can't decide on a map

[Raven_]

I have resetted my town countless times now but I never end up being happy with my map (mainly because of the river shape). This makes me feel so frustrated whenever I try to give it a try and start a new town.
I also tried taking a break from New Leaf but that didn't really help.

Can anyone give me some advice: What do you look for in a map? Which river shape did you end up choosing?

Thanks!

 

[LadyDestani]

I like to have an interesting river shape. My river splits the town in two vertically rather than horizontally and doubles back on itself, creating a few small peninsulas. I like it because I found decorating the peninsulas to be easier for me than trying to work with wide open spaces. But a lot of people are the opposite.

I would suggest thinking about what it is that you ended up disliking about your previous maps. If you can figure out what makes you unhappy, then you can try to avoid those things in the future.

 

[Tessie]

my advice is stop thinking so meticulous about it and just play the game

 

[ashubii]

It varies. If I have a theme in mind for the town, then I will try to focus on layouts that would suit that theme. As an example, sometimes I plan to have a forest area of the town and prefer my Town Hall and Retail be closer to the Train Station, away from my 'forest'. If I want to be really picky I will make a list of features that I know I like and want, such as a specific direction the waterfall is facing, the locations of Retatil, Town Hall, and Town Square, whether or not there is an inaccessible beach, et cetera. If the location of ponds and unbreakable rocks matters, then this guide is helpful in determining where they'll spawn as you're choosing a map: Rock and Pond Placement Guide

I think if choosing a map is becoming such a frustration, perhaps it would be best to simply choose one and go with it. Sometimes it's more fun and rewarding to work with a challening layout!

 

[feetsy]

I'm similar to the first reply where I like to have a curvier river shape that gives me little peninsulas. Except I like to have it cutting across horizontally.
There is no perfect map, and I think it's fun to have a challenge or something you have to be more creative with. If you are so frustrated by the maps, then yeah you should just pick a random one and make yourself work with it.
Or maybe make a short checklist of what you want based on the theme or function of your town, like where your retail, plaza, and town hall should be (central or off to the side etc), what general shape you want for your river, and where you want your beaches. Then make yourself go with the first map that has all of them. Know your brain is just being irrational if even after that you think "oh no I should have picked a different one"... Sometimes I worry like that, too, and it's the downside of having so many choices...

 

[Liability]

i like funky rivers where it's not completely straight, but the river has to cut the town evenly so there's about the same amount of space above and below the river. i also like only one big beach, and i prefer Re-Tail, Town Hall, and the Plaza to all be on one section

i don't like having anything next to the campsite opening either, including ponds. i prefer one pond, but two is fine. three or more is horrible for me, especially if one is in front of the train station

 

[Selky]

I like my main structures to be at the top of the map along the railway (hall, retail, etc). Only one of my towns is an exception and, in that regard, the town hall and plaza are aligned with one another in the area they're at making it appealing to me.

I don't really care about specifics with the river or beaches. I mostly just look for maps that leave sections divided up with attractive positions for houses to be isolated in(especially cliff edges).
Examples of what I mean:

Spoiler

If it makes you feel better, I just spent roughly a day resetting my third town's map. You'll find one. Try to look for key things you want and be a bit open on the rest. Good luck!