Manor Lords Beta Update 0.8.117 Patch Notes All Major Changes Explained

The Manor Lords beta update 0.8.117 patch notes reveal important improvements to farming, artificial intelligence, production and settlement management. Developer Slavic Magic has adjusted crop growth, increased rye yields and fixed several frustrating gameplay bugs. The update also improves building placement, worker behaviour and resource management. These changes aim to make medieval settlement building more reliable while the game continues through Early Access.

Version 0.8.117 belongs to the wider 0.8.111–0.8.117 beta changelog. Therefore, the changes described here cover that testing period rather than one isolated hotfix.

What’s New in Manor Lords Beta Update 0.8.117 Patch Notes?

The latest Manor Lords beta focuses mainly on gameplay balance and technical improvements. Rather than introducing a major new map or building system, it refines existing mechanics.

Farming receives some of the most meaningful changes. Fields now recover fertility under more suitable conditions. Meanwhile, crop growth follows a revised seasonal pattern that places greater importance on the final months.

Rye also becomes more productive, making it a stronger option for settlements with poor wheat fertility.

Other improvements affect forestry, honey production, military units and construction. In addition, several fixes address problems that previously disrupted workers or caused incorrect resource calculations.

Farming Changes and Crop Growth Improvements

Field Fertility and Seasonal Growth

Fields can now recover fertility when players select a crop but have not planted it. Previously, these fields could behave differently from land explicitly left fallow.

The update also changes when fertility recovery occurs. Most regeneration now happens towards the end of the yearly cycle.

Similarly, crops receive most of their growth during the final months of their growing period.

However, players cannot rely entirely on growing alternative crops to restore depleted soil. Fertility recovery for other crop types has been reduced while a field remains active.

As a result, proper fallow periods remain essential for sustainable farming. Players should consider their full rotation schedule instead of focusing only on the next harvest.

Rye Yield and Fertility Buffs

Rye receives a significant improvement in the latest beta.

Its fertility bonus increases from 1.5 to 1.75, while its yield rises by 7%. Consequently, rye becomes more attractive in regions with weaker agricultural conditions.

According to the balance changes, rye becomes the better option for bakery bread production when wheat fertility falls below 60%.

This adjustment gives players another way to maintain food production without depending entirely on high-quality wheat fields.

Forestry, Honey Production and Resource Balance

Forester Tree Planting Changes

Foresters now plant trees at a substantially lower density. The reduction is approximately 66%.

This means replanted woodland will be less densely packed than before. Therefore, players may want to review their forestry areas when planning long-term timber supplies.

Productivity tracking is also available for Foresters, making it easier to inspect their work.

Zeidler Honey Production Fixes

Honey production receives both balance adjustments and bug fixes.

Zeidlers now tend each tree once when attempting to establish a beehive. Their chance of success depends on the Honey Hunting Affinity calculation.

Specifically, the system uses 50% of the Woodland Environment value to determine that chance.

The update also fixes an inverted calculation that previously reduced honey and wax production when woodland conditions improved.

As a result, woodland quality should now support honey production more consistently.

Other Economic Balance Changes

The Weiden Hinterlanders mining bonus receives a 10% reduction to match its intended description.

Meanwhile, the trade value of smoked fish decreases slightly.

These changes may affect settlements that depend heavily on mining or processed fish exports. Players should review their production priorities before expanding those industries.

AI Improvements and Better Settlement Planning

Smarter Building Placement

The Manor Lords AI receives several improvements to settlement construction.

AI-controlled settlements now use rich mining deposits as reference points when positioning buildings such as Bloomeries and Clay Furnaces.

Additionally, the AI waits until a Woodcutter’s Lodge has been constructed before building a Charcoal Kiln.

This should improve the order in which related production buildings appear.

The AI also makes better decisions about building orientation. Structures may face nearby marketplaces, churches or the settlement centre when appropriate.

Improved Road Layouts

Road placement receives several smaller refinements.

The Wooden Church now triggers wider roads in front of its entrance. Wide roads can also extend along longer sections of building plot boundaries.

Meanwhile, AI settlements attempt to create surrounding roads near important public buildings, including marketplaces and churches.

Starting road layouts have also received adjustments.

These improvements aim to create more coherent settlement layouts while reducing awkward building placement.

Production and Worker Behaviour Bug Fixes

Production Limits Work More Reliably

Several resource buildings previously experienced problems with production limits.

The update fixes these issues for Mines, Quarries, Stone Gatherer Camps and Forager Huts.

It also addresses a problem where negative production-limit values could prevent workplaces from producing anything.

Furthermore, Butcher’s Shop workers should now respect storage limits instead of producing beyond the specified amount.

These fixes are particularly useful for larger settlements where resource control becomes increasingly important.

Farming Workers and Transport Fixes

Farmhouse workers receive several important improvements.

Previously, crop collection could ignore transportation limits and send workers towards the nearest Farmhouse. The latest fixes address this behaviour.

Another issue could prevent workers from finishing tasks when multiple Farmhouses had separate working areas.

The update also fixes oxen beginning to plough before harvesting had finished.

