When capturing an enemy city I first look at it's position to the surrounding resources, if it's reasonably well placed I'll probably keep it (unless it's impeding on one of my other cities.)

However sometimes I notice on the map that it has a wonder, usually just as I click the 'let her burn' button.

Is there a way of reviewing the city's buildings, great people, etc so one might make an informed decision on whether to keep it or not?

Do I need to get a spy in before the attack in order to scout the place out? Or alternatively, if you drop a great spy in their capital (which I think gives you visibility to all cities on the map) does this achieve the same result?

(As you can probably tell, I don't really use spies very much.)

Follow up question: presumably if you capture an AI city and it has the Pyramids for example, you get the bonus from having the wonder? Does taking possession of a wonder from the AI boost your final score?

Thanks, LPR.

Install the 3.19 patch, you will have an option to look at the city before the decision.

ANd burning AI city is generally pointless, except if they have wonder and you think you will not be able to keep it.

Install the 3.19 patch, you will have an option to look at the city before the decision.

ANd burning AI city is generally pointless, except if they have wonder and you think you will not be able to keep it.

I can think of exceptions to this, such as the game I just played where I burned 39 AI cities. One of those "take SEALS around and burn every coastal city until they capitulate" continents games. The AI is welcome to rebuild cities as my vassal. I just make sure I keep enough really good ones here or there to stay ahead of the AI in terms of it breaking free from capitulation, but that's painfully easy to do.

@ TheLazyHase, thank you, 3.19 installed and feature tested.

Install the 3.19 patch, you will have an option to look at the city before the decision.

ANd burning AI city is generally pointless, except if they have wonder and you think you will not be able to keep it.

Or if that wonder is the AP and you think you really, really want it to burn no matter how attractive the rest of the city might be.

ANd burning AI city is generally pointless, except if they have wonder and you think you will not be able to keep it.

I will gladly burn down an AI city if it's putting too much cultural pressure on my borders (which rarely happens, but does sometimes). Or if the AI is close to a cultural victory. Then I just pick the least defended of his three cities he is trying to win with and torch it. :goodjob:

And sometimes I just torch a city because I've had a few too many pints of Guinness and want to mess up the AI's day. :lol:

Torching cities is the only way to maintain a small empire and have capitulates ;). Will test this out next game.