Having trouble with plot resets...

[CutsceneLogic]

Hello! I was hoping to get some opinions/answers regarding the topic -- I've successfully used the standard plot reset method in the past, but unfortunately I've wound up with a villager in a bad spot.

Prior to this, I'd decided to go ahead and settle in with the new character file used to verify the villager placement.

So my question is, is plot resetting less likely to work if you have more than one player character, saved to the game? I've cycled out villagers three times already over the last two weeks, trying to fix it, and cannot for the life of me get them to move into the space I need -- A space that was considered just fine before someone sneaked out on me. All I want is that villager back, and in their previous plot! I spent about 9 hours trying today, before finally giving up.

I'm reluctant to delete the single non-Mayor character, as I've already set up several house upgrades with them, and it feels a waste to have to start over.

Willing to hear tips and theories, and thanks in advance!

 

[rianne]

As far as I know, the amount of playable characters doesn't affect the chances of plot resetting---sounds like pretty bad RNG. :c I've had good and bad moments of plot resetting with only one character as well as when I've had two. Additionally, the longest amount of time I've had to plot reset was around 1 1/2 - 2 hours.

 

[LadyDestani]

I don't think the amount of player characters affects plot resetting, but maybe it could be the placement of the character's house. I know sometimes the game is finicky about the order that things are placed.

For instance, I've read that there might be limits to how many houses or buildings can be located in a single acre. The game might let you place a new building such as a character house or the cafe/police station in that acre, but if a villager moves out, a new villager plot will not appear in that acre because it's now considered 'full'. The maximum number of buildings in one acre is 3 if what I read is correct, but the game will let you and only you place a 4th building in that acre.

Did you place your new character's house anywhere in the vicinity of the villager that moved? Or perhaps a permanent PWP? If so, that might be why a new villager won't plot there.

 

[CutsceneLogic]

I don't think the amount of player characters affects plot resetting, but maybe it could be the placement of the character's house. I know sometimes the game is finicky about the order that things are placed.

For instance, I've read that there might be limits to how many houses or buildings can be located in a single acre. The game might let you place a new building such as a character house or the cafe/police station in that acre, but if a villager moves out, a new villager plot will not appear in that acre because it's now considered 'full'. The maximum number of buildings in one acre is 3 if what I read is correct, but the game will let you and only you place a 4th building in that acre.

Did you place your new character's house anywhere in the vicinity of the villager that moved? Or perhaps a permanent PWP? If so, that might be why a new villager won't plot there.

No, the original location I'm trying to plot into is quite free. The bad spot that won't stop being picked is actually kind of... Directly up against the back of the second player character's house, which itself is located nowhere near any other homes.

 

[LadyDestani]

That's really odd. I can't think of any other reason why the villager won't plot in the old spot based on what you've said. I would keep trying. It sounds like they're just being stubborn. Good luck.

 

[CutsceneLogic]

UPDATE:

Cycled again, trying to get the placement fixed once more.

Attempted for twelve. Hours.

Zero budging.

This is getting super concerning.

 

[dizzy bone]

What is the pattern placement in your town looking like? Have you blocked off all the areas in town with patterns and only left that one space open, but the villager is moving on top of patterns or into other free zones in town? It's troubling that your RNG is that unlucky that you can't get them into the old spot, especially since an older villager lived there prior. You can load your town before 6am with your mayor and edit/move/add patterns if you find that a villager is not moving into the spot you want. Then move forward in time to after 6am with a new save file to continue the plot resetting process. Of course, it's still all RNG where your villager moves into but perhaps messing around with it a little will help (like refresh the map or something, idk how the mechanic works lol). If a villager really wont budge from one spot when there's a few to chose from, maybe you didn't realise signing on with your mayor at one point?? Not sure :/

 

[Sansy]

UPDATE:

Cycled again, trying to get the placement fixed once more.

Attempted for twelve. Hours.

Zero budging.

This is getting super concerning.

