Fastest possible settlers and expansions?

[Genghis_Sean]

I'm playing on a large map(Monarch level), and I'm trying to outgrow and establish more territory than my computer opponents, but I'm failing miserably.

First, I built on the first turn on a flood plain, I developed the land around me, and I built two warriors so I could explore as well as garrison my new city.

Secondly, I researched Pottery first so I could make a granary. I even pop rushed it so I could get my first settler out asap. I queued up 10 settlers in the production window so I would spit them out constantly.

Third, I did the same thing with my second and third cities.

Fourth, one of the villages I discovered gave me another settler.

I was making no troops other than a single warrior to garrison each city, and simply tried to expand as fast as possible, yet by the time I first encountered another civ, he had 10 cities to my 5. Obviously, he kicked my butt. Now, I'd heard that Civs didn't cheat, so I was wondering what I did wrong? Do I not make granaries when making settler factories? I wouldn't think you could have a settler factory without a granary because it would take too long for the cities to grow.

Could somebody please explain how I can keep up with another civ in cranking out settlers? If three settler factories can't even do it, I don't know how it is possible.

Genghis_Sean

 

[Tomoyo]

1. The production queue is for lazy people. Don't use it.
2. Settler factories take a while to get going. Also, three sounds like too much. They need at least 5 surplus food each turn.
3. Don't build cities on flood plains.
4. Pop rushing granaries is a no-no. No matter what you're pop rushing, the lost citizens will severely hurt your growth curve.
5. Large cities work better than small cities because of the higher production.

 

[Genghis_Sean]

1. The production queue is for lazy people. Don't use it.
2. Settler factories take a while to get going. Also, three sounds like too much. They need at least 5 surplus food each turn.
3. Don't build cities on flood plains.
4. Pop rushing granaries is a no-no. No matter what you're pop rushing, the lost citizens will severely hurt your growth curve.
5. Large cities work better than small cities because of the higher production.

Thank you for your reply. I had a few other questions and comments.

A settler factory does nothing but make settlers, so I don't see how using the queue makes any difference. What's the harm?

Since I'm founding cities as soon as possible with the settlers, how would having three settler factories be detrimental? That simply would increase dramatically the growth of my empire, wouldn't it?

Not building on a flood plain sounds like good advice. Thanks. I'm already lost citizens to disease several times.

Okay, I won't pop rush granaries. Should I build them at all when making a settler factory?

Genghis_Sean

 

[Tomoyo]

Granaries are essential.

The reason I said that three was too much was that it is really really hard to have the appropriate terrain for two settler factories, let alone three. The city needs five surplus food each turn.

I'm used to "Always build previously built unit", so I don't use the queue.

 

[bingen]

If you post a screenshot of the starting area it would be easier to see what would be best.

 

[Mr. Hyperbole]

@ Ghengis Sean:
Personally, I would say three settler factories is sufficient(depending on map size, maybe too many). You may want to have one city dedicated to nothing but military units.
I, too cannot see the harm in setting up the queue for settlers. Just be sure to check back every other turn to ensure that shields aren't being lost.

Do you consistently lose the land grab? On occasion the AI will just get lucky and may pop more than a few goody hut settlers. Are you playing agricultural civ's?

The only other bit of advice that I can offer that's hasn't been said already is to maximize the land around the cities. Though there are exceptions, generally "mine green, irrigate brown". Good luck

 

[Tomoyo]

The difficulty has nothing to do with whether you need a granary.

 

[Mr. Hyperbole]

@ Tomoyo: oops you're right of course...difficulty level doesn't really matter. I edited my post. I meant that you COULD go sans granary on Warlord level & still outexpand because the AI takes such a production hit as compared to the human.

 

[WackenOpenAir]

In my experience, 1 4 turn settler factory will alow you to outexpand the AI up to at least emperor level. That is without building settlers anywhere else than from the factory.
Normally, that is a 4 turn factory that gets opperational around 3000BC.

I think you are not microing and not having your factories produce the settlers in 4 turns. You must micro to make sure you always keep your 5 surplus and 30 shields in 4 turns.

Just queueing settlers and hoping the city will build them efficiently really doesn't work.

 

[Genghis_Sean]

In my experience, 1 4 turn settler factory will alow you to outexpand the AI up to at least emperor level. That is without building settlers anywhere else than from the factory.
Normally, that is a 4 turn factory that gets opperational around 3000BC.

I think you are not microing and not having your factories produce the settlers in 4 turns. You must micro to make sure you always keep your 5 surplus and 30 shields in 4 turns.

Just queueing settlers and hoping the city will build them efficiently really doesn't work.

You're right. I was not microing my cities. So, I need to play with the shields and food to make sure that a settler pops out every 4 turns? Wow. That's going to be tricky.

How do you take a screenshot? I'll post a screenshot of the starting area if I can figure out how.

Incidentally, I'm playing the Japanese.

Genghis-Sean

 

[Tomoyo]

Hit "Print Screen" during the game. Then paste it into a picture editing program. (like MS Paint)

 

[punkbass2000]

Get your screen positioned where you want the screenshot. Press 'Print Screen' (or possible 'PrtScrn' or some such. It's probably near the Home and PgUp buttons). This is essentially the same as pressing 'copy' or Ctrl-C for text. Paste your screenshot in a Paint program (MS Paint will work but there are better programs). Make sure you sure it as a '.jpg' or other small file type. MS Paint likes to save things as 'bmp.' which is usually too large for this and many other forums. At the bottom of the 'post reply' screen click 'Manage Attachments'. Browse for your file wherever you saved it on your computer (default is often 'My Pictures'). Click 'Upload'. That should be it.

 

[punkbass2000]

Tomoyoda, reduced your verbosity is.

 

[Mr. Hyperbole]

Here are some related threads that might help:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=100256

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=68433

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=71831

 

[citizen001]

What are the exact food and shield requirements for the fastest settler factory? (maybe 2-3 turns)

 

[Tomoyo]

The fastest settler factory possible is a one-turn factory. You want Longevity, a granary, a factory, a nuke plant, a manufacturing plant, a coal/uranium tile.

Ex: Everything is railed.

One irrigated flood plain wheat and one irrigated plains cow gives you your food requirements, as well as 2 shields.

Three BGs give you 9 shields... anyway, the factories and stuff kick in and you get a settler every turn.

 

[citizen001]

Oh, sorry i forgot to mention but i was meaning in the ancient age.

 

[Tomoyo]

3 turns is possible, but you need like two floodplain wheats, one grassland cow, two iron hills, and three BGs.

 

[Yuri2356]

3 turns is possible, but you need like two floodplain wheats, one grassland cow, two iron hills, and three BGs.

...and a Partridge in a Pear tree.

Are you sure you'd need these exact tiles, or could you have some other combination?

 

[Tomoyo]

No, you could have some other combination, or maybe a Golden Age.