What's so magical about having 6 cities? I keep reading from experienced players (especially Obsolete) that you need 6 cities to win even if some of these cities are not ideally placed? Why?

This "magic" number is not exactly 6, this number depends on world size. Must-have is how many cities is needed to build Oxford and WallStreet national wonders.

To build the main national wonders on a Standard map, you need 6 specific buildings:
Oxford University: 6 Universities
Ironworks: 6 Forges
Wall Street: 6 Banks

Thus, you need 6 cities as a minimum. Of course, more is usually nice, but six is the minimum you need for NW/City Specialization.

You also need 3 Temples for each Cathedral, so having at least 6 cities is a good idea for a cultural victory (you might not need them in your capital)

then again you often need 7 quest buildings (Harbor, library, ...), so maybe the magic number is 7 nowadays ;)

Also 6 courthouses for the forbidden Palace.

6 theaters for Globe theater

6 hospitals for the Red Cross

This "magic" number is not exactly 6, this number depends on world size. Must-have is how many cities is needed to build Oxford and WallStreet national wonders.

one thing i was wondering, does this requirement change for OCC games?

one thing i was wondering, does this requirement change for OCC games?

yes. in OCC pre-bts, you can build every national wonder so long as you have that building in the city (ie. one theatre lets you build Globe Theatre)

post-bts, you can build a maximum of 5 national wonders, opening up some interesting choices (GT, OU are a must. but what about NP and IW?)

yes. in OCC pre-bts, you can build every national wonder so long as you have that building in the city (ie. one theatre lets you build Globe Theatre)

post-bts, you can build a maximum of 5 national wonders, opening up some interesting choices (GT, OU are a must. but what about NP and IW?)

Thanks for the info, I remember reading it somewhere but couldnt remember the specifics and couldnt find it in the civopedia.

I found it odd that NE requires nothing.

And at one time, didn't the HE require 6 barracks?

HE requires level 4 unit

I usually build production and commerce cities in about a 1:1 ratio, with the first few being hybrids. So two hybrids, two commerce, two production... sounds good to me.

Personally though, I think that the more quality land you have, the better... even with increased city expenses.

I like to think more along the lines of "20 city magic".

I like to think more along the lines of "20 city magic".

make that 30 and you have my vote ;)

You also need 3 Temples for each Cathedral, so having at least 6 cities is a good idea for a cultural victory (you might not need them in your capital)

Actually on a Standard map you need 2 temples for each Cathedral. The 6 cities magic number comes in action here as you will most likely need a Cathedral in each of the three most cultured cities of yours if you aim at a cultural victory. Cathedrals give 50% culture which is a great help in such an endeavor. Ideally you will have more than one religion so you make sure you spread them all to all of your cities and build one temple for each religion in each city allowing you to build more than one Cathedral in each of the 3 culture centers of yours.

HE requires level 4 unit

It does?

IIRC, it's West Point which requires a level 6 unit.

It does?

IIRC, it's West Point which requires a level 6 unit.

exactly, a level 4+ unit for HE and a level 6+ unit (can be the same) for West Point

Actually on a Standard map you need 2 temples for each Cathedral. The 6 cities magic number comes in action here as you will most likely need a Cathedral in each of the three most cultured cities of yours if you aim at a cultural victory. Cathedrals give 50% culture which is a great help in such an endeavor. Ideally you will have more than one religion so you make sure you spread them all to all of your cities and build one temple for each religion in each city allowing you to build more than one Cathedral in each of the 3 culture centers of yours.
on standard map, it's 3. It's on small, tiny or duel map that you need 2.

make that 30 and you have my vote ;)

As many as possible. Good if their names are exotic.

As many as possible. Good if their names are exotic.

I think the winning strategy is to have maybe only a few cities, but all of them on capital starting positions.:mischief:
It helps a lot in the specialization.
For instance, in my current game, my capital has national epic + oxford uni, beijing has globe theater, technotitlan is building troops, paris has Iron Works + Red cross, kyoto has 2 holy shrines, Ulundi isn't specialized yet, but I guess it will build a few boats ...:king:
Now I'm comfortable :lol:

Just bragging, this is for G-major 20, so it's on warlord difficulty, and I'm playing for a time victory.