accessing resources outside your cultural borders

[cpv204]

Moving my scouts around the map, I have seen where other civilizations are mining a resource that is outside their cultural borders and they have a road connecting the mine into their city.

I tried to build a mine on a resource (copper) a few tiles outside of my cultural borders and I got the message to the effect of you can't build a mine outside your cultural borders.

OK, I need to build the road connecting the resource tile to my city first, I thought. So my workers built a road from the resource to my city and then went back to try and build the mine on the copper tile. I still can't, same message, can't build a mine outside of your cultural borders.

What step am I missing?

 

[TheLazyHase]

None, you can't mine elsewhere than in your territory, and mine not in territory don't have any effect.

What you have seen was a mine created in cultural radius, then the cultural radius have shrinked, because of a conquest most probably.

 

[ScribJellydonut]

In Civ3 you had 'colonies' I think they were called that let you do that... but they took that feature out in 4

 

[PieceOfMind]

I am guessing the explanation for the OP's observation is that it was one of the civs with very hard to see borders. e.g. Germany. Mines and any improvements for that matter can only be worked or provide access to a special resource when they're inside borders. There are no exceptions.

 

[shulec]

It is possible the mine and road were there from a city that was conquered or razed. The mine will remain in the "unclaimed" territory until a city's cultural borders extend to it.

 

[ScribJellydonut]

There are no exceptions.

What if a worker is building an improvement right as the city is conquered and the borders collapse. Will the worker continue? If so, is that an exception?

 

[PieceOfMind]

What if a worker is building an improvement right as the city is conquered and the borders collapse. Will the worker continue? If so, is that an exception?

Well, honestly, no, because I didn't say anything about workers building improvements. I said improvements can't be worked or provide access to resources if they're outside borders. What I didn't say is that workers can't build improvements outside of borders.

 

[phoenix_sprite]

Used to be able in civ3

 

[Willem]

What if a worker is building an improvement right as the city is conquered and the borders collapse. Will the worker continue? If so, is that an exception?

That won't happen. As soon as the conditions change to make an improvement invalid, then the Worker will stop constructing it.

 

[naterator]

In Civ3 you had 'colonies' I think they were called that let you do that... but they took that feature out in 4

I miss colonies. I wish that a fort outside your borders claimed that tile and it's goodies for whoever occupied it that turn, until it is enveloped by someones culture.

 

[Antilogic]

That won't happen. As soon as the conditions change to make an improvement invalid, then the Worker will stop constructing it.

Right. The only things you can construct outside your borders are forts and roads/rails, but remember that if you build a fort on a resource outside your borders, you get access to it the moment your borders expand to encompass it.

 

[w2w2w]

Here some fun tips!
1. you can get mineral resources (like stone or iron) with a fort on top
2. forts can be built out side borders and roads
3. I never tried to get a resource like this... but I doubt it would work

 

[shulec]

Here some fun tips!
1. you can get mineral resources (like stone or iron) with a fort on top
2. forts can be built out side borders and roads
3. I never tried to get a resource like this... but I doubt it would work

A fort will give you instant access to a resource once your cultural boundaries engulf the fort. This is good for glacial oil or silver if you don't want to put a city nearby just to get the resource.