I've read how the developers have said that the AI in Civ 4 cheats less than ever. I'm starting to doubt that, as I just witnessed the following:

1. An enemy city (Ottoman) goes from 9 culture to 10, expanding its territory, and instantly has +20% city defense.

2. The same enemy city has a worker that just built a mine on GRASSLAND! No, it is not a hill. No, there is no resource on it. It is plain GRASSLAND!

Is this not impossible (without cheating)?

1. An enemy city (Ottoman) goes from 9 culture to 10, expanding its territory, and instantly has +20% city defense.

This is how the game works

2. The same enemy city has a worker that just built a mine on GRASSLAND! No, it is not a hill. No, there is no resource on it. It is plain GRASSLAND!

I think there is iron or copper on this place that your opponent can see and not you; just get bronze working or iron working and it should be ok

That's odd. I thought the city armor % ramped up from 0.

About the mine on grassland, ok, that makes sense. I was having a bad day yesterday. :(

Thanks for the response.

The defense ramps up if you have knocked it down with siege units. Otherwise it bumps up to its new value when the borders pop.

Got it. Thanks.

Ahh, mines on grass land. How I miss civIII. :(

Ahh, mines on grass land. How I miss civIII. :(
I agree.:( :( I used to be able to crank out Modern Armor every turn. Now its more like once every three. big difference if you're in a huge war.;)