Additionally, fields with identical fertility should no longer produce inconsistent yields because of rounding errors.

Together, these fixes should make farming schedules easier to manage.

Construction and Building Relocation

Construction workers should now spend less time performing cosmetic tasks that do not advance building progress.

The update also addresses situations where several workers competed for the same construction position.

Building relocation receives attention as well. For example, moving a Zeidler’s Hut should no longer turn it back into a Forester’s Hut.

Upgrading or converting buildings should also update their menus correctly.

These changes help prevent unnecessary interruptions during settlement expansion.

Combat, Wildlife and Military Fixes

Military units receive a small but important health regeneration adjustment.

Fast health regeneration now requires units to remain at least 160 metres from the nearest enemy.

Therefore, withdrawing troops to a genuinely safer position becomes more important during prolonged battles.

The update also fixes missing Influence rewards after players defeat bandits entirely through ranged attacks.

Furthermore, it addresses pathfinding problems while capturing bandit camps and prevents unit creation in unowned regions.

Wildlife placement has changed too. Wild animals, berries and mushrooms now appear deeper inside forests where possible.

This may influence how players position hunting and gathering buildings.

Interface Improvements and Crash Fixes

The beta includes several interface adjustments designed to improve clarity.

New farming tutorials explain field placement and basic agricultural systems. Fertiliser tooltips have also received improvements.

Additionally, pasture storage filters use clearer wording, and oxen receive a livestock icon.

The productivity tracker now handles time entries more accurately. Previously, it could display 0% when players first opened it.

Other fixes correct missing interface buttons, misleading military tooltips and incorrect building descriptions.

The developers have also addressed a crash that could occur when loading a saved game containing a dead soldier carrying a banner.

Although this is a specific issue, resolving save-loading crashes is particularly important for long-running settlements.

How to Install Manor Lords Beta Update 0.8.117 on Steam

Players can access the testing branch through Steam’s beta settings.

First, open the Steam library and right-click Manor Lords. Select Properties and then open the BETAS section.

Enter the beta access code veryNiceBasket in the private beta field.

Next, select pre_release from the Beta Participation menu. Steam should then download the files associated with the available testing version.

If the download does not begin, restarting Steam may help.

Before switching branches, back up existing saved games. The developers also recommend removing mods because they may cause crashes or compatibility problems.

Players should remember that beta builds can contain unfinished features and unexpected issues.

Is Manor Lords Beta 0.8.117 Worth Installing?

The update is particularly interesting for players who spend substantial time managing agriculture, forestry and production chains.

Improved crop balancing may help settlements with limited fertile land. Meanwhile, more reliable worker behaviour could reduce the need for constant manual intervention.

However, players who prefer stability may benefit from remaining on the standard release branch.

The beta offers early access to fixes, but it also carries the usual risks associated with experimental builds.

For players who enjoy testing changes and reporting problems, version 0.8.117 provides several useful improvements to explore.

Conclusion

The Manor Lords beta update 0.8.117 patch notes highlight meaningful changes to farming, resource production, AI settlements and technical stability.

Improved rye yields, corrected fertility calculations and more reliable construction behaviour stand out as particularly useful adjustments.

Although this is not a major content expansion, the changes could make everyday settlement management smoother. Players interested in testing the improvements should back up their saves and use Steam’s beta branch carefully.

FAQs

What is included in Manor Lords beta update 0.8.117?

The Manor Lords beta update 0.8.117 patch notes cover farming balance, AI behaviour, building placement, production limits and multiple bug fixes. Important changes include better rye yields, revised fertility recovery and improved construction tasks. The wider beta changelog also includes interface adjustments and a fix for a specific saved-game loading crash.

Is Manor Lords update 0.8.117 available to everyone?

Version 0.8.117 belongs to the Steam testing branch rather than the standard release branch. Steam players can access the beta through the game’s properties and beta participation settings. However, experimental updates may contain unresolved problems, so players should protect their saved games before switching versions.

Does Manor Lords beta 0.8.117 improve farming?

Yes, the update improves several farming mechanics. Fields can recover fertility when crops have been selected but remain unplanted. Rye yields also increase by 7%, while fertility regeneration follows a revised yearly pattern. In addition, several fixes improve harvesting, ploughing and Farmhouse worker behaviour.

How does the update affect rye production?

Rye receives a higher fertility bonus and a 7% yield increase. Its fertility bonus rises from 1.5 to 1.75. Consequently, rye becomes a stronger choice for bread production when wheat fertility drops below 60%. This gives players more flexibility when managing settlements with poorer agricultural land.

Does Manor Lords beta 0.8.117 fix crashes?

Yes, the beta changelog includes a fix for a crash involving saved games with a dead banner-carrying soldier. However, this does not mean every possible crash has disappeared. Players using experimental builds should still back up their saves and remove incompatible mods before testing.

Can I return to the normal Manor Lords version after installing the beta?

Yes, Steam allows players to leave the beta branch through the game’s BETAS settings. Selecting the standard branch should restore the normal release files. However, saves created or modified during beta testing may not work correctly on older builds. Keeping a separate backup before switching is therefore strongly recommended.

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