I'm so torn

[mohn]

You see, I like natural-looking islands, with lots of cliffs, trees, waterfals, and twisty, windy paths...

BUT I also like more city-like islands, with neat paths, lots of right angles, areas paved with stone, etc.

And I just can NOT decide what to do with my island. I'm not the type to decide on a "theme" or plan a lot beforehand, I just work on a small area each time... but it's like every time I visit a dream island my plan changes. How do I make up my mind?

 

[MayorofMapleton]

Why not split the island.

Upper level of the map are your cliffs and forests and wilderness.

While the lower area is your main city and town aesthetic.

Or vice versa.

 

[xChives]

I don’t think you have to do one or the other! My island has a large, dense forest that leads into a neighborhood where one part is a city-like alley/dead end. It actually seems to pull everything together nicely and gives me variation so I can enjoy whichever scenery I like!

 

[Plume]

My island is half city and half forest, and I'm really happy with it! I was conflicted in the same way as you are for a while, but I'm really glad that I decided to split it. It helps keep the areas from feeling too repetitive!

 

[Your Local Wild Child]

Why not split the island.

Upper level of the map are your cliffs and forests and wilderness.

While the lower area is your main city and town aesthetic.

Or vice versa.

That’s SORTA how my island works. My starting area is a nice, mostly orderly village area/visitor center while everywhere else is a wilderness. My wilderness is on the extreme edge of the natural end, though (no discernible paths, plants growing everywhere, a bit difficult to navigate and the navigation tools are a non-negotiable)

 

[mohn]

Why not split the island.

Upper level of the map are your cliffs and forests and wilderness.

While the lower area is your main city and town aesthetic.

Or vice versa.

That's kinda what I've been doing, slowly, I guess. Except it's a west-east split. But as I've said, I don't plan things, so who knows how it'll turn out. Not me, that's for sure!

 

[An0nn]

I agree with the "why not both?"!

I didn't plan much in advance either. After gradually adding things that appealed to me, I've ended up with an island that's a mix of the two.

The center of my island is very much like a town (wide simple paths, my shops, an inn, large plaza-like paved areas, and a lot of right angles). I have two south river exits and the strips on either side between the river and the ocean are both some variation of natural with lots of windy dirt paths. To the left I have a woodsy area (I call it an enchanted forest but it's really just a regular woodsy area until I get mushroom lamps or something). To the right I have rocky beach and a little rustic area built around Teddy and Stella's log cabins. The back third of my island is elevated and I'm keeping it pretty natural-looking too. Lots of cedar trees, a winding path, and a tucked away graveyard.

 

[Megaroni]

I love what everyone's saying in this thread because I did the same thing. I wanted to make my island inspired by a resort in the California mountains because they definitely have more natural aspects but they also need the residential areas/shops. My residential area is more town-like but I also have small hiking trails that I tried to make look like mountains

 

[Lurrdoc]

I'm the same way. Ended up with the left side of my island more modern-ish with all the shops. And have the right side looking more natural or outdoorsy.

 

[maria110]

I wanted a very forested island too but what forested area has a big honkin' resident services building and a world class museum? Not many forested areas have those features. So, I ended up making the island part "town/village center" and part forested, with lotsa wolves.

Plus, Isabelle complains incessantly if you have too many trees. Flowers can be everywhere but not trees. So annoying.

 

[Your Local Wild Child]

I wanted a very forested island too but what forested area has a big honkin' resident services building and a world class museum? Not many forested areas have those features. So, I ended up making the island part "town/village center" and part forested, with lotsa wolves.

Plus, Isabelle complains incessantly if you have too many trees. Flowers can be everywhere but not trees. So annoying.

I’ve reconciled with the fact that my primal forest island HAS to be 4 stars. Still, I’ve set aside the starting area for the necessary fixtures (I call it a visitor center). I only have one bridge connected to a small island and nothing else, even!

 

[Heartcore]

I'm trying to do a mix of both. Have a "residential area" where my shops, villager houses, etc all are--and then another part of my island that's more forests and natural. You should think about doing something similar, since it's kind of best of both worlds!

 

[Aubrey895]

I am planning on making my island a good mix of both. I also couldn’t decide which I wanted soooo I decided to have my island have some natural areas and some city like parts to it.

 

[nightglow]

What if you do a city themed "main street" or have all your buildings together in a city theme and just have a nature conserve outside of the city area?

 

[maria110]

I’ve reconciled with the fact that my primal forest island HAS to be 4 stars. Still, I’ve set aside the starting area for the necessary fixtures (I call it a visitor center). I only have one bridge connected to a small island and nothing else, even!

That sounds like a good strategy. I wish the game allowed for different looks for resident services (smaller and/or more rustic) and the museum (I wanted art but preferred the more modest-looking building) and that resident services was moveable.

 

[Your Local Wild Child]

That sounds like a good strategy. I wish the game allowed for different looks for resident services (smaller and/or more rustic) and the museum (I wanted art but preferred the more modest-looking building) and that resident services was moveable.

I’d love a more cabin-like RS! I’d be happy if we just got the ability to change the exterior, period.

 

[An0nn]

That sounds like a good strategy. I wish the game allowed for different looks for resident services (smaller and/or more rustic) and the museum (I wanted art but preferred the more modest-looking building) and that resident services was moveable.

I would LOVE more resident services exterior style options. I'm hoping that it's possible someday, like in a patch further down the line or something. Who knows what the chances of that are, but it doesn't seem totally impossible.

 

[SoftenedHearts]

I'm currently trying to do what's a mix, albeit moreso natural looking (I got overwhelmed trying to come up with something of my own, so am using a map from google images as a reference, which is like 70% natural)

 

[Uffe]

You should definitely blend it together. Or make it to where there's a small countryside of the island while there is a part of the island that is dedicated to a small town or something.

 

[Dunquixote]

I can kinda relate. I originally wanted to make my island completely dedicated to Dragon Age like it was in Nl or just heavily medieval themed (since by the time I got the game, I was think maybe changing my theme up anyways), but then I came up with non Dragon Age ideas during and after the fair that use kind both modern and old type of technology. Additionally, because of lack of furniture variety, I used stuff regardless of what era they were from to substitute for not until we get more options or permanently since I think as long as I explain or even without an explanation; people might understand what I am going for inspite the item being from wrong era.

I like the historical/ancient themes/sub-themes I have, but the idea of making some areas more modern appeal to me since I love some items like the drink machines and snack machines. I guess I might consider mixing it up a bit; so far my island looks more like a continent with some different culture going on, so maybe it might not end up being as big of a problem as I worry it being.

My ideas are all over the place right now. I worry about consistency and them not flowing into each other well. I’m trying not to stress to much about it though.