Coal plant/Nuclear plant/hydro plant ?

[Viperace]

Hi all, first post here

I am on my 2nd game with Warlord difficulty now, doing fine so far. I got my a*s handed to the AI in my first game as I hav no idea what to do in civ4.

I have just built a factory, which the description says "provide electricity" and +25% shield. Thats ok, i got the +25% shield fine. Now I got the option to build Coal plant (I think nuclear plant as well when I finished the fission research), what do these plants do ?? The description didn't mention anything about the +shield% modifier, it just mentioned something like "provide power with coal ?". What does that means ? Do I need to build it?

2nd question that follows:
If i got both uranium and coal resources with me, do i need to build both nuclear and coal plant , does their effect stack ?


Thanks

[anton_z1]

If you get a pover plan your factory will make + 50% production.

It doesnt matter which power plant you build since they all get you power. Coal is polluting giving +2 sick, Hydro can only be build on a city having access to a river. So build coal everywhere, then later in the game build the 3 gorges dam.

[Dagoth Ur]

Hydro is the best, if you have a river.

If you don't you're stuck with nuclear. Never build coal, it gives +2 unhealthyness.

3 Gorges Dam is ideal, though the AI likes to build it 5 turns before you do.

[Wlauzon]

Originally Posted by Dagoth Ur

Hydro is the best, if you have a river.

If you don't you're stuck with nuclear. Never build coal, it gives +2 unhealthyness.

3 Gorges Dam is ideal, though the AI likes to build it 5 turns before you do.

The biggest single problem with nuke plants is that if you lose your supply of Uranium, you lose power....... the lights go out.

In a few cities I have built both, if you get Uranium back the nuke plant takes over again.

[Viperace]

Thanks guys..

So,I am right to say that any plant will do and their effect won't stack?

I shall make a beeline to Three Gorges Dam then , as I am taking a great lead right now. I believe
Gorges Dam = Give every city a HydroDam within the same continent (regardless of whether they are near a river or not).

BTW,i don't have coal no railroad

[Grand Fromage]

What causes nuclear meltdowns now that there's no more rioting? I've been afraid to build nuke plants.

[damxam]

Meltdowns are handled randomly, something like a 2% chance I think? I've heard of people using them extensively and having a few meltdowns in their games. I'm not sure, but someone said building bunkers (75% against nuke) helps against meltdowns too.
I build coal power rather than nuclear, by the time you get it you'll have hospitals/environmentalism soon enough. Hydro is best, but my cities usually are pretty healthy so the -2 doesn't worry me.

[Pinstar]

I wonder what happenes if somebody razes a city that has a nuke plant? Kaboom? That would be an interesting strategy...

[Jedoc]

It would be interesting to see, but even if a nuclear plant could be turned into a bomb, I can't think of many situations where it would be strategically viable. Perhaps if you captured the city with your last unit, and there's a huge counter-strike force in the surrounding eight tiles, or your mission objective was merely to leave a portion of your opponent's kingdom a radioactive wasteland and retreat. The latter strategy seems like it would be much more fun in MP. Insult to injury.