Map, platform and update differences are noted where they affect the steps.
Start scouting Oxbow around the waterfall southeast of Piastovia, the lake north of Ostoya, or the western river bend between Klonica and Skauki. Community players recommend these areas for different combinations of water, building space, scenery and cave access. Choose the area that supports your intended village, then test the actual ground before committing to a large layout.
These are community suggestions, not official rankings or locations we have personally tested. Their broad descriptions identify areas to explore rather than exact building coordinates. Even within a promising area, check each planned building and field instead of assuming the whole shoreline or hillside is usable.
Compare the areas by your main activity
Decide whether your village will emphasize farming, mining, convenient trips to town or a particular view. A site can look excellent for one goal while making another less comfortable. The comparison below turns the community descriptions into a practical scouting shortlist.
| Candidate area | Why investigate it | What to check carefully |
|---|---|---|
| Waterfall southeast of Piastovia | River scenery, nearby cave and community-reported field space | Whether your buildings and fields fit on the same useful level |
| Lake north of Ostoya | Open ground, lake access and nearby resource options | Slopes, limited trees in the open area and the cave approach |
| Western river between Klonica and Skauki | Riverbank expansion, cave access and western scenery | Your regular travel route and the exact ground beside the river |
Our editorial recommendation is to test your least flexible feature first. For a farming village, that means checking the field layout before arranging houses around a favorite view. For a mining-focused settlement, inspect the cave route and your planned material-handling routine first.
Waterfall southeast of Piastovia
The waterfall and river area southeast of Piastovia is a repeated community favorite. Players describe building around the river, using flatter nearby ground for farms, and enjoying the waterfall scenery. A nearby cave is another reason this area appears frequently in settlement discussions.
Its main appeal is the possibility of combining several activities in one recognizable landscape. Scout a place for houses, a route beside the river and a separate patch of workable field space. Check that those choices connect into the village you want instead of spreading your essential buildings across inconvenient levels.
The scenery can also encourage a layout that is more ambitious than your starting supplies support. Our suggestion is to mark out a small first group of buildings and preserve room for later expansion. Use the beginner guide if you need a starting order before turning the area into a larger project.
A nearby cave does not automatically mean you have immediate access to every ore. The developer FAQ distinguishes ordinary caves from the deeper iron-bearing sections opened by a built Mine. Check the mining guide before making early iron access the deciding reason for this location.
Lake north of Ostoya
Community players describe the lake north of Ostoya as an open area with room to develop. The discussion also mentions nearby clay and a cave, while noting that the ground is not completely flat. Treat the openness as an invitation to scout, rather than proof that a large rectangular plan will fit unchanged.
This candidate is worth investigating if you want a lakeside settlement and are willing to adapt the layout to the land. Walk the space you would use for farming as well as the place where you would put your house. A pleasant waterfront view may occupy a different part of the area from your most convenient field site.
The community description also notes fewer trees in the open area and bears closer to the cave. Inspect your own gathering and cave approaches before deciding that nearby resources make every trip simple. Compare the route you will actually walk with the resource icons or landmarks that first attracted your attention.
For this site, make a short list of the materials your first buildings require. Check where you would collect those materials and where you would return with them. That gives the open space a practical meaning beyond how much village you can imagine placing there.
Western river between Klonica and Skauki
Another community choice lies on the western side of Oxbow, between Klonica and Skauki, around a branching river bend and cave. Players describe opportunities to expand along the river and appreciate scenery they might otherwise visit less often. This makes it a useful alternative when the frequently recommended Piastovia area does not fit your preferences.
The main tradeoff is how that position fits your own travel routine. A commenter praises access to several settlements while acknowledging that another destination is considerably farther away. Identify the places you expect to visit regularly before treating access to one town as a substitute for convenient access to all of them.
Inspect the cave approach and the riverbank separately. A good cave location can coexist with uneven or awkward building ground nearby. The strongest version of this choice is a site where both your resource project and your everyday village layout make sense.
Community descriptions mention different trees across the wider area and around the river. Walk your intended gathering route instead of assuming the nearest visible forest supplies your preferred routine. If you like a spread-out riverside village, also leave clear connections between its separate parts.
Test fields before decorating the village
The developer FAQ states that fields and orchards follow the cardinal directions and cannot be rotated. A shoreline that looks ideal for houses may therefore be awkward for the field shape you have in mind. Test that alignment early, while you can still move your plan rather than redesigning an established village around it.
Farmers are also the important exception to general workplace-distance advice. Their field animations represent real work, and the FAQ advises keeping their homes, Farm Shed and fields close together. Reserve that working cluster before assigning the remaining land to houses, workshops and scenery.
Use the farming and seasons guide to choose a manageable first crop plan. A location should support the field work you can complete, not only the largest field you can place. Leave yourself space to adjust the plan after seeing a season of actual work.
Separate convenience from production mechanics
Nearby water, caves and trees can make your own activities more convenient. That does not establish a general rule that every worker produces faster when every resource or home is nearby. The developer FAQ specifically explains that non-farming workplaces do not depend on commuting distance in the same way as farmers.
Consider wildlife when expanding too. The FAQ warns that building too close can prevent animal spawns, so a hunting area you value may deserve space around it. Do not base a site choice on an assumed universal distance or a promise that every predator will disappear.
Scout once, then commit to a small footprint
Use the same inspection at each candidate area so you compare useful differences. Walk the routes and inspect the ground before investing in a detailed decorative plan. If you play with friends, agree which tradeoffs matter to the shared village before everyone starts a separate project.
- Test a representative house and your intended first field orientation.
- Reserve nearby space for farmers' homes and the Farm Shed.
- Walk the route to the NPC settlement you expect to visit most.
- Inspect the cave approach if mining is a priority.
- Check gathering routes and wildlife you want to keep using.
- Leave room for expansion without relying on every nearby patch being buildable.
Start with the smallest layout that proves the location works for you. A finished home and a manageable production plan will tell you more than an enormous unfinished village. Expand once the area supports the routine you actually enjoy playing.