Not a rant, but a question, why do City States start right next to you on large maps?

To begin, this is not a rant. This is a question about something I've noticed in the game. I want to make it clear this is not a rant so mods don't lock it.

Anyways, on to the question. I've noticed this a lot. I'll start a game on a large map. Not a small map or a standard size map; a large one. So I'll plop my city down and what do I notice? A city state is right next to me.

For what reason does this happen? A gigantic map and of all places the city state spawns right next to you. It's something that doesn't make sense to me. Is there any logical reason behind the game doing this?

It's not a huge problem. It's just that I like to expand and have more than one city. I find if a city state gets started right next to me; it kind of limits my expansion.

But I've not only found this to be a problem with city states, but with AI's too. I'll start a game on a large map, only to find that another Civ started right next to my capital.

Just a problem I've found. So I want to know, for what reason does the game do this? Is it an error in the code or something? Perhaps some sort of start bias because I picked Arabia?

... to have someone to trade with, interact with, play with, etc.

It can be lonely out there in the dark. Everyone should have one

How does it limit your expansion? It's not like you're completely surrounded. There are other directions to expand in.

Who would you trade with during the ancient era if there wasn't a city-state within 10 tiles of your capital?

LoneRebel said:

How does it limit your expansion? It's not like you're completely surrounded. There are other directions to expand in.

Click to expand...

Well sometimes city-states will be next to the ocean. So if I wanted to plot down a city right there I couldn't do it.

Sometimes, I'll have two city states in both directions blocking me from expanding.

A couple of times, I noticed there would be a nice resource outside my territory, only to find out that a city state right next to me took it.

Funny thing is, when I use a Civ that could benefit from this like Venice... City states are nowhere to be found.

But surely on a large earth map, they could start somewhere that's not smack dab right next to you.

Ive started many new epic marathon games with no city states anywhere near me - too far away in fact!

DemonMaster said:

... to have someone to trade with, interact with, play with, etc.

It can be lonely out there in the dark. Everyone should have one

Click to expand...

Lonely out there in the dark...do I hear a Serenity reference?

Helmling said:

Lonely out there in the dark...do I hear a Serenity reference?

Click to expand...

Would that not be a firefly reference? It's been so long since I watched them though so you are probably right.

OT - Try playing one of the "plus" maps, they spawn CS off the mainland usually

Well just put the number of CSs on 0, and then you and other civs will have a plenty of space to expand. Or put the number of CSs to be the same as the number of civs. Maybe that will fix the expansion problems. Hope it helps.

Well its just part of the game. You cant control who settles and expands near you. Its part of the challenge. Sometimes I start on a map and there is not even 1 city state near me. Thats not a good start either.


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question: how close is close? within 5 tiles of your capital tile? within 3 tiles of any of your borders? for me close is borders touching. if borders are within 3 tiles of each other by t10 that is kind of normal for me, at least a 50% of the time kind of spacing.

CSs provide several opportunities beyond just an early trade route for the caravan. if the city spot is really good go and conquer it. (i like to do this if they have a good wonder to work.) on Large maps you have many more CSs to trade with down the road. you can steal their workers and use them as a training ground for your early units even if you dont want to conquer it. depending on their specialty you could ally them early for a boost to growth/happy/faith/etc.

and as others said, you can play Continents Plus or Pangea Plus map types. they push the CSs to the exterior and on islands so the main land masses aren't too crowded. or you could reduce the number of CSs. Also you said you play Large Earth. 9 games out of 10 they start you on Asia so it's pretty quick for you to know where you are on the world and de facto where other Ai or CSs might be.

I play exclusively large maps on immortal, often there will be a CS within reach (10-15 tiles) but rarely on top of my capitol. Find this works to my advantage for a turn 20-25 worker steal. Play mostly the Pangea, continents and archipelago derivative maps

Do you play with the standard number of CS for the map size? Also one being right on top of you isn't that bad of a deal, usually means a fast alliance and a security blanket from that direction.

play the "plus" versions of the maps and the CS will all be out on islands.

Or declare war on the first/closest one and use it to level up units and create GG's .
Plant a GG 2 hexes away and put a double promoted healer next to it and the unit in the citadel will get exp every turn and heal back to full health. You may have to tinker with it. When the CS gets a ranged unit in the city, withdraw from the citadel and create an ambush. It will usually try to came out and pillage the citadel. Kill it and go back to easy exp.

Played Civ V again today and I still notice this.

Now let me elaborate guys. When I say the City states spawn right next to you, I'm not talking like 10 tiles.

I'm talking, on turn 1 on your first move, you'll see a City state. This is what I mean when I talk about the City States limiting your expansion. They literally grab the best land before you even have a chance.

Of course, this doesn't always happen. Sometimes I won't see any City States at all.

But it definitely happens enough to where it's noticeable.

well, i think you have enough options in here to help prevent this issue for you. personally, i dont look at it like a problem. i think there's plenty of opportunity to be had from a close by CS but it isnt always obvious what that opportunity is. sometimes i go into a game with a pre-conceived idea of what i want and things like this change that plan. if all i want is to exact that plan then i might restart but if im willing to let the surroundings decide things then they end up being useful in any number of ways.

You literally cry about too much dude. Like literally.

Why do you even play this game when everything ruins your enjoyment of it? Just spawn a world with yourself and no city states to take up valuable space and no other civs to hate you and you can play probably 4 or 5 turns before you find something else to complain about.

Chum said:

You literally cry about too much dude. Like literally.

Why do you even play this game when everything ruins your enjoyment of it? Just spawn a world with yourself and no city states to take up valuable space and no other civs to hate you and you can play probably 4 or 5 turns before you find something else to complain about.

Click to expand...

Oh, chill, Chum! He obviously enjoys complaining
(if not 'enjoys', then gets 'fulfillment from'), starting new threads about different aspects.

In fact, sometimes I suspect he is a shill for CFC or Firaxis, making sure the boards stay active.