Getting resources 4/5 tiles from cities.

[Valynor]

Hello, despite having the largest empire in my huge continent game and 12 cities, when I hit Industrialization I found that only a 3 value coal was inside my borders. A handful of other sources laying 4 or 5 tiles away from one of my city or another.
Is there some way to speed the process of acquiring them, other that getting all the culture making buildings and waiting?

 

[TomKQT]

If you have money, you can help the city by purchasing the tiles that you can and that will force the city to acquire those that you cannot buy (outside of 3 radius). You don't have to buy all of them, the city will usually focus on a resource that is 4 tiles far even if it still has unacquired closer tiles.
And the second option is a great general with his citadel.

 

[Valynor]

I did'nt think about the GG, thanx
it's only my second game, too many things to remember

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Also, I don't know if its a preference in the tile acquisition strategy or a coincidence, but it seems to me that the logic will favour those tiles to which you own the most neighbouring tiles. It also seems to like joining the borders of 2 cities where possible

So if you had 2 cities in a line both 4 tiles away from the resource, and you bought tiles so you had the tile from each city which neighbours the resource, chances are the next auto buy from either city would take the resource.

I think, but someone will need to verify, that in these instances the logic will grab 4th ring tiles even if 2nd or 3rd ring are still available.

 

[Xiao Xiong]

I did'nt think about the GG, thanx
it's only my second game, too many things to remember

You can also use the GG to take tiles away from a nearby CS. Instead of capturing the CS to get their lux, plant a GG on it. They get super mad that you took their land, but they get over it, and later will happily be your ally.

But yeah they are especially good for grabbing late game strategic resources and you usually have a few of them by then.