Capturing workers

[Ferrouswheel]

Hey, I've been playing civ 3 for a long long time but never really understood the point of capturing enemy workers. Do I still have to pay for them as if they were mine? I know I have the option to trade them but they aren't worth much.

 

[timerover51]

Read the following discussion a few threads down.

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=426131

 

[Raliuven]

No, you don't pay for them. They're 'free' workers - thus 'slaves'. That's the quick and dirty answer. The discussion in the link provide is well worth the read IMO.

 

[Fiddlin Nero]

Slaves are my preferred choice for Radar building and getting half off cash rush by disbanding in the city. They often save the day when I run out of regular workers. My only wish would be that ctrl-J separated out slaves from regulars.

 

[Ferrouswheel]

Oh wow really? thats soo awesome and deffs changes my gameplan and strategy!! thanks guys

 

[CommandoBob]

My only wish would be that ctrl-J separated out slaves from regulars.

That would be very nice.

I generally dislike having native workers and slaves in the same stack. A stack of 6 workers can road a hill in one turn or build a mine 2. So can a stack of 12 slaves. And a stack of 3 workers with 6 slaves works just as fast. However, when the stack is mixed, I find myself having to count the number of Worker Turns in that stack, which slows me down because I get lost in the math. Shouldn't, but it does. When the stacks are segregated this is not an issue.

What is also confusing is when you have captured a city and are building slaves, that is, workers of (foreign nationality). The game uses the Worker icon for such units, not the Slave icon, when they are built. Save the game and reload it and then the Slave icon is used. Not a game killer, but definitely a Gotcha.