Salem

I found a little plot of perfectly flat ground in the forest and thought that would be perfect as I wouldnt need to level dirt which would show up on the minimap.

There was just this big maple on top so I lopped it off and tried to place a small hovel but it keeps saying I cannot build there. Do I need to put a stake claim first and cover the tiles with my claim?

It doesn't need to be claimed, but its always a good idea. Forest leaves, clay, sand, and probably some more ground tiles are unable to be built upon. If its in a forest, its most likely the leaves....and if its completely flat like you say its most likely clay :/

staxjax wrote:It doesn't need to be claimed, but its always a good idea. Forest leaves, clay, sand, and probably some more ground tiles are unable to be built upon. If its in a forest, its most likely the leaves....and if its completely flat like you say its most likely clay :/

Nope its leaves, forest floor.

That sucks so Id have to place paving over the leaves?

Or you could just dig and drop the dirt around to make the leaves go away...or even just pave and destroy the pavement. I'm not to sure if destroying the pavement reverts it to dirt, or back to the original tile though.

staxjax wrote:Or you could just dig and drop the dirt around to make the leaves go away...or even just pave and destroy the pavement. I'm not to sure if destroying the pavement reverts it to dirt, or back to the original tile though.

aye but then it will show up as freshly dug dirt on the minimap which I was hoping to avoid I was thinking I could plop the hovel on the leaves and there would be no sign of the terrain altered from afar

Darkside wrote:

staxjax wrote:Or you could just dig and drop the dirt around to make the leaves go away...or even just pave and destroy the pavement. I'm not to sure if destroying the pavement reverts it to dirt, or back to the original tile though.

aye but then it will show up as freshly dug dirt on the minimap which I was hoping to avoid I was thinking I could plop the hovel on the leaves and there would be no sign of the terrain altered from afar

Nope, there's nothing you can do but dig, or live houseless. Things like houses can only be built on dirt or pavement. The good news is, such a small patch of dirt will grow back over quickly.

staxjax wrote:It doesn't need to be claimed, but its always a good idea. Forest leaves, clay, sand, and probably some more ground tiles are unable to be built upon. If its in a forest, its most likely the leaves....and if its completely flat like you say its most likely clay :/

Is this new or has it always been like this?

I started playing about a year ago now, and it has always been this way.

Heh you know whats weird, when I dug up a clump of dirt then dropped it back in same spot for this flat little area I got it to look like exposed dirt and I am now able to build the Hovel but the funny thing is on the minimap there is no sign of the fresh ground! I wonder why... is it because it put the dirt back? Meanwhile some little holes I dug up for clay elsewhere are evident on the minimap...

Darkside wrote:Heh you know whats weird, when I dug up a clump of dirt then dropped it back in same spot for this flat little area I got it to look like exposed dirt and I am now able to build the Hovel but the funny thing is on the minimap there is no sign of the fresh ground! I wonder why... is it because it put the dirt back? Meanwhile some little holes I dug up for clay elsewhere are evident on the minimap...

The minimap is showing an old tile from with that map-chunk first loaded. Port to boston, then come back and I think you'll see the change.