20k Culture Question

[jerichoharris]

I'm starting to work the tiles for my city, but do I concentrate on growth (the bigger the population the more tiles I can use) or shields (because you need shields to build wonders). I've been trying it for the past couple of days but am having real problems finding the right balance, ie do I irregate the floodplain first, or mine the grassland. The 20k culture guides are fine (although nobody seems agreed on the best way to go about it!) but don't look at this aspect too much.

Also just how necessary is the colossus and a coastal city. The issue that I've had is that a significant part of you city space can't be used for getting shields and is effectively redundant apart from a little food and a bit of cash.

Edited for gibberish.

 

[eldar]

Concentrate on shields. Do not build a granary, do not build a barracks.

Build workers in other towns to join to your 20K city to get it to size 12 ASAP.
Build units in other towns to defend your 20K city.
Build wonders and wonders and more wonders in your 20K city (rush other stuff, as much as you can).

Colossus in a coastal 20K city can be quite a bonus! That city will generate +13 commerce for an era and a half, and +21 commerce once Shakespeare's is built there. Multiply that up with a Library/University, or Market/Bank, add in the tourism bonus (C3C only), and you'll be making oodles of cash.

 

[Own]

Or build the pyramids (I once nailed this with an SGL).

 

[jerichoharris]

Cheers. The build order and tech research i had in the bag pretty much. The articles are good in that respect. It was just the location and tile maintenance I was having problems with/

 

[Own]

Hint: Egypt is probably the best for 20k, palace prebuild and temples early on (for non-capital being 20k city).

 

[jerichoharris]

I've been working with Sumaria. The science trait is useful for SGL's that religious civs don't give you. Getting a free Great Library/Bachs/whatever is a lot more useful than going through anarchy for 5 turns or so. The agricultural trait I find is invaluable. You lose a few turns setting up for your 20k city (be it the capital or a new one) and the Agricultural trait gets you back on parity really quickly. I may give Egypt a go though.

 

[Aegis Shield]

I tried Sumeria too. The agricultural trait helps all around with your empire, and for getting your 20k city up to size quicker, and the science trait is just overall very useful. For instance, I got monothiesm as my free tech, rushed a cathedral that turn, and then I was already working full on for sistines!

Also, the enkidu warrior effectively stopped all early wars from happening. Spears aren't the most effective combat stopper, but their cheapness makes them invaluable in the low-shield start.

 

[Doc Tsiolkovski]

Spain rocks. The ultra-early temple is worth more cp than all but a few wonders. And, you're sure to start at the coast.
Best Civ for me on the higher levels; admittedly, some more Civs are fine as well if you don't use the capital.

 

[eldar]

Most HoF 20K games will give up if they don't get an SGL for researching Masonry.

 

[killercane]

The colossus ideally would be your only coastal wonder built (cpt wise), but it is a good one. The science help is very very nice.

The Lighthouse and Magellans do not really add much to cpt; there are more important things to build. If you have a good coastal city site, go for it; if not, inland is fine for 20K.