Sorry, but just a quick qn. How long does it take a single Settler unit to build a fortress on a Mountain? I set one to work & I think it has been there for 40 to 50 turns already!
Yiren.
To me, this looks like a manifestation of a more general bug I've learned to live with. I find that Settlers clearing forest/jungle/swamp sometimes take too long. The remedy is to click on them so they wake up, and re-order them to do what they're already supposed to be doing (namely, 'I' or 'M'). Then they suddenly realize they've been at it long enough, the terrain instantly changes and the job is done.
What you're describing is a combination of a known bug ("fast" or "instant" settler bug) and a bit of luck (you're doing it right at the last turn before the improvement was complete).
The known bug works like this: just perform the operation you mentioned above (wake the settler and press the action again like 'I', 'M', 'F', ...) and repeat it during the same turn until you can't anymore... Voila! you have performed the desired operation in just one turn.
I must say since I discovered this bug, I could never stop myself from using it in any of my gems, it is just too appealing! But now at least I was able to create hacks in JCivED that put the AI in the same dispositions (1-turn settler improvement for everything/everyone).
How long does it take a single Settler unit to build a fortress on a Mountain? I set one to work & I think it has been there for 40 to 50 turns already!
On the other hand, there is this "already finished rounds of improvement" count tied to each settler (i.e. tied to the unit, not to the tile), so if you move a settler which was doing something on one tile, you don't "loose the work" on the new tile.
I suppose, if you use the Fast Settler cheat, then you could charge up your settlers to 14 on a swamp, then unleash them as loaded weapons across your empire, like tightly wound ballistae of prosperity.
When using the fast settler cheat, the problem is the display shifting away from your settler when you make an assignment. So settlers have to work in teams. When settlers stick together, while one settler is getting charged up, focus goes to the another settler in the same display.
I have the best luck planting forest on plains as a temporary task. You can find plains everywhere. Since it takes 15 turns to plant forest, it's unlikely you'll accidentally finish the task. If you do forget how many work points you've put on a settler and finish the forest, the process is reversible.