When I first started playing Norland, the whole building mechanic was something I thought I could wing. I figured it was just a matter of placing structures down and waiting for things to run smoothly, but nope—turns out, how you build your kingdom directly impacts its success or failure.
Whether you’re constructing defenses, homes, or resource production facilities, how and when you build matters more than you’d think. Trust me, I’ve been through the chaos of a poorly planned city.
So, let’s dive into how to build in Norland and make sure you don’t repeat my mistakes.
Getting Started: Gathering Resources
Before you can build anything in Norland, you’ll need resources. In the early stages, this means focusing on wood, stone, and gold—the basic building blocks of your kingdom. I can’t stress enough how important it is to manage your resources carefully.
One time, I went on a building spree, throwing up homes and workshops without thinking about my resource stockpiles.
Within a few in-game days, I was flat broke and couldn’t even build a proper wall when invaders showed up. Not fun.
Early Resource Tips:
- Build a woodcutter’s hut first: This should be your first priority. Wood is needed for almost everything early on, and it’s a resource you’ll burn through quickly.
- Quarry for stone: Right after securing a steady wood supply, set up a quarry. You’ll need stone for more advanced structures like defensive walls and upgraded workshops.
- Keep an eye on gold: Gold is essential for trading and recruiting soldiers, but it also becomes crucial for construction. Ensure your tax system is set up, or you’ll find yourself short on funds when you need to expand.
Prioritize Essential Buildings First
As tempting as it is to build grand structures or fancy barracks early on, resist that urge! Focus first on the essentials: housing, food production, and storage.
One time, I focused too much on building an army early, neglecting the basics like food production. The result? My soldiers were starving and morale tanked.
What to Build First:
- Homes for your citizens: Keep your population housed and happy by building enough homes to avoid overcrowding. If you let this slide, unrest will rise, and things can spiral quickly.
- Farms and granaries: Food production is crucial. Build farms early and make sure you have a granary to store food. If your population grows too fast and you haven’t built enough farms, famine could hit, and trust me, it’s hard to recover from that.
- Storage buildings: Set up a storehouse to stockpile resources like wood and stone. It’s easy to overlook this, but without enough storage space, you’ll start wasting resources, which is the last thing you want when you’re trying to expand.
Plan Your City Layout
This is where things can get tricky. In my early games, I slapped buildings down wherever there was space, and that quickly turned into a logistical nightmare.
Peasants had to walk long distances between farms, workshops, and storage, which massively slowed down production. Your city layout directly affects efficiency, so plan ahead.
Tips for an Efficient Layout:
- Keep production close to storage: If you’ve got a workshop or blacksmith, make sure they’re near your storehouse. This cuts down travel time and speeds up production.
- Centralize important buildings: Place buildings like granaries and markets in central locations where they’re easily accessible to most of your citizens.
- Leave room for defenses: Don’t forget to leave space for walls and towers. In one game, I built all my houses right up against the edge of my city, leaving no room for walls. When an attack came, I couldn’t build proper defenses in time. Always think about future expansion and defensive needs.
Build for Defense
Once you’ve got your essential structures in place, it’s time to think about defense. Norland is a game of survival as much as it is of building.
One time, I was so focused on building a beautiful, sprawling kingdom that I completely ignored defense. Then, a neighboring faction attacked, and I had no walls, no towers, and no chance. It was a painful lesson.
Defensive Buildings:
- Barracks: You’ll need a barracks to train your soldiers, but don’t overdo it. Focus on defense first and build up your army gradually. A well-defended city can often hold off invaders even if your military is still small.
Upgrading Buildings
As your kingdom grows, upgrading buildings becomes key to keeping up with your needs. In one playthrough, I didn’t prioritize upgrades, and I found myself with a food shortage because my farms weren’t producing enough.
Upgraded buildings are more efficient and give you a significant boost in productivity.
When to Upgrade:
- Workshops and blacksmiths: These should be some of the first buildings you upgrade. They produce essential items like weapons and tools, and an upgraded workshop can produce more with fewer workers.
- Granaries and storehouses: As your population grows, so do your storage needs. Make sure to upgrade your granaries and storehouses to prevent spoilage and resource wastage.
- Houses: Upgrading homes can allow you to house more people without taking up more space. It’s a great way to expand your population without needing to build additional housing units.
Conclusion: When You Build in Norland, Build Strategically!
Building in Norland isn’t just about placing structures wherever they fit. It’s about planning for the future, managing your resources wisely, and always thinking two steps ahead.
Make sure your economy is strong, your city layout is efficient, and your defenses are solid. Take it from someone who’s learned the hard way—building smart from the start will save you a lot of trouble later on.
Whether you’re constructing homes, preparing for battle, or managing resources, Norland rewards careful planning and strategic building. Follow these tips, and your kingdom will not only survive but thrive.
By
