Do you build your cities at the "blue circles"?
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StrideCollosus
Chieftain
The blue circles are where the AI players would place their cities. The general consensus is that AI often chooses crappy city locations, in particular cities that are not on fresh water and frequently one tile from the coast. I find that I often end up settling just next to the blue circles.
I used to trust the circles quite a bit but I find I'm relying less and less on them. Aforementioned habit of suggesting spots one tile away from the coast and fondness of overlapping tiles are quite the nuisance.
The main reason I hardly go by them anymore is that those circles are only good for a single city, whereas I tend to think about the positioning of at least 2-3 cities at a time. Circles don't take into account the fact that you'll want to found additional cities nearby at all.
Nothing more frustrating than founding a single city with great resources only to realise it leaves nothing but lousy spots for the next two cities. And three good cities alway beats a single great one + two absolutely horrible ones, IMO.
The main reason I hardly go by them anymore is that those circles are only good for a single city, whereas I tend to think about the positioning of at least 2-3 cities at a time. Circles don't take into account the fact that you'll want to found additional cities nearby at all.
Nothing more frustrating than founding a single city with great resources only to realise it leaves nothing but lousy spots for the next two cities. And three good cities alway beats a single great one + two absolutely horrible ones, IMO.
Right, I agree with everyone here. The blue circlues are real good the first few times you play. I think the AAI isn't terrible, but once you get good experience you can often do better. As said above, they are often one space away from fresh water, I think they underrate it.
However, I rarely find their sugeesti0ons are 'bad'.
I also often expand farhter than the AI. That is, build a city farther away and build in. I thinkthe AI builds 'out'.
Breunor
However, I rarely find their sugeesti0ons are 'bad'.
I also often expand farhter than the AI. That is, build a city farther away and build in. I thinkthe AI builds 'out'.
Breunor
I find the blue circles are cited where the city will be able to "work" special resources in its radius. It doesn't take into account fresh water, or coastal deployment. Sometimes my city locations end up being in blue circles, not because I see it, but because I planned ahead to place a city there, and once my settler arrived, it was a blue circle.
I had heard (true or not I do not know) that the AI places those circles with foreknowledge of resources you may not see yet. I do not let the circles dictate to me any longer, but if my placement was next to one, I often will switch to the circle, thinking that the AI may know something I don't.
I haven't tried to verify if that works out or not.
I haven't tried to verify if that works out or not.
jray
King
loraque said:
I've heard this rumour regarding the original settler location, but not for blue circles in general. Even if it's true for all blue circles, you can still safely ignore them (after your capital city) as long as you plan to use any tiles you give up from moving away from blue circles later with future cities.
So in short, I'd suggest paying close attention to the blue circle for the capital city and ignoring the others.
afireinside
Chieftain
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2005
- Messages
- 25
blue circles arent the best long term decision
in fact, they change depending on your resourvce knowledge
go with what you think.
Do u want a mostly grassland plain commerce city or a hilly next to a river production city.
in fact, they change depending on your resourvce knowledge
go with what you think.
Do u want a mostly grassland plain commerce city or a hilly next to a river production city.
Sisiutil
All Leader Challenger
Maxing out the number of resources available within a city's "fat X" seems to be the main logic behind the blue circles, from what I've seen. Terrain, as several posters have indicated, seems to be undervalued by the AI.
Also, in the early game, I've rushed a settler to a crucial resource (copper, horses, or iron), and the blue circle often appears two tiles away from that resource, usually so the fat X will include another nearby resource. The problem is that it may take several turns for the crucial resource to appear within your cultural boundary and be workable; worse still, a rival civ might plunk their city down next to it and claim it before you can.
So I regard the circles as useful suggestions. I always pause to to figure out WHY the AI is suggesting that location, just to see if I should adjust the one I'm considering.
Also, in the early game, I've rushed a settler to a crucial resource (copper, horses, or iron), and the blue circle often appears two tiles away from that resource, usually so the fat X will include another nearby resource. The problem is that it may take several turns for the crucial resource to appear within your cultural boundary and be workable; worse still, a rival civ might plunk their city down next to it and claim it before you can.
So I regard the circles as useful suggestions. I always pause to to figure out WHY the AI is suggesting that location, just to see if I should adjust the one I'm considering.
jpowers
Emperor
The first settler blue circle is usually something I trust, since the AI does know the resource situation, and even if I use a scout for the first move, I can't always get the full 'fat-square' picture before settling.
Periander
Chieftain
I'm positive that the 'blue circles' know about resources that will appear in the future. I've tested it numerous times.
The first starting position is nearly always good.
Still, sometimes they can be dumb, and are just there for the sake of putting a city down to fill a gap.
The first starting position is nearly always good.
Still, sometimes they can be dumb, and are just there for the sake of putting a city down to fill a gap.
lutzj
The Last Thing You See
The blue circles are the ones with many resources within 1 tile, tactical value is harder for the comp to calculate so remains irrelevant
My guess is that blue circles consider:
- resources within fat X
Whereas a human player will also want to consider:
- access to coast
- access to river
- fresh water
- abundance of hills for production
- abundance of grasslands for commerce
- abundance of floodplains for food
- defensive combat bonus for city on a hill
- use of cultural borders to cut off rival expansion
etc...
- resources within fat X
Whereas a human player will also want to consider:
- access to coast
- access to river
- fresh water
- abundance of hills for production
- abundance of grasslands for commerce
- abundance of floodplains for food
- defensive combat bonus for city on a hill
- use of cultural borders to cut off rival expansion
etc...
TheNiceOne
Emperor
I turned the blue circless off in the preferences during my first game. Even if they were useful, I wouldn't want to know about them. I want to play my own game without advice from the AI.
vinstafresh
Prince
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2005
- Messages
- 385
The AI never suggests a desert tile as a possible spot to settle on, although those are the best spots to build a city on. Desert tiles can't be improved, but with a city on it, they produce a hammer and 2 food (not entirely sure, but it's more than when working a desert tile).
The AI always recommends to build cottages on forests, which is pretty annoying.
The AI always recommends to build cottages on forests, which is pretty annoying.
swinenston
Chieftain
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2006
- Messages
- 18
I would add I always build my first city that first turn, unless it really is in a horrendous position. You can spend a dozen turns looking for a sweet spot and suddenly you are massively behind and will certainly not get one of the early religions.
As for later cities, there are some obvious rules to follow; try and grab good resources, fresh water etc. However, there is always a bit of guesswork involved. You can never know whether your city will appear next to some late game resource, like oil for example. I don't agree with the tactic of having super cities some employ, i.e. a city that has all hills for production city' or a city with water and grassland for commerce. I prefer to balance so each city has a bit of both, as far as is possible. You never know when a city churning out lots of food may be needed to start producing military units and having only a few production cities makes this a difficult task when you need it the most.
As for later cities, there are some obvious rules to follow; try and grab good resources, fresh water etc. However, there is always a bit of guesswork involved. You can never know whether your city will appear next to some late game resource, like oil for example. I don't agree with the tactic of having super cities some employ, i.e. a city that has all hills for production city' or a city with water and grassland for commerce. I prefer to balance so each city has a bit of both, as far as is possible. You never know when a city churning out lots of food may be needed to start producing military units and having only a few production cities makes this a difficult task when you need it the most.
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