The monastery (3×3) occupies, say, tiles (0,0) to (2,2) if we set its southwest corner at (0,0). To maximize watered modules, the player must position the monastery within the Noria’s diamond so that as many expandable tiles as possible fall inside the diamond.
Moreover, the irrigation requirement mirrors the reality of medieval terraforming : Cistercians built leats and aqueducts to water desert gardens (e.g., the Monastery of Santa Maria de Huerta in Spain). The Noria (a Persian water wheel introduced to Europe via Al-Andalus) is historically accurate for the 15th century. Even experienced players make these errors: anno 1404 monastery garden layout
Less efficient for pure production; some tiles wasted on empty space. However, historically accurate—real monasteries had central garth (lawn). 4.3 The Hybrid Three-Pod Layout Goal: Balanced production of herbs, wine, and attractiveness. The monastery (3×3) occupies, say, tiles (0,0) to