2 South Facing Rivers - Map + Terraforming Help

[Ruddy Kitty]

EDIT:

So I'm redoing my map. I have one of the hardest maps... two south facing rivers, the plaza right in the middle where the airport is, and I have done very minimal terraforming since I unlocked the option.

I am looking for a lot of ideas on terraforming, especially with the river and water since I feel really lost on what to do with it with my limited options. Can anyone help me? And to be clear, my airport dock is aligned PERFECTLY with the center of my plaza.

Thanks in advance!

 

[WaileaNoRei]

I can’t tell from this if you want to terraform. Do you? If so, I’d say just look up some inspiration be prepare fo store a bunch of stuff on your beaches and just trial and error it. Everything can be done and redone if you put in the time.

But also...there’s plenty of islands that aren’t heavily terraformed and look great. You don’t have to do extensive or even any terraforming at all! I’m biased, because it is my preference to have a more natural island layout, but seriously, by no means do you have to do some kind of elaborate terraforming if it won’t make you happy. And you can still have a great, fun island!

See what makes sense to you and don’t put pressure on yourself. Your map is fine! All the maps have their own little quirks but there’s no map that is unworkable!

The unchangeable features might actually help you if you are feeling design stuck. They give you a solid starting point, and you can kind of design out from that solid point. Like your river mouth is where it is, so then where can you take the river next to fit what you want? Does it wind over to your plaza or curl back behind your museum.

I don’t consider myself particularly skilled in terms of island designing, but that’s just the kind of little stories that help me try and feel out how I can make the island make sense to me. And if it makes sense, it will usually at least feel easier to be there. The limits actually can help with creativity, because they give you something to hold onto or focus on.

Picking just one small area at a time and working only on that will also be much less stress inducing.

Sorry this is very long and meandering.

Take a break, do something fun in your game, or log off for a bit, and give your creative muscles a break. No one is at peak creativity when they are miserable.

 

[Marshmallows]

I see nothing wrong with your map or layout! I really like it. I can't see how you decorated it, but seems good to me... maybe the only thing you're missing are main paths? Or maybe I just can't see the custom designs. If you don't like the housing placement, you can always move it. Maybe groups of 2 or 3 houses with their own theme.

Personally I like the more natural looking islands, but that's just me. Also, try not to compare too much, I'm sure your island isn't boring at all. We can be too hard on ourselves sometimes.

 

[KimvW]

I've like what you've done with your map! I understand terraforming can be a bit overwelming, especially with these nice islands you see, but it's no competition, so go about it in your own pace and decorate when you have the inspiration to do so (working on small areas at a time helps as well).

Before you start to terraform, maybe think what type of player you are? I know the heavily terraformed and decorated islands you see on social media look very nice, but they have their downsides as well. They tend to be harder to get around, have levels without inclines etc, which makes it harder to actually play the game. Heavily decorated islands often have lag as well. All of that might not be a problem for you if your main focus of the game is to decorate your island, but if you like to fish/catch bug/dig up fossils etc, a more ' basic' layout might work better for you.

I hardly terraformed and have not heavily decorated my island and I am happy with my island and the choice I made.

Maybe it would help to visit some dream addresses (if you have ninento online) of different types of islands?

 

[Manah]

I'm absolutely poop at anything that requires visualizing 3D spaces, I can't even recreate my existing island in those planner things...

You don't really HAVE to terraform if you don't want to though. The stuff you see on social media looks awesome, sure, but I know I couldn't play on an island where every little inch is covered in items and water gets in my way everywhere.

I'm going to keep my river as intact as possible, because a) trying to recreate natural-looking riverbanks seems near impossible, and b) they provide a sort of guideline I need in addition to the unchangeable ones, because see first paragraph.

So far I've only worked on my northern town, and for that I just started with the slope leading to the secret beach (fixed point) and worked my way down like "the cliffs look good, now I want a villager house in front of them, and a road in front of that, and then the next part needs to be that far down to look right" and just create new ground to fit everything.

 

[Lotusblossom]

Is your airport dock perfectly lined up with the center of residents services?? & Did u spend time resetting to find this map?

 

[KayDee]

Terraforming is just a tool to help change your island to fit your vision but is by no means a requirement to say that you’ve accomplished decorating your island. From the looks of your map, you did a good job building up your island without terraforming and I think that’s a lot harder to do and is a greater accomplishment.

But if you really want to terraform, maybe work with what you have and see areas that you could improve by adding cliffside areas, waterfalls or ponds.

 

[Michelangelo]

I think successful terraforming happens when you keep it looking as natural as possible. Round off the corners of cliffs. Have little bumps in the river. I'd say look at the starter maps. They look natural and can help you terraform. Perhaps look at many starter maps and terraform your island based on all the landmasses and river shapes you like best from each one! I have a jpg of lots of south rivers maps:

 

[Hirisa]

Hey, I just want to add that one reason so many islands look amazing on social media is because we’re often only seeing the parts the creators consider worthy of sharing. I’m noticing a lot of AC Instagram accounts who are reluctant to share their dream codes because they are not done designing their island. That’s totally okay! We’re all designing islands at our own pace and in our own ways, so try to avoid comparing your progress with someone else’s as much as possible.

 

[Ruddy Kitty]

Is your airport dock perfectly lined up with the center of residents services?? & Did u spend time resetting to find this map?

Yeah, my airport dock is perfectly centered with resident services. I didn't reset anything, I just chose a map. I played this game since the day it came out and I don't want to reset.

I really want to see what other ideas people have for 2 south facing rivers. I still feel really lost, and I've flattened my entire island, moved every house and flower to the beach, removed every tree, taken every decoration down and stored it, and gotten rid of every pond and river as well as demolished every bridge and incline.

I definitely need more inspiration. Please show me your maps that are in this style. I need more inspiration. Thanks in advance!

 

[Katzenjammer]

I have a very similar map to yours including the two south facing rivers but mine is a little off center from resident services :/ I've seen a great island that is layed out like ours on youtube! If you would like the link to the tour video, just PM me! =^.^=

 

[Sharksheep]

I made a dock for one side of my river. Don't have any pictures but you can see my double south island at my dream address ( see signature)

It is really nice to have all that extra land in the back though

 

[Lotusblossom]

Yeah, my airport dock is perfectly centered with resident services. I didn't reset anything, I just chose a map. I played this game since the day it came out and I don't want to reset.

I really want to see what other ideas people have for 2 south facing rivers. I still feel really lost, and I've flattened my entire island, moved every house and flower to the beach, removed every tree, taken every decoration down and stored it, and gotten rid of every pond and river as well as demolished every bridge and incline.

I definitely need more inspiration. Please show me your maps that are in this style. I need more inspiration. Thanks in advance!

Wow well u lucked out!!! Mines one off..

 

[Bunnii]

I have a map similar to this and the only layout I could think of was anything symmetrical cause it’s just perfect for it.