To Path or Not Path? That is the custom question

[misstayleigh]

hello all! i have spent... god knows how much hours looking at custom paths lol. i’ve found a few i really like, but the one thing i can’t help but miss is the fact they don’t make noise like the in-game paths! i’ve also seen some really creative islands use the in-game paths and they look beautiful... but ofc some truly amazing islands also use a ton of custom paths

so my q is—has anyone found themselves unsatisfied with custom paths? do you use only in-game paths for major roads, walking paths, etc.? if you use custom paths, what are some of your favorites that are so good you don’t care if they don’t make noise?

 

[Your Local Wild Child]

I’ve gone pretty much with natural paths (except for small things like shell stool critters). I don’t like the idea of plastering paths that are easily destroyed by a misclick everywhere.

 

[Honesta]

I have seen some GORGEOUS custom paths that I would love to use, but I don't like the sound they make... lol, so I've begun looking for inspiration for the paths given to us and found some cool ideas, too! I think I'll go with those for the simple fact that I like the sound they make and a custom image can be put over some of them to mix up the look.

 

[BigBadButterfree]

My problem with custom paths is not actually the sound thing like many bring up (although that is something annoying), it's that all the good and intricate ones require so many different parts to account for edges and curves. I don't want to use up that many design slots.

 

[meggiewes]

While I adore the custom paths. I had my fill of accidentally erasing paths and having to put them back down again. So I stay with in game paths that I can't accidentally erase.

 

[deana]

I have used a mixture of custom paths and in-game paths. I find that the in-game paths look good for more of the "developed" areas of my island and the custom paths for the natural areas of my island. Also with the way I arranged my villager houses, I needed to use custom paths because the in game paths wouldn't really fit and look good.

My problem with the custom paths however isn't the sound (I usually play with the volume off anyway) but actually that the villagers don't recognize the path as a path and therefore don't always walk on it. So sometimes I catch them walking on the grass right beside my path instead of on the path.

 

[Boccages]

I was using custom paths, but I ended up erasing them altogether. I went with the game's paths and I'm satisfied with it : fossils and the glowing spot appears on paths, flowers can grow on it, etc.

 

[6iixx]

personally, i like to use the stone path that's already in the game, along with the sand ones that they have. but i like to spice up the stone a little bit with a border. i also have the custom 'path' that everyone knows about in my slots, so when i need a more rural area done, i tend to use that instead. i honestly think the game did really well with the paths implemented, but i enjoy being a little extra c':

 

[Honesta]

personally, i like to use the stone path that's already in the game, along with the sand ones that they have. but i like to spice up the stone a little bit with a border. i also have the custom 'path' that everyone knows about in my slots, so when i need a more rural area done, i tend to use that instead. i honestly think the game did really well with the paths implemented, but i enjoy being a little extra c':

Random question, I have heard about "the path" a lot but have no idea what it is. Off topic but can you point me to it? lol

 

[Etown20]

I use path borders - I thought I might miss the normal path sound, but I don't really miss it.

There was some talk about a while back about villagers potentially using custom paths less frequently than regular paths. Not sure if the thread reached a consensus, but here are people sharing their experiences: https://www.belltreeforums.com/threads/do-your-villagers-follow-custom-paths.576324/

 

[eseamir]

I prefer using the in game paths for all the reason everyone else has said above, the sound is a big thing but also the fact that you need to have so many pieces for some of the custom paths and I like saving my design slots for other things!! also the fact that they don't actually register as paths so you end up with weeds and fossils spawning on them sometimes is kind of annoying

 

[Aurita]

I primarily use the default paths on my island but also have some stepping stones for smaller areas. I love hearing the sound so I like having the default paths but some of the custom ones are so pretty I tried having path borders but I miss the sounds bc it sound so dull now when I get around the island.

 

[misstayleigh]

aww good to know! for those of you who do use in game paths but use borders or other smaller path designs, what are some of your favorites?

 

[Imbri]

I don't have a lot of paths, so I stuck with the in-game designs. I don't like the lack of sound, worry about scuffing them, and don't want to use up that many slots.

 

[Snek]

I used to get custom paths but I found out that many of them require many slots or they just don't look that great once I've laid them down. I don't use them anymore. Now, I only use the regular stone path for all my paths. I do however use custom designs as borders to contain flowers.

 

[visibleghost]

i exclusively use custom paths on my island. the cuteness is the number one deciding factor for me, i don't really care about sound effects at all. the most annoying part is that i can't put custom designs on my custom design paths (like you can with in game paths) but it's still better in my opibion

 

[zumhaus]

I use a mix of default and custom. Custom is when it's something that's completely out of orbit from the default options, though I still do the 'transparent block on default path' thing.
Regarding sound, there's only two areas that use the customs. The first has furniture over it, so the lack of sound isn't an issue. The second is actually designed around the lack of sound; the soundlessness works perfectly in its favour!
I'm also guilty of walling in flowers with transparent blocks. You shall not pass!

Random question, I have heard about "the path" a lot but have no idea what it is. Off topic but can you point me to it? lol

It's a dirt path that's reminiscent of the 'animal tracks' from CF-NL. The style is very versatile and there's been a lot of copycat paths with different dirt, stones, water, et cetera.
This here is the famous 'The Path', though!

 

[Mairmalade]

My island's paths are mostly the in-game dirt ones. I also use the wooden one as a boardwalk.

I try to use the in-game paths in different ways (e.g.: circle 'stepping stones', teardrop shapes, and skipping every other in-game tile). In previous games I always tried to find the most natural-looking paths because they fit so well. It's the same scenario here.

The only custom paths I use mirror actual stepping stones. I sometimes scatter these over an existing natural path or will use them to lead to a villager's house after leaving the main path. I don't have anything against using custom paths exclusively or extensively - just prefer to keep things simple.

 

[SirOctopie]

I used the in-game paths with custom borders, that way they still make a sound when stepping on it. You can always use the in-game paths and then place a custom path on top of it; I think they'll still make the sound of the path underneath. Try a few things out and see what you like.

 

[6iixx]

Random question, I have heard about "the path" a lot but have no idea what it is. Off topic but can you point me to it? lol

something like this