I've been thinking I've been using too few because I heard that the serfdom civic is rarely used by most people. So is there a number of workers per city I should aim for? How quickly should I run out of land to improve?

My rule of thumb is to have at least one Worker per city.

Any city chopping a lot of forests typically gets an extra Worker (2 Workers total for that city).

Any city chopping a lot of Jungles typically gets 2 extra Workers (3 Workers total for that city).


I think the generally accepted rule is that if any of your cities are working unimproved land tiles, you need another Worker.


-- my 2 :commerce:

. ..I think the generally accepted rule is that if any of your cities are working unimproved tiles, you need another Worker.


-- my 2 :commerce:

Does that include water tiles?

About 2 per city in the early game 1 per city in the mid game and .5 per city in the late game... Of course if you didn't have enough at the earlier stages you will need more at the later, for example 1.5 early 1.5 mid game 1 late game. This would lead to slower improvement in the beginning though.

Does that include water tiles?

No. I guess that should've read, "if any of your cities are working unimproved land tiles, you need another Worker." {other post updated}

To me, an 'unimproved' water tile is a water resource without Fishing Boats (or Oil Platform) or a water tile without a Lighthouse. So if you're working an unimproved water tile, you should build a Lighthouse or a Work Boat.


Otherwise, what Oyzar said is also sound advice.


EDIT: Though, in a way, the answer could be yes. Except in situations with large cities, cities with a lot of water tiles and Financial and/or Colossus-boosted civs, working an 'unimproved' water tile probably means your land tiles aren't any better -- which could indicate a lack of improved land tiles.

My feeling is use as many as you need. Early game you want 1 per capital, then 2 per city. ONce the economy is rolling (AD) you can build more cities and use the already built workers.

It really does depend on the kind of game you play, and the situation at hand. Generally you should rarely work an unimproved tile. If you expand very quickly, you also need more workers than usual. I like to have my second worker just before or just after my first settler. I think 2 per city is usually a bit too many, but under normal circumstances, I would say a minimum of 1 more than the # of cities. The easiest gauge tough, is whether or not you are working unimproved tiles. If you are, or can tell you will be soon, you need more workers.

And it is map dependent too. I've played archipelago maps and never built a second worker. And if you are planning on settling some jungle cities, make sure to have the workers ready for it.

If a worker is not available to help develop a new city you have founded, build a worker there first. Cities don't contribute without improved tiles, so the delay in growth isn't really costing you much if anything.

If you're cottaging a city, 1 worker for that city. That should keep up with growth. Chopping (on top of improving), 1-1.5 workers. Jungles, 1-2 extra workers/city for clearing alone.

Usually, for your expansions, you can improve the strategic resources/a mine or two, then have the worker move on, while a second worker chops settlers or whatnot and moves on. So maybe 1 (capital/cities being cottaged) + 2*immediate city expansions planned + 1*cities needing to clear jungles, and if possible an extra for roads.

About 2 per city in the early game 1 per city in the mid game and .5 per city in the late game... Of course if you didn't have enough at the earlier stages you will need more at the later, for example 1.5 early 1.5 mid game 1 late game. This would lead to slower improvement in the beginning though.

In my mind, what oyzar said seems to be the most efficient. keep in mind though, its one thing to have a total number of workers per city, its another thing how many workers work a city's tiles. Don't spread your workers around, bundle them up into groups of 2-3. I often use 2 or 3 groups of workers to improve one city then move on to another city and so on.

267 is the correct answer

267 is the correct answer

No, 42.

I read that somewhere once... ;)

No, 42.

I read that somewhere once... ;)

Really?? I heard 191..:crazyeye:

Really?? I heard 191..:crazyeye:

The Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Answer_to_Life,_the_Universe,_and_Everything)

OH! Didn't even think about that :P