Going Medieval is a complex and rewarding colony simulation game where thoughtful village planning makes a significant difference in efficiency, sustainability, and survival. This guide explores village design strategies, covering everything from settlement planning, specialized buildings, defensive structures, and room efficiency across different game modes and landscapes. Whether you’re starting in a hilly terrain, deep mountain fort, or an open valley, each location presents unique challenges and opportunities. Let’s dive into the key aspects of village design, specialization, and long-term planning.

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The Importance of Pre-Planning Your Village

Before starting a new game, you should have a vision of how you want your settlement to develop. The map type, game mode, and difficulty level will significantly affect your village layout. Standard Mode, Peaceful Mode, and Survival Mode require different strategic approaches, and your starting settlers’ skills will also impact your efficiency.

For example, a hilly map with three settlers encourages vertical building, maximizing space efficiency and defensive capabilities. Meanwhile, a mountainous settlement with ten settlers should focus on underground structures and resource abundance. A valley-based settlement with six settlers demands balanced development, incorporating stronghold defenses and multi-story housing.

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The Hilly Village: A Multi-Level Approach

The hilly village design is ideal for maximizing vertical space. Constructing a single, massive structure with multiple levels improves efficiency and defense.

Key Features:

• Six levels in total, ranging from the third underground level to the third above-ground level.
• Lower levels are dedicated to basements and food storage to maintain stable temperatures.
• Above ground floors are structured for workshops, dining areas, and living spaces.
• Vertical stacking of functional areas, such as placing the kitchen above the food basement for efficient transport of ingredients and meals.

Room Optimization:

• Workshops should have job-specific stockpiles next to each workstation to reduce hauling times.
• Shared bedrooms offer positive mood modifiers, but single bedrooms provide stronger buffs (although they require more resources).
• Libraries only require bookshelves and research tables, and adding additional bookshelves increases efficiency.

Defensive Strategies:

• An archer’s nest helps funnel enemies into a single choke point.
• Traps slow and injure attackers before they engage melee defenders.
• Enemies will prioritize villagers over structures, allowing strategic placement of settlers to control battle flow.
• Trebuchets require aggressive countermeasures, as raiders assigned to siege weapons will abandon them when attacked.

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The Mountain Village: Underground Efficiency

A mountain settlement requires heavy reliance on mining and excavation due to a lack of trees. With abundant limestone, iron, and gold, this type of village thrives on stone-based construction and underground development.

Key Advantages:

• Stable underground temperatures, reducing the need for heating and insulation.
• Unlimited access to building materials, eliminating the need for external resource gathering.
• Easy fortress-style defenses, as enemies have limited entry points.

Room Specialization in Mountain Villages:

• Kitchens require a butcher’s table, hearth, and wall storage shelves.
• Workshops become specialized with two shelves containing tools and workbenches.
• Armories should be placed near exits to ensure quick access during raids.
• Brewery rooms lack production bonuses but are still crucial for morale and trade.

Heat Management:

• Workstations generate high indoor temperatures, requiring separation of rooms by doors and hallways to maintain food storage conditions.
• Dining rooms within food basements prevent settlers from eating standing up, preserving positive mood buffs.

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The Valley Village: A Balanced Approach

A valley village in Survival Mode must balance combat readiness, resource gathering, and efficient production workflows. The 6-settler starting group is typically a mix of combat specialists and skilled artisans.

Defensive Keep Strategy:

• Two-level fortifications for clear archer sightlines and melee choke points.
• Traps positioned at entry staircases slow down raiders before engagement.
• Centralized wooden keep with high walls and elevated firing positions.
• Expanding to high limestone walls, restricting enemy access to upper levels.

Building Layout:

• Separate multi-story buildings, with future plans for a 4-5 story main keep.
• Library, workshops, and bedrooms placed according to resource flow efficiency.
• Dedicated specialized rooms, ensuring maximum production bonuses.

Resource Management and Movement Optimization:

• Stockpiles placed near workstations for faster crafting.
• Wood flooring for high-traffic areas to improve movement speed.
• Strategic tree planting for aesthetics and sustainability.
• Winterproofing buildings with thick clay walls and insulated spaces.

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Final Thoughts: Choosing the Best Village Design

Each village type has strengths and weaknesses, so choosing the best layout depends on your playstyle and objectives. Vertical villages optimize space, mountain villages ensure stable resource control, and valley villages provide flexibility with a balanced mix of combat and production.

Key Takeaways:

• Workshops and crafting stations should have nearby stockpiles for maximum efficiency.
• Food basements should include dining spaces to maintain mood boosts.
• Defensive structures should funnel enemies into controlled battle areas.
• Survival Mode villages must prioritize combat readiness, while Peaceful Mode allows for aesthetic planning.

Whether you’re designing an efficient medieval city, fortified stronghold, or subterranean empire, strategic planning will ensure your villagers thrive in any environment. Keep experimenting, refine your designs, and enjoy the challenge of Going Medieval!