Where villages generate
Villages spawn in plains, meadows, sunflower plains, savanna, taiga, snowy plains and desert — each with its own building style. Climb the highest hill at dawn and scan the horizon for boxy rooftops and farm plots; villages generate in flat-ish chunks, so lowlands between hills are prime scanning territory.
Exploration patterns
Travel in straight lines along one axis instead of wandering — you cover new chunks faster and can find your way back. Boats make coastline scanning extremely efficient (villages often generate near river mouths on plains). At night, high ground with a view of village lights (lanterns glow) can reveal one across a valley.
First-night value
A found village is first-night gold: beds to sleep through the night, farms to harvest (replant the crops — villagers remember), hay bales to break into wheat, and a bell that pings when raiders come. Trade with villagers early for a good start, but remember the replant etiquette: taking without replanting starves the village economy you are about to rely on.
