My main issue wasn't with the sub-hex system on its own, it's with the
small number of buildings to place. Your previous dev diaries said the
settlements would consist of a couple hexes with a dozen buildings
inside each, which I believe to be a serious downgrade from the 1000+
buildings of 1.4 cities.
Thinking about it further, I think a hybrid of sorts could be made, using essentially the second system, but keeping the general idea of "sub hexes" by creating small-ish zones that would play the role of the larger hexes of the first system, but without being necessarily hexagonal, or quite as small. Sort of like the region system planned for 1.5 but with hexes and smaller regions.
Here's a bullet point list to summarize my ramblings:
- Packs of ~50-100 hexes (so 4-9 hexes in your first system) make a "big hex", work like a big hex of system 1 for settlements purposes. Groups of 3-6 "big hexes" (12-50 hexes in system 1) would make regions, for maskling territorial claims for example.
- Roads preferably placed on the hex borders, maybe the same for walls. (or a cheap palissade variant). When in cities units may be visually placed on the roads, with no mechanical effect (it just looks neater).
- A lot of building sprites will have to be redone to fit better in hexes, like you did for the houses. Adding a ground/walked path effect (like the bakery has a bit of) could help.
- Substitute people walking around with sprites in buildings idling or pacing back and forth to give the impression of activity? For example a bakery could have a small stand with a couple villagers seemingly selling/buying bread.
Hope I've been constructive.