Manor Lords is a medieval city-building game that lets you play as a lord, shaping a settlement from scratch. Unlike other city builders, it ditches the grid for a freeform, organic approach inspired by 14th-century Franconia. Consequently, city building in Manor Lords feels like crafting a living, breathing village.
This guide, written by a passionate fan, covers everything new players need to know to turn their humble hamlet into a bustling medieval town. From laying your first Logging Camp to fending off bandits, let’s explore the quirky, strategic world of Manor Lords city building.
Understanding City Building in Manor Lords
First, let’s talk about what makes city building in Manor Lords special. The game offers a gridless system, meaning you can place and rotate buildings anywhere within your region. This flexibility, inspired by historical European settlements, enables the creation of natural-looking towns that are shaped by trade routes and landscapes.
However, freedom comes with responsibility. You’ll need to manage resources like timber, stone, and food while keeping villagers happy. The building aspect of Manor Lords really does modernize the city-building world, and managing resources represents the basics of the RTS aspect of the game.
Additionally, the game blends city building with real-time tactics, so expect to defend your town from threats. For new players, the key is striking a balance between growth, efficiency, and survival.
Getting Started – Your First Steps
Starting a new game in Manor Lords drops you into a vast landscape with a handful of families. Your first task is to build the essentials.
Begin with a Logging Camp near a forest to produce timber, but avoid wild animal habitats to keep workers safe. Next, construct a Storehouse and Granary near the village center for resource and food storage. A Well is crucial for villagers approval, and a Marketplace sets up trade stalls.
Assign two families to the Logging Camp and one each to the Storehouse and Granary. Connect buildings with roads for efficiency, leaving gaps for Burgage Plots—your residential buildings.
Finally, build a Forager Hut near berry bushes or a Hunting Camp near animals for food. These steps lay the foundation for growth.
Resource Management
Resources are the backbone of city building in Manor Lords. Timber, produced at Logging Camps, is used for most buildings. Sawpits turn timber into planks for advanced structures. Stone, mined at Stonecutter Camps, is needed for churches and manors. Food, sourced from Forager Huts or Hunting Camps, keeps villagers fed, while Woodcutter’s Lodges produce firewood for winter warmth.
Regional wealth, earned through trade or upgraded Burgage Plots, funds imports and upgrades. Storage is critical—Storehouses hold 250 generic resources, and Granaries hold 500 food. Upgrading to large storehouses or granaries significantly increases capacity.
To avoid bottlenecks, place storage near production buildings. Balancing production and consumption ensures your city runs smoothly.
| Resource | Production Building | Cost | Storage Building | Capacity |
| Timber | Logging Camp | 2 Timber | Storehouse | 250 (2,500 Large) |
| Planks | Sawpit | 2 Timber | Storehouse | 250 (2,500 Large) |
| Stone | Stonecutter Camp | 1 Timber, 4 Planks | Storehouse | 250 (2,500 Large) |
| Food | Forager Hut/Hunting Camp | 1 Timber/None | Granary | 500 (5,000 Large) |
| Firewood | Woodcutter’s Lodge | 1 Timber | Storehouse | 250 (2,500 Large) |
Optimizing Your City Layout
A well-planned layout is crucial for efficient city building in Manor Lords. Centralize your Marketplace, Well, and storage buildings to minimize villagers’ travel time. Place Burgage Plots nearby to keep residents close to amenities. Group related production buildings, for example, a Sawpit near a Logging Camp, to streamline resource flow.
Avoid building near map edges to avoid potential bugs, such as oxen getting stuck. Similarly, don’t expand into forests you rely on for timber or firewood.
When cutting trees, steer clear of wild animal habitats and berry deposits to preserve resources. Leave space for future buildings, such as the Church or Manor. A thoughtful layout improves efficiency and keeps your villagers content, laying the groundwork for growth.
