[R&F] Getting the most out of districts

[Question]

I find that they take way too long to build and take way too much space especially since you want to optimize placement to get adjacency bonuses with mountains/government complexes.

Any tips? On standard I struggle to get a campus + library done before the ancient era ends...

 

[Eyswein]

I don't think it is unusual to have zero or almost zero districts in the Ancient Era unless trying to get a religion. In the Ancient Era I generally focus on empire expansion and military conquest. I'll place districts to lock in the cost if it makes sense, but mostly not spend time finishing them until the Classic Era.

In my current game I reached a Free Inquiry Golden Age in the Classic Era, but had zero commercial/harbor districts for about 18 turns to take advantage of it - still got the eureka bonuses.

Placement can get an 'easy' +8 historic bonus points if you settle a city on/near a river and just one nearby mountain. If you can place a campus next to the mountain, city, and Government Plaza, you'll get +3 adjacency for splendid historic point bonus (note: must complete the government plaza first). For the Commercial District, next to river, city, and gov plaza gets the +4 adjacency and the splendid historical point bonus. Of course, that requires a size 7 city, but I get there by harvesting food.

 

[Question]

Not sure what you are referring to with historic bonus points. Ive only gotten to classical era at the latest so far.

Also i dont understand what the game means by specialty districts...

 

[Kouvb593kdnuewnd]

They take a long time for small cities or cities that lack production so if you want to get districts early you should grow your capital and make sure to have access to some production. An early second builder can help alot here and so can a few tiles purchases. The tradeoff is that you may have to delay your expansion because each settler cost around the same as a district or building and also consume population which futher may slow down your district building.

However it is Always a good idea to put down districts as early as possible beacuse that lock down their cost which otherwise increase with each technology and Civic you develop.

 

[Question]

Huh? Districts costs increase per tech/civic? Why?

 

[Kouvb593kdnuewnd]

Huh? Districts costs increase per tech/civic? Why?

To keep them reasonably priced through the game. Aqueducts and neighbourhood increase in price as well but they increase for every turn that have passed.

As soon as you Place a district its price wont increase anymore, even if you don't plan to build it so that is something you should take advantage of.

 

[Builderphile]

Many of the best players on this forum will place districts as soon as they become available, often sacrificing adjacency bonuses in order to get them built quickly, and then will chop forests or harvest stone to build them quickly.

 

[Kouvb593kdnuewnd]

Many of the best players on this forum will place districts as soon as they become available, often sacrificing adjacency bonuses in order to get them built quickly, and then will chop forests or harvest stone to build them quickly.

Im not a fan of such approch because:

1. Why rush?
2. I can win anyway.
3. I actually want to feel that Im building a civilization.

 

[Arent11]

I find that they take way too long to build and take way too much space especially since you want to optimize placement to get adjacency bonuses with mountains/government complexes.

Any tips? On standard I struggle to get a campus + library done before the ancient era ends...

I think most players make the error that they want to build all the districts, buildings, wonders. Which
is simply not necessary. Most important are units, builders, settlers to conquer, settle & improve
cities. Then, some districts that enhance the overall performance of your civ, boost science or
culture or allow you to maintain & upgrade an army.

In rise & fall growing big cities has become a little more important, but the basic approach is
still the same.

Im not a fan of such approch because:

1. Why rush?
2. I can win anyway.
3. I actually want to feel that Im building a civilization.

In principle I agree, however, in multiplayer such cheesy approaches give you a serious advantage.
In single player of course you have all the time you want.