Editing Town

[[File:NH Map.jpg|thumb|right|An island map in {{NH|nolink}}]]
The '''town''' or '''village''' ('''island''' in {{NH|short}}) is the primary setting of all main games in the {{SER}}, home to [[villager]]s of various species, and [[special character]]s who manage the town's facilities. Each town is randomly generated and populated at the beginning of each game when the first [[player]] moves to the town. Although the position of many structures are fixed, the town can be customized to a great degree by planting or removing [[Flora (plants)|flora]], placing [[designs]], placing furniture, (in {{NH|short|nolink}}) and constructing [[object]]s and [[public works project]]s (in {{DnMe+}} and {{NL|short}} respectively). Every town is divided into multiple [[acres]], the landscape of which must be carefully maintained in order to achieve a perfect town [[environment rating]].

The first player to start the game is given the task of naming the town, which cannot be changed after creation unless they [[rebuild the town]]. Up to three additional players can move into town, with a maximum capacity of four human residents. The maximum number of villagers that can live in a single town varies between the games; 15 in {{PG}}, 8 in {{WW}}, and 10 in {{CF}} and {{NL}}.

In {{NH}}, the player doesn't start in a town, instead traveling to a deserted island. It fulfills many of the same roles as the town in other games, being home to the player and their neighbors. However, the game starts with only two NPC villagers, who are also new to the island. The maximum number of villagers that can live on the island is 10, much like in {{CF|short|nolink}} and {{NL|short|nolink}}.

==Common town features==
*'''Player [[house]]s'''
:Each [[player]] has their own personal house within the town, which can be furnished to their desire. Houses are regularly inspected by the [[Happy Home Academy]], who award points based on the [[furniture|contents]] and upkeep of the home. The player must choose where they wish to live at the beginning of the game. Houses can be expanded after paying off the loan owed to [[Tom Nook]], which will give the player more space inside to furnish their home.

:In {{PG}}, all four player houses are located in a single plaza in acre A-3, and any unoccupied houses remain vacant until a new player character is created. {{WW|short}} only features a single house which all players must share. Each player once again has their own house in {{CF|short}}, all of which are positioned randomly throughout the town. In {{NL|short}}, the player is able to select a location for their house, but it will not be constructed until they pay their initial mortgage. In the interim, the player is provided a tent as a temporary home. As a result of this change, vacant houses do not exist in the game. 

* '''Villager houses'''
:Every villager has a residence in the town, and can only be entered by the player when the villager is inside. In ''Animal Crossing'', they can also be entered when the villager is present in the same acre as their house. Each villager's house has pre-determined furnishings, but in games from {{WW|short|nolink}} onwards the player can influence and alter the contents of the villagers' homes. In most games, villagers will always build their houses on top of [[signpost]]s, but in {{NL|short|nolink}} they can construct their homes almost anywhere in town, including on top of flora and ground designs, and in front of buildings and other structures. When a villager moves out of town, their house will vanish completely.

* '''Facilities'''
:A variety of facilities can be found throughout the town, and differ between the games. Such facilities include the [[dock]], the [[dump]], the [[museum]], [[police station]], [[post office]] or [[town hall]], and the [[wishing well]] or [[event plaza]]. Shops can also be found within the town, such as [[Tom Nook's store]], [[The Able Sisters]], and [[Re-Tail]]. The locations of facilities will appear only in certain acre rows in ''Animal Crossing'', but in later games, they can be situated almost anywhere in town. In {{CF|short|nolink}} and {{NL|short|nolink}}, many facilities are instead located in the [[city]] and [[Main Street]], respectively.

* '''[[Train station]], [[checkpoint]], [[Airport]]'''
:The train station is the first port of call within the town in ''Animal Crossing'' and {{NL|short|nolink}}, and where the player arrives at the beginning of the game. Players can take the train to visit other towns, and receive other players who arrive on incoming trains. The station is absent in {{WW|short|nolink}} and {{CF|short|nolink}}, having been replaced with the [[checkpoint]] which functions in much a similar manner. The [[Airport]] fulfills these functions in {{NH|short|nolink}}, along with some of the functions provided by the [[post office]] in previous games.

