Entry 8: Wolventhal
We are here:
Replies:
@mitsos @younghappy @ulisse @RobertLM78 @MissVanleider @monkeywater @RipRap
Wow, I'm very happy to see that I have got 7 comments for my last entry! Thank you all very much for your interest and your nice comments! I currently can't think of any special answer to any of you, so I hope this will do.
Content:
Before starting with the picture part of today's update, I want to share some background info about the project I've been working on, which will most likely require several updates to present to you.
I'm currently working on developing this lowlands area in the southwest of Maxiland:
As you can see, it takes up 4 large city tiles: Erlengrund, Ulmengrund, Lobnautal, and Storchenfeld. Again, I'm going to wipe these cities out and start them from scratch. This will still be an important agricultural area, but I'm going to make some major changes to make it both more interesting and more realistic:
- I'm trying to change the farm fields in a way that they line up along routes that aren't always orthogonal. I've found that it is very difficult to make large farming areas interesting. Thus, I'm just laying out farm fields with fractional angles, because I'm at least satisfied with how it turned out in Storchenfeld. I'll try different approaches on occasion, but this is just supposed to be the agricultural backbone of my city, thus requiring a large chunk of land to be filled with farms.
- The river to the west, flowing to the north, will flow through two narrow lakes. More about that later.
- There will be two small settlements in the hills to the south, which will live mostly from animal husbandry.
- The shore south of the river flowing from the west to the east will be a protected area, with sort of a wetlands forest. This will probably be the most challenging part, considering my general lack of experience with doing such a thing.
This is a picture of my planning so far. I'm also planning to make the area around the rivers a protected area, and I'll try to even add a dam or the like, for flood protection. While I somewhat regret that in my country, there's barely any river which doesn't have a part of its path artifically changed by human buildings such as dams and power plants (up to the point where fish routes are being disrupted), it's somewhat realistic, anyway. I'm thinking of this area as a former wetland that has been drained and used for agriculture over time until the government decided to put the last remaining parts under protection.
Unfortunately, work is progressing slowly so far, because of three reasons:
- I'm reluctant to wipe out Ulmengrund too early, because its surrounding city tiles are taking profit from the neighborhood connection.
- It's difficult to lay out a comprehensive network system for three city tiles. Especially because only small parts of Lobnautal and Storchenfeld are affected, and I'm suffering from space constraints there.
- Besides, real life keeps me busy these days.
But long story short, I've at least been able to build a new village today, located in Lobnautal, the city tile to the north of Storchenfeld. Its name is Wolventhal (lit. wolf valley). The proper German spelling for both parts of this name is Wolf and Tal, but I'm changing a few letters to make it look like several centuries old. Unfortunately, I'm suffering from mysterious unemployment issues in parts of this village, and I can't find a way to solve them, so, occasionally, you will see some dilapitated buildings.
Let's start with the area directly adjacent to the river Lobnau, at the highway interchange. Like in Storchenfeld, there's a bridge going all across the river, where the next village will be. Wolventhal consists mostly of low-density residentials, but a few 19th century expansions and apartments cannot be missing here.
Centuries ago, the people here lived from hunting, but to do that, of course, they also had to learn how to deal with wolves, which may be considered rivals of us humans when it comes to hunting for food. Unfortunately, as it is the case with large parts of Europe, wolves are now mostly extinct in Maxiland, especially here in Southwest Maxiland, only in some areas of Northeast Maxiland, a few wolves have occasionally been sighted.
Thus, Wolventhal has never played a big role in the history and the economy of Maxiland, but a few people still live there, they mostly enjoy the remoteness and the view. Especially those living in the upper parts of the village.
And a close-up of the brook estuary.
Empty space in villages like this is being used for small farm fields. Also, some rich people are living here, far away from the traffic, but, much to their chagrin, close to two cow pastures (well, one can't have everything).
I've also made this little bike path along the river. A nice recreational center of sorts in Wolventhal.
Here, we also have the older parts of this village, placed a bit more loosely than in most cities in Maxiland because back then, there was enough space available.
Here, we have a small industrial area, as well as another local employer, the sawmill. And a self-made lot, a small highway rest station, in case you are tired and need to prevent microsleep, or you need to go to the toilet. BTW, I'm fencing in the highway, and constructed 5 short tunnels for it, to protect the wildlife in its proximity.
I'm now having a last picture for you, this is a sluice that controls how much water flows into the old river arm of the river Lobnau. During times of high amounts of rainfall, in order to protect the surrounding villages from floods, it opens and allows the water to fill up the old riverbed.
That's it for now. I'm still developing the lowland area, I hope to be able to make an update on it soon. Hope you liked this update.
-
21
6 Comments
Recommended Comments
Sign In or register to comment...
To comment in reply, you must be a community member
Sign In
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In NowCreate an Account
Sign up to join our friendly community. It's easy!
Register a New Account