Indeed, it seems House Hawkwood has been blessed with happy serfs. That might be because
they stole I gave them thousands of gold for each of them to buy those awful expensive high quality hams.
At 50% tax and 5% wages, they still make out like bandits. Oh well, at least they are all perpetually happy, thanks to that and the nice weather we experience here in the south.
I think my second settlement might have a better position than my first. My first site I chose had some nice resources but I didn't realize how cramped it was. Mountains hem it in on multiple sides. I think if I can get some big expansions there will be enough space although I doubt it will win a city beauty contest.
Also the second one has access to the coast, and I love the idea of ships and being able to trade with the other realm areas.
The game seems really complex, i love it so far, what about finances guys, whats the point in setting low or high tax income and wages?
Both settings are simply a way for you to control the gold flow to and from your workers. Taxes let you recover unspent money from them, while the wages directly determines how much they get per day from your treasury. Best not to let them get too much, because another player could notice their gold and send soldiers to mug them.
Edit: I have just realized huts are better for quick expansion than houses. They are faster to build and give more population per hut than houses give. Houses do take up much less space (being able to be built up to 10 per square) but it seems for the fastest population expansion possible you want to build hut slums.