Core Cities

[pickle]

I've been looking at specialising my cities more, so gear them completely for production or commerce, this is ok, now my task is to reduce the number of improvements i build. A question for some better players. what cities do you consider your core? the first 5? 10? 15? and how far beyond that do you go before specialist farming? i generally just use the continent as the divider but does anyone have a decent guideline for how far from the capital the core stops and where the farming should begin

 

[gmaharriet]

It certainly depends on map size and civ traits. On a standard map my most important core might be 6 to 8 cities, secondarily would be up to the OCN, and specialist farms wherever I can get no more than 1g 1s. Commercial civs have a higher OCN and more productive cities.

I might also have a few specialists in my secondary core area early in the game, but not really farming with everything irrigated. When they grow enough to be productive, the citizens will work the fields...especially after I get enough luxes to keep them happy without the lux slider. A courthouse will help in cities with 50-75% corruption, making them more productive.

 

[ignas]

Well for me the core is cities CxxC or CxxxC from capital. others are made as specialist farms with corruption of 50<x

 

[Aabraxan]

Well for me the core is cities CxxC or CxxxC from capital. others are made as specialist farms with corruption of 50<x

ignas, if I may ask a question about this . . . I usually use the cities at CxxC or CxxxC for building non-artillery units. One or two "rings" beyond that are artillery-builders. Anything that only gets 1 or 2 shields becomes a specialist farm. In other words, it sounds like I'm using a much larger part of my empire for non-cash-rushed production. Is there an advantage to building farms with a corruption of less than 50% that I'm not seeing? Or do you just like having tons of cash and beakers to play with?

 

[ecuwins]

My "core" would consist of any city worthy a university and/or bank. I use CivAssist to aid in my determinations. On a standard map I may get 8 around my capital +1 in my FP city. Commercial trait may add a couple. If I am England with lots of coastline I may get more, it all depends. Usually I only build infrastructure between wars the exception being a few markets around the switch to Republic or Monarchy. Libraries too if I am scientific.

 

[Lexicus]

I don't really have a specific way to define my core. My core is any city that can build the most powerful units and current improvements relatively quickly.