Dense or spread-out build?

[Chieftess]

(ok, this is my first attempt at making a poll).

I say go with a spread-out build, since it will maximize production in the long run. Not to mention more GPT once we get rails and hospitals. (24 vs. the proposed 12 - which means, if we're in a bind, with a strong economy, we can buy our way out of trouble).

 

[Ohwell]

I think this would be up to the discretion of the expansion Minister or the President. There shouldn't be a set rule, different cases may or may not be worthwile to follow a guideline such as this.

 

[eyrei]

I do not think this can be decided on such a basic level. Each city must be placed according to the needs of the empire, and the desires of the populace. Some will be close, and others will be spread out, at least as long as I am domestic advisor. I hold to my view that the blue city is a good idea as a settler factory, and then as a commerce/science city. Please keep in mind that the only square within the capitals radius it will use will be the one it is placed on. If someone believes there to be enough support, please feel free to start a poll about this city placement. If the results are overwhelming, I will change my decision. However, I believe the cabinet ministers agree with this placement, so support will have to be very, very strong for a change.

 

[Cyc]

eyrei, the opinion of the DOC is posted all over the forum. i have had lenthy conversations with the President and he's aware of my opinion also. i feel the general consensus is leaning away from dense building and i agree with this point of view. if the blue dot city is implemented i will take your guarantee that the only tile it will take from the capital is the tile that the blue city is placed on. (have we just named the city?)

 

[eyrei]

During the settler building phase, the blue city will use one grasslands tile of the capitals, and then one forest tile. The grassland will be used for approximately 15 turns at a time, and then will not be used for 10 turns. The forest will only be used for about 5 turns at a time. The capital will not need these tiles until it is finished settler production of its own, and begins to grow. By this time, many of the trees will be cleared by our industrious workers, providing plenty of food for both cities. Once a harbor is built in the blue city, it will never again use a tile within the capital's radius, unless the capital has no plans for it.

Also, do not mistake my decision to place the blue city for a general tendency to build densely. In reality, I lean in towards a well spaced plan, that allows many truly impressive pollution producers in the late game. I use this harbor 'suburb' in many of my games, and, while I often allow it to use a couple squares of the capital, if it is desire of the citizenry to forbid this, I will implement their wishes.

 

[Black Fluffy Lion]

I'm with Grey Fox on city placement. Build the first few cities close to minimize corruption, thus churning out many settlers. THen concentrate on expanding terittory with later cities, and build them further apart.

 

[Badluck]

in the begginging it'S a big advantage to build citi close to each other i think, but in the end it'S better if they are away one from each other because at one point we will need big citi to build wonder or long time building,

i voted Dense Build (massive overlapping)
because it will give us a big advantage for the 2 complete age and part of third.

then when we are at the third age we can always change the palace to another location or have build the forbidden palace in a spot where citi are Spread-out Built (minimal overlapping) so when we get hospital those one will start growing very fast. (building improvement / wonders ) while where the palace is it will be building units and some building in between.

and for every citi gaining 1 shield no matter how shield it get we should Dense Build (massive overlapping) because it will give us a better productivity. *but only after we have culture everywhere so ennemy doesn'T build in our terriory.

 

[Citizen_K]

minimum overlapping @ the center, max at the edges.

 

[marshalljames]

I voted for dense build at first then spread as our civ develops.By not dense building at the very begiining we are losing an oppurtunity to build highly efficient core cities capable of producing the materials we need when we need.

 

[Justus II]

I have argued against an overly dense build at the start, and still favor a spread out approach. In response to Eyrei's description of "Blue Dot City", I understand his concept, and could support it as a "suburb". I have done that once before also, actually, when I built my capital then found the coastline two tiles away
Think of Rome and Ostia, or Los Angeles and Long Beach?

I was more concerned that it would become a guiding principle, especially since we hadn't seen much of the map yet, and I think that is the reasoning behind this poll, do we want a generally dense inner core, or more spread out. Obviously, in either case, there will be exceptions to the rule due to terrain, strategic situation, resources, etc.

Given the rough terrain around our capital, I think we should be hesitant about building too many cities too close. Yes, they can only reach a certain size anyway, based on the food supply, but that means that we will use up a lot of our "optimal" number of cities in non-optimal locations, and the end result will be higher corruption later. The main prerequisite for early expansion, settler production, is more dependent on the food supply, which is unaffected by corruption. I say find sites that will build settlers quickly, even if they are a little spread out. If it takes longer to found the city initially, but it can build the settlers faster, it is worth the wait. We can always fill in later, when we can use better government and technology to make the terrain a little more hospitable.

 

[eyrei]

Originally posted by Justus II
I have argued against an overly dense build at the start, and still favor a spread out approach. In response to Eyrei's description of "Blue Dot City", I understand his concept, and could support it as a "suburb". I have done that once before also, actually, when I built my capital then found the coastline two tiles away
Think of Rome and Ostia, or Los Angeles and Long Beach?

I was more concerned that it would become a guiding principle, especially since we hadn't seen much of the map yet, and I think that is the reasoning behind this poll, do we want a generally dense inner core, or more spread out. Obviously, in either case, there will be exceptions to the rule due to terrain, strategic situation, resources, etc.

Given the rough terrain around our capital, I think we should be hesitant about building too many cities too close. Yes, they can only reach a certain size anyway, based on the food supply, but that means that we will use up a lot of our "optimal" number of cities in non-optimal locations, and the end result will be higher corruption later. The main prerequisite for early expansion, settler production, is more dependent on the food supply, which is unaffected by corruption. I say find sites that will build settlers quickly, even if they are a little spread out. If it takes longer to found the city initially, but it can build the settlers faster, it is worth the wait. We can always fill in later, when we can use better government and technology to make the terrain a little more hospitable.

Good analysis. This is basically my view on the matter, though the president disagrees about the formation of the inner cities. I intend to place cities in the best spots first, and then to look to the interior to place purposeful cities that may not become very large, if only to make use of all the space we have. Again, do not confuse my desire to place the 'blue' city ( we may actually have to name it that) for a desire to design the core of the empire that way. That city has a purpose, and will make use of tiles we would otherwise not use. Other cities may be placed using this logic, so keep in mind that we should not curtail our efficiency with an edict that we cannot place cities close to each other.

 

[Lt. 'Killer' M.]

eyrei:

Still, we should build semi-dense in the core empire (4 tiles away from capital instead of 5) since that will significantly reduce corruption and - more important - waste in the early exapansion phase.

 

[allhailIndia]

A spread out but not too spread out build will help us early on as well as later in the game