Unfortunately, being strict in what features you want isn't going to be easy in getting a map to your liking. You might reset and reset and reset until you go insane. I don't even know if the chances of getting everything exact is very high. I always make a list of the features I want in my map. I always reset like mad because every 'good' map I get I feel could be 'better'. But I had to learn to make compromises on things.
I stopped caring about what villagers I start with and focused solely on the map and features that can't be changed; villagers will move, it might take some time, but they will move. If a map had a frontal waterfall and decent permanent building spots, but villagers were too close to them, I’d let it slide because, again, they will move.
Typically in a layout I look for:
- Frontal facing waterfall
- River shape (I don't like rivers that are too far north and leave only a small space on the northern side
- Town square placement in relation to other buildings (I like it when another building is north of the square, because you can make a nice path in between them, but I hate it when buildings are south of the square. This also applies with other buildings. I have it when they're like, back to back)
- I also occasionally refer to a
pond/rock guide for map layouts, though I wouldn't consider this a major issue to be concerned with. The rocks and ponds can make a map a fun challenge to creatively work with, though sometimes I have an idea of what I want to do that would be hindered with a badly placed rock.
- Town fruit (I despise oranges and pears; anything else is okay for me. I used to specifically reset for apples, but that became maddening).
That's mostly it. I'm sorry you've had such trouble finding a map, and I sincerely hope you do soon. But I would highly suggest allowing yourself to make compromises over small inconveniences in favor of more major features you do end up with.
I've never had a map that had everything I wanted 100%
without some form of badly placed -something- that could have ruined it for me had I not dealt with it and found a way to work around the unfavorable aspects.
Ultimately, though, if you're not happy with the town, there's no point in trying to work with it. If resetting until you get every feature you want is the only thing that will make you happy, then again - I really hope you get it!
