Buying tiles: Hidden rules or a bug?

[SpookyDillows]

I've been trying to buy a tile that has an alien nest on it, but the tile never has a price icon on it on the city screen and therefore I can't buy it!

The tile is four away from my city and I own two tiles that are adjacent to it. Many other tiles thereabouts can be bought, just not the one I want!

Oh, and it's on a coast tile and not claimed by another civ. I've tried when it has an alien on it and also when it's unoccupied, but to no avail.

So I was wondering if there are rules that govern which tiles can be bought and which cannot. Or is it a bug?

Any insight on this from anyone would be appreciated!

 

[KrikkitTwo]

You can only buy Workable tiles (within 3 tiles of the city)

 

[SpookyDillows]

Is an alien nest tile not workable?

I'm sure that in an earlier game I did buy a tile with an alien nest.

So if you're right, I'm confused as to why this one is not workable...

But thanks for a prompt response!

 

[SpookyDillows]

Ah, just realised what you're saying.

It's the THREE tiles from your city that is crucial...!

Okay, that explains it.

Thanks very much.

 

[m15a]

Workable tiles are within 3 from a city. The nest tile is 4 away.

 

[KingDynamo]

tl;dr - Why can't I buy a tile with a foreign unit standing on it?

I ran into a different situation. So I'd granted some of my neighbours open borders for a while, but then they were being annoying by sending all of their guys to my land to have a little picnic or whatnot. So I didn't sign for another 30 turns, and subsequently had a few of their units stuck in small pockets of land that were surrounded by my territory but my cities haven't got around to culture-grabbing yet.

I let those units sit there for a while, but then I realised one of them was parked on my road tile heading south and it couldn't move from that spot as it was a 1-tile pocket. So then I proceeded to buy out that one tile, but then I realised that I couldn't! What gives! I remember being able to do that back in Civ 5 :/

 

[Browd]

Screenshot?

 

[KingDynamo]

Unfortunately I did not think to take a screenshot, as while it was very annoying, it wasn't much more than a nuisance at the time with me firmly at the top of the scoreboard. I don't know when I'll be starting another proper game, but I'll make sure to take a screenshot then. Alternatively, if any of you reading this want to take one in my stead, by all means go for it.

 

[RonMar]

I've bought tiles with a unit from another faction on it.

 

[GeoModder]

Maybe the unit was outside the city work radius?

 

[KingDynamo]

Maybe the unit was outside the city work radius?

Nah I definitely checked. Would be a rookie mistake for someone who's played Civ 5 since the very day it came out.

 

[3 EMS]

Was it also within 3 tiles of another city? I had that in my last game. I couldn't buy the tile. Checked the other city and bought it.

 

[flying_dug0ng]

Was it also within 3 tiles of another city? I had that in my last game. I couldn't buy the tile. Checked the other city and bought it.

Yep check this, another city 'claiming' the tile is probably the reason.

 

[KingDynamo]

Yep check this, another city 'claiming' the tile is probably the reason.

Are you sure that's how it works when buying tiles? That sounds a lot like assigning citizens to tiles.

Edit: Never mind, I reread the post by 3 EMS. I'll be sure to try that next time. Thanks for the advice guys.