Distance Between Cities!!!!

[magritte]

I used to try to minimize overlap between cities by having 3-4 spaces between them, but after looking at how others did it here, I switched to CxxC (not rigidly, but in general). It made a huge difference to my game--basically the difference between Monarch and Emperor level.

 

[Louis XXIV]

I usually settle based on what is nearby, but I only count overlap of the first radius cultural border (as opposed to the full 2-square radius).

 

[Spatula]

Very certainly the AI places its cities too loosely.

I also am pretty sure 12 tiles per city is the best placement for your cities. If you haven't tried it, you really should.
If it doesn't work out for you, that means you lack the skills to build enough settlers and workers to grab enough land and work every tile of it.

if you don't believe me, take a look at the spoilers from top finishing gotm players.

Great tip - but I am feeble and can't work out how many tiles between cities that is.

 

[sir_schwick]

I've been using the 1-turn by road system. It seesm to work in terms of ICS, although I bet there is more efficient systems out there.

 

[Chazbagel]

I dont have a strategy, I build cities where i need them, and dont really think about it ... i guess that also shows why i am 9-14 in the ladder, doesnt it

 

[Lockesdonkey]

The AI plopping down cities in Desert and Tundra is not pointless. In fact, I do it all the time myself.

It is a way to get some oil without having to fight over it. If I'm near a Tundra or Desert, I always try to make sure that only I settle it; that way, I have a chance at the oil. The point is being able to have the oil in your grasp for a very long time before it's useful. So I always settle the Tundras and Deserts in Ancient times or the Middle Ages, since that gives me plenty of time to build up the culture in the area.

 

[Gogf]

I do it to the AI ...

 

[dannergreg]

How many tiles is it if you do twelve tiles per city?

 

[Ivan the Kulak]

Hmm, you know, the ICS strat could actually be considered a cheat by the player, since the AI can't do it so well. I wonder if at some point in the civ series they will find a way to make food/environmental conditions more strictly dictate early city placement, seems this would be both more realistic and make for a more rigorous game.

 

[sir_schwick]

I know how to eliminate the ICS scourge, eliminate the free-tile. If you have a size 1 city, you are still working 2 tiles; the city tile and the tile by the worker. In C-evo you had to use a citizen to work the city square. This out of anything would eliminate the gross advantage of ICS. Close placement would still be a smart strategy though.

 

[mikehunt]

sometimes having more cities is more important than squeezing out max squares per city
and since civ3 has the culture borders i always start cities up against enemy borders and rush a few culture improvements to take over their land and eventually cause a culture flip

 

[sir_schwick]

Maximum city coverage is a very inefficient strategy for the part of the game where you need tile usage. My suggestion was simply to remove the overpowering affect of the free tile. ICS would still be useful, just not overpowered. Hopefully they will change the city radius concept to something more flexible.

 

[TriangleMan]

The AI puts cities in useless places for score and culture, and you should too. This isn't Civ II.

 

[Coorae]

In the ancient age, you are not using a third of the tiles in the city raduis.
AI builds them too far apart