Do you ever choose to move capitals, and why?

[Biologist]

So far I've never felt a need to move my capital city. I suppose it might make sense if the capital ends up way on the fringes of the empire somehow, or maybe if you want to take advantage of a larger boost from resources (since the capital often gets a smaller bonus than other cities from resources)? That seems like a very advanced move though in that you'd have to calculate in advance without seeing projected outputs how many yields you'd be gaining from switching. I suppose you could also move the capital away from potential military threat, but since capitals are no longer central to military victory and military units return to their own corners at the start of each new era, that doesn't seem too useful.

 

[Cymsdale]

I did once exclusively for the rename lol.

 

[Giskler]

Free city if you didn't hit the economic golden age bonus.

 

[pokiehl]

Free city if you didn't hit the economic golden age bonus.

This is exactly why I do it.

 

[Isca Dumnoniorum]

Free city if you didn't hit the economic golden age bonus.

Although converting back a town that was previously a city seems to only cost 100 gold (on online speed at least)?

I do get the name change vibe though.

 

[Giskler]

Although converting back a town that was previously a city seems to only cost 100 gold (on online speed at least)?

I do get the name change vibe though.

A cost of 0 vs a cost of 100 is an easy decision to make

 

[Siptah]

I just learned that it isn‘t possible sometimes. When going Inca-Prussia, I didn‘t get the option - despite Prussia not having a terrain requirement iirc.

 

[Isca Dumnoniorum]

A cost of 0 vs a cost of 100 is an easy decision to make

Only if the new capital options are acceptable or superior and 100 gold is a material amount to your treasury. It hasn’t been for me until now but I’m still only two levels above default difficulty so I may find that changes soon

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

I often forget to scroll all the way to the bottom after I spend all my legacy points, but when I remember, I try to do it. I just like the aesthetic of having an appropriate city name for my new civ.

 

[Taefin]

My current game I might have considered it; but didn’t get the option to choose my other large coastal city as a capital for exploration.

 

[queenpea]

I often forget to scroll all the way to the bottom after I spend all my legacy points, but when I remember, I try to do it. I just like the aesthetic of having an appropriate city name for my new civ.

Even when I intend to move my capital, I miss out on the option because it's at the bottom of a long list.

 

[SammyKhalifa]

I'm probably going to this time. My first city site was jammed in a corner with a lot of water and I'm running out of places to build stuff.

 

[VCVC]

I love it conceptually, I just wish that the game chose better settlements for capital candidates. Or perhaps they could let you choose yourself one of your settlements?

 

[Dark_Jedi06]

Yes! I just wish I could pick any settlement instead of being restricted by the two options the game presents me. I'm yet to figure out how the game even makes that decision.

 

[UWHabs]

I love it conceptually, I just wish that the game chose better settlements for capital candidates. Or perhaps they could let you choose yourself one of your settlements?

Honestly, I've actually felt they've given quite reasonable choices. But I may just have gotten lucky.

Personally, I actually really like moving the capital, not just because of the free city, but I kind of enjoy the roleplay aspect of having my new centre be in a new place. I think I'm actually 5/5 in moving every age transition to date.

One advantage is that since the capital tends to be your strongest city, I find that my ancient era capital gets a little more crowded. So by moving to another city, that one tends to have more space available, so if I want to put down some wonders in it, it has a little more leeway.

 

[Mezmorizor]

You should always move your capital to the weakest spot you can. The palace does more work in small cities. Your former capital is still going to be awesomesauce without it.

 

[Disgustipated]

I do it all the time. As I verifed in the things you did not know thread, it does create that extra city. It's beneficial to do it twice imho.

The other reason is to start using names from the new civ for thematic reasons.

 

[evonannoredars]

Yeah I usually do:
- As people have mentioned, free city!
- My capital's palace might have fewer quarters around it than another city, so switching capitals could get me a bit more culture and science.
- Some narrative events seem to always grant food/production to the capital? So useful to be able to boost a city that's more up and coming that way
- Similarly doesn't the food endeavour target the capital? Unsure.
- Often I want my current favourite/prettiest city to be the capital instead

 

[4Xtra]

Aside from the free city, I just like the 'flavor' of changing my capital. You get a new name (And it's very bizarre that you can't rename cities), while feeling more thematic. The Normans continuing to rule from Pataliputra is very funny though

 

[Taefin]

If there was a mod to give all settlements as options… I really wanted to put Tokyo on an island, but it was landlocked and surrounded by rivers. The coastal option was a town I squeezed in and didn’t have room to grow as a capital.