So I've been reading the forums for a while and it seems like people here are very helpful (and knowledgeable!) So I figured I'd ask for a little bit of help as I have only played a couple prince games and decided to jump on up to Monarch already.

So here's a screenie of where I'm thinking about placing my second city.
I'm leaning towards the western most circle on the hill.

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh75/Rhaeghar_WoW/Civ4ScreenShot0003.jpg



Here's where I think my third city should go

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh75/Rhaeghar_WoW/Civ4ScreenShot0005.jpg


And where I think my fourth city should go

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh75/Rhaeghar_WoW/Civ4ScreenShot0006.jpg


And here's a screenie of the map that I've uncovered so far.

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh75/Rhaeghar_WoW/Civ4ScreenShot0004.jpg


Disclaimer: I have an old version of Civ BTS and haven't bothered updating so you may be unable to load the save.

Only had a quick look, but i would be concerned that your second city will take a while to claim the Bronze resource (unless you are CRE, in which case the PFH is fine) in its BFC. It might be better to found your city adjacent to one of the bronzes.

I'd explore a bit more around the proposed third city before settling.

Apart from that, REX away!!

Zara is creative^^ The spots look pretty good to me, 3 and 4 will have amazing production potential. Try to sneak some commerce spots in along the rivers. You land looks great. WHat is the map script?

I would probably settle 1E from the gold. The 1NE should be ruled out due to inferior production. I wouldn't have settled on the plain hills either because you're missing out on the 3rd FP (although it's a good production site). But as Zara, I would try to claim as much land as I can.

You've got tons of grasslands.. hardly matters where you even put your cities in this case, just to get them out ASAP would be my goal. With CRE this will be super easy too..

As for city site #2, i would pick the site E of the gold first and then possibly backfill with the hill city later, or split the western copper and cows into different cities... I'm thinking that would be better in the long run. Consider placing this one lakeside too for a lighthouse. But anyway, that should be settled later, after initial REX wave.

Site #3 seems decent in production in the short term for sure, good unit pump for a while, if you farm up those grasslands post-civil service it could continue such ability.

Site #4 makes me realize how much energy I wasted typing about site 3. This would have crazy production potential if you farmed up those riverside grasslands.

What I'm forseeing as a problem actually is finding some good locations for plain cottage spam cities. You've got those great potential hill cities for production, just make sure you put up land for cottaging too.

Large size, Highlands, (temperate climate, medium sea level - required by map type i suppose, couldn't alter it), small lakes.

That is some lovely land around a capital -- you have literally no resources in its BFC! I would have regenned, but clearly the map rewarded your patience. I like the hill site for the second city, and agree that the area around the third city site should be scouted a little more before settling. There could be something better than dry rice that would suggest moving the city 1S.

EDI: Did you move before settling? Also, why did you mine the non-riverside hill instead of the riverside one?

Yes I did move before settling
This is the start of the game.

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh75/Rhaeghar_WoW/Civ4ScreenShot0007.jpg


I mined the hills not next to the river for the extra hammer and was rewarded!

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh75/Rhaeghar_WoW/Civ4ScreenShot0008.jpg

So it's 1 AD and this is where I'm at, any pointers or advice on how to go from here is appreciated.

Demographics
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh75/Rhaeghar_WoW/Civ4ScreenShot0012.jpg


Power graph
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh75/Rhaeghar_WoW/Civ4ScreenShot0011.jpg


Tech screen
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh75/Rhaeghar_WoW/Civ4ScreenShot0010.jpg


My cities

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh75/Rhaeghar_WoW/Civ4ScreenShot0009.jpg


The map overview
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh75/Rhaeghar_WoW/Civ4ScreenShot0013.jpg


and the save.

The maps not showing up, looks like you are doing fine from the tech screen. Presumably you are teching priesthood to go for monarchy next? Usually I trade for priesthood and monarchy getting code of laws first but with 4 cities that mightn't be needed yet.

Hmm, yeah, looks like you are suffering from happiness problems I'd either whip or if you have been overwhipping lay off for a bit ;) Your capital is at size 3??? Capital should be largest city run scientists with a library if you want to avoid growth.

You haven't posted the most important screen which is the diplo glance screen ;)

I noticed that the map wasn't showing up right after I posted so I edited it and the diplo glance screen is inc

Also I have my first GS and he can bulb compass =\ such a lame tech on a highlands map.

Edit: Diplo glance


http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh75/Rhaeghar_WoW/Civ4ScreenShot0014.jpg


And yeah I had to whip the . .. .. .. . out of my cities for a quick archer defense when Shaka invaded with some 5 billion Axemen and Spearmen (Impl's?)

1st scientist normally goes for an academy in the capital, if you haven't got one already (you should have by 1AD).

Shaka still +2 with you despite a war ;) You must really like long games anyway if you playing large highland, those maps are huge.

If I was getting attacked by Shaka's axes and Impi's I'd have whipped axes myself at least you have an attack force ready with any survivors.

Good luck anyway.

the Barbarians decided to swarm me and kept destroying my mines :(

Yeah barbs are bad on highlands. It's important to fogbust early with warriors I find. Every time you go up a level you need to have a new way to deal with the barbs. Again, the hugeness of the map and the large amount of forest makes highland a difficult map type.

You should at least park a defender on your mine anyway.

1 AD still tech Priesthood is too too slow. I didnt look at ur city, but i assume :
a) too few city,or too many (not likely)
b) too few cottage (likely)

Yeah barbs are bad on highlands. It's important to fogbust early with warriors I find. Every time you go up a level you need to have a new way to deal with the barbs. Again, the hugeness of the map and the large amount of forest makes highland a difficult map type.

You should at least park a defender on your mine anyway.

Actually barbs are easier to deal with on highlands because you get more forest hills to choose from. Whether the tile is fogged because it's behind a mountain or something is irrelevant - units still lock spawning out.

However, it's true that a large map size makes spawnbusting effectively with only warriors more difficult.

What are the advantages/disadvantages to moving your capital and when is it worth it to move your capital?

Obviously it's going to cost a lot of :hammers: to move your capital, but aside from that are there any downsides to moving a badly placed capital? I'm thinking of moving my capital from its current location to the city of Gondar where I plan on having a lot more cottages, pretty much only cottages.

What are the advantages/disadvantages to moving your capital and when is it worth it to move your capital?

Obviously it's going to cost a lot of :hammers: to move your capital, but aside from that are there any downsides to moving a badly placed capital? I'm thinking of moving my capital from its current location to the city of Gondar where I plan on having a lot more cottages, pretty much only cottages.

Thats pretty much the point of moving a capital. The science bonus is so high that its almost always worth the cost in hammers, especially if you can get Oxford University up and running sooner.

Speaking of which.. you don't even have the 6 cities you would need (maybe more if not standard) to get it. You've got great land as was noted and I really recommend putting it to a lot of use. Especially considering the size of the map, the AI's are gonna likely pass you in tech (certainly in teching ability) in the later times if you can't work the land.

Of course a good alternative is conquering and you had a good amount of productions sites as well.