Help!!! pt. 2

[CO0PS]

Hello everyone again!
Cheers to everyone who replied to my previous post, your tips really helped a lot

However, I still need help. One of the main problems is I am unsure of how to start an 'early war', due to my military being weak and outnumbered. How could I get around this? Most games I'm a 'peace-lover' and always try to stay away from war, but looking at various posts I have found out that an early war is helpful.

Another problem I have is city happiness. In all of my games, when my cities get to about 7/8 population I start having angry citizens, which means less of a work force. How do I counter this?

The final problem I'm going to trouble you with is that i can't seem to get my head round the CE, because when I build loadsa cottages my population suffers!

Hopefully you guys will be able to help me again.

Thanks
CO0PS

 

[nanomage]

counter angry citizens by whipping them to the death. This solves both your problems - your cities will be content and you will be able to build an army.

 

[Learningciv]

Your opening question concerns early warfare, happycap management, economy and production. I am very certain that you have mentioned nearly of all of the concerns of early game. Post some more specific questions with examples (pictures or saves) of your games and you would get some very good help.

 

[z0wb13]

although they do have much better songs, i would suggest:

Crack that whip
Give the past the slip
Step on a crack
Break your momma's back

When a problem comes along
You must whip it
Before the cream sits out too long
You must whip it
When something's going wrong
You must whip it

now whip it
into shape
shape it up
get straight
go forward
move ahead
try to detect it
it's not too late
to whip it
whip it good

When a good time turns around
You must whip it
You will never live it down
Unless you whip it
No one gets their way
Until they whip it

I say whip it
Whip it good

 

[Sisiutil]

However, I still need help. One of the main problems is I am unsure of how to start an 'early war', due to my military being weak and outnumbered. How could I get around this? Most games I'm a 'peace-lover' and always try to stay away from war, but looking at various posts I have found out that an early war is helpful.

Another problem I have is city happiness. In all of my games, when my cities get to about 7/8 population I start having angry citizens, which means less of a work force. How do I counter this?

Both questions have the same answer: whip away unhappy citizens to accelerate your military builds. Also use chopping. When you have a large enough force, attack!

Shameless self-promotion: For more details, I have written a guide to early wars; the link is in my sig. You may also want to check out my beginners' guide.

The final problem I'm going to trouble you with is that i can't seem to get my head round the CE, because when I build loadsa cottages my population suffers!

Uh... weren't you just saying that your population grows to high and unhappiness results?

Just kidding, I get it: you need to ensure the city grows while also being productive (working high-hammer tiles) and working those cottage tiles, too, to make sure they grow.

Basically, you need to manage the tiles your citizens are working carefully. First off, every city should have at least one tile with a good food bonus. Grains (wheat, rice, corn) and seafood are particularly good here. Improving and working that tile will allow you to grow the city while other citizens work tiles with lower yields, such as the hills with mines that ensure the city can build things quickly.

Second, put your cottages on tiles that will allow you to work the population. Flood plains and riverside grassland tiles are excellent for cottages. First off, the river gives you a +1 bonus right off the bat, which is substantial in the early game. Second, a grassland tile provides 2 , which means the citizen working it sustains himself (each citizen requires 2 , remember). Flood plains with a cottage provide 3 , so by working them you have a slight food bonus to help with growth.

Overall, you'll simply need to go into the city management screen every now and then and shuffle your citizens' tile assignments around depending upon your priorities. Sometimes you'll want to balance growth (food), production (hammers), and commerce; other times you'll want to max out one or two of those versus the others.