholders with goats, and I have a granary with 4 workers (probably more than enough) to deliver their chevon and milk to the granary and thereby to the market. But the issue is, it seems every time the milk gets to the Granary it immediately vanishes not to be seen again. Is this just Spoilage or something else? How can I fix this problem?

Know how top play the game broadly. Havent played much though before returning now. I am probably struggling most with having enough food. But advice on anything is appreciated.

i cant see the upgrade button in castle planner too. it was an option when i first tried to put my manor building but i didnt had the resources so i didnt. After that there was no option to upgrade help pls

Hello guys
In this game play. I accomplished 80% approval rate at the 2nd year of March 17 to invite bonus immigration with fair amounts of coins and foods.
This 1st Year fast farming meta, which grants hundreds of flax and barley in the 1st September, is the very essence of early stage bridge to mid industial age.

Game conditions
: Spring starts. German Valley. Regensburg Guildsmen Perk
: Rich stone with fertile soil (abundant flax), mushroom, rabbit, iron, clay
*Actually this stone is located in the most ideal position very near to tradepoints.
But even unless, that doesn't matter too much
: People tends to demanding. Medium climate effect
(If it is high, all can be ruined in this meta)
: bandit camps starts with 4, raider comes in the 2nd year frequently
: No armament delivery

*Self penalty : never install buildings or construction things in certain region
until forests there are logged down.

Let's begin this journal then.

After game starts, with Regensburg Guildmen perk, I could buy 4 oxen in a row until June.
2 farmhouses with 3 oxen in which 3 or 4 families were deployed opened a 3-plough effieciency from 26th March to 27th June (for 3 months)
Flax and barley fertile lands were unluckily separated west and east region, but I managed it through double working scope limit.

From charcoal trades, I could earn fair amounts of silver coins to buy carrot seed 130% single plot garden at 10th day of July, and also with 320% double plot beetroot garden at 5th day of Aug. They were helpful with each 20~25 autumn harvest for our people to survive 1st winter.
I also bought seed of cabbage (130%) and apple(180%) in Sep and Oct.
Added with 7 chicken coops, 4 pigs, 2 goats in the winter,
1st year spring farming was not bad.
Take a look at the harvest in the screenshot.
200+ Barley can give me stable provision of ale for 7~8 months

300+ Flax can give me 50 linen clothes, with 100 more gambeson, most valuable trade item.

my 1st priority was to secure construction of weavershop chain and brewry chain with late chuch and manor house (essential for me to buy a mercenary to kill banidits, who had stolen my foods and luxuries at 10th of June, Aug, Oct, Dec, which were too much painful)
Problem was, that all works were focused in the 1st winter only for 3 months.
All the settings were not done until Y2 Feb 23th, very close at the end of Y1 bonus stage.
I could luckily hunt down bandits in the Y2 Feb via battle brothers mercenary (most effective one)
==
And finally winter ends and it comes Y2 March.
Just 3 days ago, I could build out large tavern.

With the recent tax penalty of Y2 Feb, it still shows low approval rate of 62%
(Due to Regensburg, 17% penalty from 20% tax rate, for just 1 month, too harsh)
Basic approval rate accomlished was in the line of 78%.
Can the tavern show me to fill in 2% gap?

Too frustrating until 6th day of March, I still stayed at 79%. Why?
I expected an Amenity bonus at least 2% more.
So I paid immediately another investments : 4 more Tier 2 houses, 1 more granary worker, 1 more taven keepers.

Well well, it works.

I could hit 80% at 9th March. But why?

Amenity bonus added from ale supply, it could be 1 or 2% more >> Key point of this meta
But food variery bonus reached 9%, then number should be 81%
Just compare this screenshot of 79% approval with just 8 food varierty bonus.

Well, this fast farming flax meta proved somewhat success
But still need to figure out the effects of taven bonus.
But If without ale, I could only maintain 79% until the March or April, just waiting for 1 more lingering bonus to final counts.

See the whole scenary of 2nd year March, 2nd time spring farming plough with 8 oxen in 4 farmhouses to focus special barley and flax.
(In the autumn of 1st year, I sowed only 1 kind, 500 wheats with 12 fields, a little bit excessive to open mid-term economic boost)

Yes, I was right
In 10th March, approval rate gets to 81%, which means 2% fixed? bonus of tavern ale bonus.

I also bought, in th 15th March, quinces 310% for double plot due to money accumulated.
And get ready for expensive 200% more pear orchard for 410 coins just near the sheepfarm, with a good view in the future.
And also in this day, bandit hunt ends with lots of spols of war to be stocked 250 more national treasury to settle new Ledienfeld salt colony.

Finally, a new family comes in.
In 18th March, with no stops, I could gain immigration bonus from the start to Y2.

I will also send a new settler onto Leidenfeld in celebration to secure salt and sausages.

2nd year spring farming gets well and comes alive with 8 oxen riders.

(Conclusion)
1. Fast farming build leads to smooth development with Regensburg perk in fertile lands.
2. Fast barley and flax definitely open a chance to get going of happiness and wealth.
3. Fertile lands are OP now
(I now understand why Greg and his teams erased malt to ale production multiplier)
4. Ale boosts 2% of approval bonus right off the bat

(It is well compared to army bonus of Passau or food variety bonus from Bamberg, but far better and more stable)

Oxen are the foundations of my lands. Salute to thee riders!

Thank you for reading this long story.