I have read on various posts that the second city (after the capital) or possibly the third city should be the first production city. What do players do if the landscape is such that there are no hills anywhere? Do you send your first or second settler far away (and what if the nearest hills are "far" - say more than 6-12 tiles away?) Or what if there is a site near the capital that has only 2 or 3 hills - is that sufficient for a production city? Do you settle there and hope that iron pops up?

How long can you wait before you settle your first production city?

You can use slavery if there is a lot of food and no hills.

If it's too far,Build a cottage city between your capital and the "production city"

I don't think 12 tiles is far.

2 or 3 hills is ok, to not say good. Sometimes you'll get just one or even none. You need to get used and adapt because this can happen.

If your capital has a lot of hills(lets say 5 or 6) you can make a city really near it and share the hills.

2 or 3 hills is enough. Early on thats all the city will be able to work. Later on you can always build workshops etc or later cities that are more suited to the job can become your main production cities.

2 okay production cities = 1 good production city

Sometimes you just have to play to the map. If you're not finding a good spot for production, this probably means it is good at something else. You'll just have to figure out what this is and make your city do well at it. Likely your first war will be fought over the hilly production ground cause someone else needs it too.

I find 2-3 hills enough too, especially if a strategic resource crops up or fits with them. It's difficult to get enough food and happiness to work more than 2-3 hills anyway, that early on.

Once you've scouted, it if looks like production is going to be a major issue, you can always get MC a little earlier than normal and start making workshops, especially if you have an abundance of food.