*'''[[Cliff]]s''' 
: In every game except for {{WW|short|nolink}}, the town is divided into upper and lower levels, separated by cliffs. In {{PG}}, it is possible to have two rows of cliffs, creating a three-tier town. In {{NL}}, the cliffs simply divide the town from the beach. Access between the different tiers is provided by [[ramp]]s. Cliffs also surround the edges of every town, except for in {{NH|short|nolink}}, and the player cannot access the areas beyond them. In {{NH|short|nolink}}, cliffs can be climbed with either the [[ladder]] tool or a constructed incline, one layer at a time.

*'''[[Flora (plants)|Flora]]'''
:The town houses a variety of flora; [[trees]], [[flowers]], and in {{NL|short|nolink}} and {{NH|short|nolink}}, [[bushes]] and [[bamboo]] can be grown by the player. Flora improves the [[environment]] rating of the town, and can attract certain [[bug]]s.

*'''Water'''
:Every town has a [[river]] running through it, which can only be crossed by [[bridges]] prior to {{NH|short|nolink}}. In {{NH|short|nolink}}, a [[vaulting pole]] can also be used provided the river isn't too wide, and one-tile or two-tile sections can be jumped over. [[Waterfall]]s and a [[lake|pool]] can be found along the river's route, before feeding into the [[sea]], though pools do not exist in {{NH|short|nolink}}. Each town also contains a small number of holding [[pond]]s. In {{WW|short|nolink}}, {{CF|short|nolink}}, and {{NH|short|nolink}}, it's possible for the river to split into two, creating an [[River#Islet|islet]]. This occurrence is fairly common in {{NH|short|nolink}}. [[Fish]] can be found and caught in all bodies of water, but vary depending on the season.

*'''Beach''' 
:Situated in the south of town, along with the eastern or western edge in {{NL|short|nolink}}, and both the eastern and western edges in {{NH|short|nolink}}, the beach separates the land from the sea. [[Shell]]s, [[Note-in-a-bottle|bottle notes]], and even [[Gulliver|castaways]] will periodically wash ashore. In {{NL}}, coconuts and bananas can be grown in the sand, but [[public works project]]s cannot be placed there. In {{NH|short|nolink}}, the beaches have rocks scattered about along them, and a very small beach will also generate on the north side of the island.

* '''Civic structures'''
:{{DnMe+}} allows players to pay [[Tom Nook]] to construct [[Object|decorative objects]] around the town. The [[mayor]] in {{NL|short|nolink}} can customize the town by constructing [[Public Works Projects]]. In both games, these include a variety of buildings, benches, clocks, lamps, bridges, sculptures, among other options. In {{NL|short|nolink}} and {{NH|short|nolink}}, [[Lloid]] will appear to collect the funds required to erect a public works project or island construction project, and [[Isabelle]] assists the mayor with selecting locations for projects in {{NL|short|nolink}}. An optional completion ceremony can be held in both games when a project is completed.

==Landscape==
The landscape of each town is randomly generated, and therefore it is very unlikely that two towns will be the same.

===In {{PG|nolink}}===
The town in {{PG}} is 30 [[acre]]s in size; 5 across and 6 down. Acres are more distinct than in later games, as the camera is limited to showing only one acre at a time. The top of the town features railway tracks and the [[train station]]. There will also be at least one cliff running approximately horizontally through the town, which the player can climb using [[ramp]]s. Sometimes, there are two cliffs, creating a three-tier town. Certain structures will always be generated in specific acres or acre rows; the train station, [[Tom Nook's store]] and the [[post office]] will be in the A-acres. All player [[Player house|house]]s will always be in acre B-3. The [[police station]], [[museum]], and [[wishing well]] will always be in the C, D or E acres, while the [[Able Sisters]] and the [[dock]] will always be along the [[beach]].

[[Tortimer]] will allow for a third [[bridge]] to be built when the town reaches the maximum population of 15 villagers, making it easier to cross the river.

===In {{WW|short|nolink}}===
{{WW|short}} has the smallest town size, at 16 acres (4x4). Unlike other games, there are no cliffs and the entire town lies on a single plain. Grassy areas are less abundant, giving towns a more desert-like appearance. [[Tom Nook's store]] will always be next to the [[Able Sisters]].

