Ok, sorry to ask this, but I downloaded the Basic strategy PDF from here and I still can't figure this out.

On tiles around the cities, after I build a farm or a mine, or a cottage with my Worker and I build a road for it, does that mean it starts providing me with production or commerce, etc? I keep having the feeling that I am missing something.

And in the city screen, I can + or - Citizens. What is that for? I know how the scientists and others work, but I'm not sure what citizens do.

Sorry for the dumb questions guys, but please help.

The citizens are normal specialists, except that they suck. they only give 1 hammer and no GP points. Use them only if your city is full and can't add any other types of specialists.

For the resources, you need to work the tiles to get the benefit. See those white circles in the city screen? Those indicate which tiles you're working. Roads are unnecessary with the rather important exception of resources or unit movement.

And Welcome to CFC! If you'll wait a little bit I'll find an appropriate smiley.

Edit: Found one!
:dance:http://img2.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/jumping/jumping0041.gif:dance:

Working cottages is extremely important. They will generate more gold with time as long as they are worked. Five cottages won't do you a lot of good initially if you only have three population to work a three of those cottages. Cottages will grow after many turns and eventually yield 6 to 8 coins.

There is one exception to citizen specialists sucking and that is under certain circumstances when you're running representation. In this case they give 1 hammer and 3 beakers which is not spectacular but which might be the maximum contribution the city can give to science at the time.

So if I improve a tile thats not in the circle in the city screen, I do not get any benefit from it?

Btw, thank you guys for the great responses. I greatly appreciate it.

So if I improve a tile thats not in the circle in the city screen, I do not get any benefit from it?

Btw, thank you guys for the great responses. I greatly appreciate it.

You can hook up resources by building the relevant improvement or a fort on it and connect it to your cities by roads or rivers (with sailing) even if the resource is outside your cities workable radius, but within your cultural borders.

Other than resources as Gliese mentioned, it doesn't do any good to build improvements out of a cities BFC.

Building farms outside the BFC can be useful to spread irrigation.

Improving tiles outside your BFC has two additional benefits:

1) Improving the land before sending a Settler allows a new city to grow faster.
2) Invading Armies will waste turns pillaging, while you bring up your Forces.

Thanks guys. But what is a BFC?

Big Fat Cross - the maximum area a city can work (21 tiles, including the city itself).

Thanks guys. But what is a BFC?

Big Fat Cross - the maximum area a city can work (21 tiles, including the city itself).

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Fixed radius.

Thanks Gliese 581. :goodjob:

Thank you guys. You guys are very helpful.