Housing and Population Growth
Population growth drives your city’s success. Burgage Plots are your residential buildings, each providing one living space for a family. Expanding a plot sideways costs two timber and adds another living space.
To attract new families, maintain high approval ratings through access to food, firewood, clothes, and religion. Upgrading Burgage Plots to Level 2 (2 Timber, 8 Planks) or Level 3 (3 Timber, 12 Planks, 4 Roof Tiles, 25 Regional Wealth) increases living space and generates regional wealth. Place plots near the Marketplace and Well for maximum approval.
As your settlement grows from a Small Village (5 plots) to a Medium Village (10 plots), you’ll unlock new buildings and development points, enhancing your city’s capabilities.
Economy and Trade’s Impact on City Building in Manor Lords
Trade fuels your economy in Manor Lords. The Marketplace is where villagers access goods via stalls, boosting approval. Set up a Trading Post near the King’s Road for efficient merchant access. Sell surplus resources, like timber or hides, to earn regional wealth, which you can use to import scarce goods or fund upgrades.
For instance, Goat Sheds (25 Regional Wealth) produce hides, which a Tannery turns into leather for shoes. Invest in development points, such as Trade Logistics, to reduce trade costs or Better Deals, to lower import tariffs. By managing trade wisely, you ensure a steady flow of wealth and resources, supporting your city’s expansion.
Advanced Buildings and Upgrades
As your city grows, advanced buildings become vital. A Church (20 Planks, 5 Timber, 10 Stone) boosts approval when placed near Burgage Plots. A Tavern, requiring ale from barley, further enhances villager happiness. The Manor, your seat of power, needs stone and careful planning.
Upgrading buildings, such as converting a Storehouse into a Large Storehouse (2,500 capacity), improves efficiency. Development branches unlock new buildings, such as the Charcoal Kiln or Apiary for honey production.
Plan space for these structures early, as they require significant resources and a substantial amount of space. Upgrades and new buildings transform your village into a thriving town.
Defense and Warfare Are Important for City Building in Manor Lords
City building in Manor Lords goes beyond growth. You must protect your settlement. Bandits and rival lords pose threats, so build walls and towers for defense.
Train a militia from your villagers, but note they can’t work while on duty. A small army of at least 20 is recommended to handle early bandit raids. Place defensive structures strategically to ensure they cover key entry points.
Balancing military readiness with civilian tasks is tricky but necessary. By preparing defenses early, you safeguard your city’s progress and ensure its survival against external threats.
Seasonal Challenges
Seasons add complexity to city building in Manor Lords. Winter halts food production and doubles firewood consumption, so stockpile both in advance.
Spring, summer, and autumn are ideal for farming and resource gathering. Establish Chicken Coops (25 Regional Wealth each) for eggs to diversify food sources. Plan fields for wheat or barley in your second year to ensure long-term food security.
Monitor resource levels year-round to avoid shortages. By anticipating seasonal shifts, you maintain stability and keep your villagers fed and warm, ensuring your city’s longevity.
Tips and Tricks for City Building in Manor Lords
Here are some quirky tips to elevate your city-building game:
- Assign workers to the closest workplace to save time.
- Plan your layout with expansion in mind, leaving room for large buildings.
- Balance resource production to avoid storage bottlenecks or shortages.
- Maintain high approval ratings with a diverse range of goods and amenities, including churches.
- Reroll your starting region if resource deposits are too far apart.
- Avoid cutting trees near berry deposits or animal habitats to preserve resources.
These strategies, learned from hours of trial and error, will help you craft a prosperous settlement.
City building in Manor Lords is a delightful challenge that blends strategy, history, and creativity. From placing your first Logging Camp to constructing a grand Manor, every decision shapes your medieval masterpiece. By focusing on efficient layouts, resource management, and villager happiness, you’ll transform your village into a thriving town. Embrace the quirks, like dodging ox bugs or outsmarting bandits, and enjoy the journey. With careful planning, your settlement will stand the test of time, seasons, and invasions.