The river may branch off in a two-pronged fork, creating an [[River#Islet|islet]] in the village. An islet will always have a [[signpost]] or villager's [[Villager houses|house]] located on it.

=== In {{CF|short|nolink}} ===
{{CF|short}} towns are similar to ''Animal Crossing'' ones and are 25 acres (5x5) in size. Cliffs and ramps return, but three-tier towns will never be generated (despite the game having the resources for them) and the Able Sisters is separate from Tom Nook' store once again. If the player donates enough Bells to the [[Town Fund]], additional features such as an extra [[bridge]], a fountain, a windmill or a lighthouse can be built.

The terrain of {{CF|short|nolink}} towns are inverted to {{WW|short|nolink}}, in that grass is the dominant terrain. However, grass will [[grass deterioration|deteriorate]] over time.

===In {{NL|short|nolink}}===
{{NL|short}} towns consist of 20 acres, however, the beach runs along both the southern end of town and also the eastern or western side. Railway tracks can be found to the north, as well as a crossing that leads to [[Main Street]]. The beach has a [[dock]] where a boat can be taken to [[Tortimer Island]]. Cliffs separate the town and beach. Grass in town will deteriorate, but not as quickly as it does in {{CF|short|nolink}}.

One significant change from earlier installments is the lack of [[signpost]]s. Instead, villagers will move in anywhere where there is space, sometimes destroying [[tree]]s or [[flower]]s in the process. At the beginning of the game [[Rover]] will display four different maps, allowing the player to select the desired layout for the town.

Every town contains a [[train station]], [[Re-Tail]], and the [[town hall]]. The [[mayor]] can construct [[public works project]]s including clocks, benches, lamps, bridges, and facilities such as [[The Roost]] and [[police station]].

===In {{NH|short|nolink}}===
In {{NH|short}}, the town is initially a deserted island consisting of 42 acres (7x6), making this the largest setting yet in the {{SER}} in terms of acres. It is surrounded on three sides with beaches broken up with rocks, and with very large rocks and a tiny section of beach on the north side. The island initially contains only two buildings: the [[Resident Services]] tent, located in a random part of the lowest level of town, and the [[Airport]] which is always located along the southern shoreline, though its longitude varies. As there are no bridges at first, and rivers do not naturally generate at a width of any lower than three tiles, the rivers on the island cannot be crossed until the player obtains a [[vaulting pole]]. As there are no natural inclines, cliffs cannot be ascended without a [[ladder]]. At the very beginning of the game, only around 1/3 of the island is accessible to the player as they will not have access to these tools. The island is initially covered with a large amount of [[weed]]s, though the player is encouraged to pick them to earn [[Nook Miles]] and to help beautify the island. The entire island being a livable area and the lack of a designated area for shopping (such as the [[city]] or [[Main Street]]) make it more similar to ''Animal Crossing'' and {{WW|short|nolink}} in this manner.

The island features three layers, with the lowest layer being the largest traversible section, the middle and top-most layers are typically much smaller and contain pine [[tree]]s and [[flowers]]. The river's source will always be on the top-most layer, and flow down [[waterfall]]s to the lowest layer where it will exit in two directions. The river mouths can either both be on the southern shoreline, or one in the south and the other in the eastern or western shore of the island. Certain [[fish]] can only be found in the section of river that flows on the upper two levels of the island. One or more ponds can exist on the lowest layer and generate in a variety of shapes, such as a heart.

The first player to move to the island is the Resident Representative and can later construct additional buildings (the [[museum]], [[Nook's Cranny]], and [[Able Sisters]]), [[bridge]]s and [[incline]]s. With the [[Island Designer Construction Permit]], the player is able to modify the terrain at will, creating or destroying water and cliffs. An additional fourth layer can be added to the island, though it is not possible to climb it in any way. Most buildings can be relocated by making a request to [[Tom Nook]] and paying a relocation fee, but the locations of the Resident Services and Airport are fixed and these buildings cannot be moved.

==See also==
*[[Acre]]
*[[Map]]

{{Locations}}
{{Gameplay Elements}}