I did some plot resetting today because Broffina moved out, and I scanned Willow in to move to Broffie's old spot. She did not want to move into that spot for whatever reason! I had heard that any new villagers who move in, even Amiibo card villagers, will usually want to take a resident's old spot. That didn't seem to be the case with Willow!

So, I time traveled back a day and dropped patterns in the spots I didn't want Willow to move into. Villagers won't move onto spots that have patterns. It took me about three or four tries because I messed up the locations of the patterns. Then she moved into a spot I didn't think she'd be able to squeeze her house into! I did get her into Broffina's spot though.

Placing the patterns down can be a little time consuming, but having to keep resetting for hours on end sounds worse.

 

[dizzy bone]

Now I'm thinking of all the possibilities why it might not work... just wondering, there was no breakable ore rock that spawned in that area when you opened your new file to plot reset right? Even though ore rocks are not permanent, they do still act as a "rock" when they spawn in your town, meaning that rock has a buffer area like any other until you break it to destroy it. If that's the case, if it's too close to where your desired plot is, it might not register that area as free. Anyways that's a long shot scenario.

 

[CutsceneLogic]

What is the pattern placement in your town looking like? Have you blocked off all the areas in town with patterns and only left that one space open, but the villager is moving on top of patterns or into other free zones in town? It's troubling that your RNG is that unlucky that you can't get them into the old spot, especially since an older villager lived there prior. You can load your town before 6am with your mayor and edit/move/add patterns if you find that a villager is not moving into the spot you want. Then move forward in time to after 6am with a new save file to continue the plot resetting process. Of course, it's still all RNG where your villager moves into but perhaps messing around with it a little will help (like refresh the map or something, idk how the mechanic works lol). If a villager really wont budge from one spot when there's a few to chose from, maybe you didn't realise signing on with your mayor at one point?? Not sure :/

The only unpatterned areas are the old spot where I want them to move, and the current bad spot where the cycled villagers keep squatting on. I attempted to mock up a grid to make sure the spot I want wasn't too close to anything else, and it's not adding up. If anything, the bad spot they keep picking shouldn't even be possible -- It's crammed up against my second player character house, and in the same acre as three PWPs: One permanent, two non.

It really could just be that I'm having the worst luck imaginable, but I do appreciate all the feedback.

- - - Post Merge - - -

Now I'm thinking of all the possibilities why it might not work... just wondering, there was no breakable ore rock that spawned in that area when you opened your new file to plot reset right? Even though ore rocks are not permanent, they do still act as a "rock" when they spawn in your town, meaning that rock has a buffer area like any other until you break it to destroy it. If that's the case, if it's too close to where your desired plot is, it might not register that area as free. Anyways that's a long shot scenario.

I make sure to fill areas where I want villagers plotted with flowers -- That way rocks and fossils/gyroids can't spawn inside the zoned-off area. Learned that one the hard way!

 

[LadyDestani]

Since the bad spot is the only other area in your town without patterns, could you do as dizzy bone suggested and time travel back to the prior day, load up your mayor and cover the bad spot with patterns? Or did you move a villager out via amiibo meaning there's no way to fill in the bad spot?

 

[CutsceneLogic]

Since the bad spot is the only other area in your town without patterns, could you do as dizzy bone suggested and time travel back to the prior day, load up your mayor and cover the bad spot with patterns? Or did you move a villager out via amiibo meaning there's no way to fill in the bad spot?

It's an amiibo move, yeah. They keep slotting right back into that bad spot. I think I'll try sticking a small PWP near the unwanted plot, today. Maybe that will help dissuade them the next time I cycle.

- - - Post Merge - - -

It's an amiibo move, yeah. They keep slotting right back into that bad spot. I think I'll try sticking a small PWP near the unwanted plot, today. Maybe that will help dissuade them the next time I cycle.

EDIT: Nope, can't do that, forgot it's Groundhog Day! Doesn't seem that the villager moved in today, either. Odd!