Sure, you need to add burgage plots and families, but you also need to build a ton of infrastructure to keep those families supplied with food, fuel, and clothing (and ale). Keeping all of the dependencies and upgrade requirements straight is a huge task on its own, let alone actually building it all.
To advance in Manor Lords, you'll need to increase your settlement level by meeting specific requirements of burgage plots at different levels. Moving families strategically around for jobs is crucial for efficient town growth.
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