What is the reason for building cities close to each other?

[Gungalley]

Hi, whats the reason for this advice?

[general_kill]

um, dont build your cities too close to each other... with the new penalty, you have to make the most out of your cities.

[Gungalley]

Huh? what do you mean? Alright, the further the cities are from the capital, the higher its maintainence cost right? But if you build them too close, their cultural borders overlap? Am I right? Haven't gotten the game yet. Just asking. So where should you build your cities then? Especially the first few? Thanks.

[Mrdie]

Originally Posted by Gungalley

Huh? what do you mean? Alright, the further the cities are from the capital, the higher its maintainence cost right? But if you build them too close, their cultural borders overlap? Am I right? Haven't gotten the game yet. Just asking. So where should you build your cities then? Especially the first few? Thanks.

On areas with resources?

[Soryn Arkayn]

Ideally, you want to build cities just beyond your existing city's "Fat Cross" (refer to pg. 62 of the Game Manual [I have the Pre-Order Edition though, so the page number might be different for the regular edition's manual]), which is the city's maximum radius.

If two cities radii overlap, it decreases both of their maximum growth, production, and commerce -- so it's rarely worthwhile. There are a few exceptions, which I won't go into, but you should generally avoid overlapping city radii.

However, you don't want to build too many cities either, because of the new Maintenance system that penalizes you according to how many cities you have. Consult page. 177 of the manual for an explanation of "ICS" (a.k.a., "Infinite City Spawl"), which explains why it isn't a good idea to build too many cities too close together.

[fastspawn]

A city uses a certain number of squares which used to be called (maybe now still is) the city radius.
The cultural boundaries are not the the city radius. Essentially the city radius is equivalent to the cultural boundary at level 2.

Therefore a city can work 21 squares (1 core square, 8 inner squares, 12 at the outside) So it is important in civ IV, if you wish to get a high population and specialist to be able to work as many squares as possible. So as long as you build another city 4 squares away, the radii will never overlap but coincide instead.