Comprehensive guide to attracting new families in Manor Lords

Families are the basic population unit in medieval city builder Manor Lords. Knowing how to attract families is essential to succeeding as Manor Lord of your own settlement.

It's actually not that hard to attract new families. In order to do so, you'll need just two things.

1. Room to live

Nobody likes being homeless, right? Not nowadays, certainly not back in the 14th century. 

Enough room for new families to live is the most important thing to have. To do this, you can either:

1. Construct new Burgage Plots; or
2. Extend existing Burgage Plots if they have room for a second family; or
3. Upgrade level 2 Burgage Plots to level 3, as that doubles family capacity.

What is a 'Burgage Plot'?

In the real world, a specific type of land renting in medieval times was called a burgage plot. They were most common in towns and cities across England and even parts of Europe.

Most often, these plots of land were long and narrow. With a shop or workshop at the street side, they often extended back from a main street or even marketplace. Extending to the back, one would find the living quarters and space for crops or animals to grow. 

The first and second option are the cheapest and quickest way to increase living space. Constructing a new plot or extending an existing plot with extra living quarters only costs 2 timber.

The third option, upgrading an existing plot, is only viable if you already have level 2 families in your settlement. It's pretty expensive, setting you back 25 gold in regional wealth, 4 timber, 8 planks and 10 clay pans. Getting all these resources delivered to the plot also takes time. 

Upgrading a level 2 plot to level 3 will double the capacity. This means that if the plot was already extended, that plot will house 4 families after the upgrade has finished.

Aside from that, all requirements for the family already living there need to be fulfilled. That means you will need a steady supply of:

• 3 different types of food
• 2 types of clothing
• Fuel
• A stone church
• A well nearby
• A tavern supplied with Ale

2. A good approval

New families will settle down in your village only if your villagers vouch for you. If they ain't happy, they'll slander about your rule and chase everyone away. If they are, your approval will precede you - in a good way.

Now, life doesn't have to be perfect. Your approval needs to be at least 50% for new families to give you the benefit of the doubt. 

The higher your approval is, the easier it will be to attract new families. At 50% approval rating, a maximum of 1 family will settle down in your village each month. If your approval is above 75%, a maximum of 2 families will join you. 

Space AND approval

In order for a new family to settle down, you will need both the space to live as well as the approval above 50%.

Having enough plots available but an approval below 50%, will not convince new families to join your villages. 

Have the best approval of all the lands, but no room to live? Families will just pass on through and settle down somewhere else. 

So as you can see, it is important to keep an eye on both if you intend to grow your village.