How fast should I settle new cities (immortal dif.)

[Walter E Kurtz]

Hello all, my first post on these forums!

I'm trying games on Immortal difficulty and so far it isn't working out in the same way as games on lower difficulty. I've managed to ward off attacking neighbours, built the Hagia Sofia and Porcelain Tower, got two river cities with good income and kept friendly relations with a few civs for trade. Howeve rmy problem is that other civs are settling cities as near as 8 tiles from my capital. They are expanding at a super aggressive rate. They have taken a luxury that I haven't connected yet. So that's bad. I'm looking for pointers on how quick to expand with my own settlers. Should I immediately settle a city near all luxuries that aren't connected yet? Or is the general idea to just capture enemy cities? This game is at turn 150 or so and I've only got three cities with no more room to expand without war.

Settings are Pangea, Standard size, 8 civs and 16 CS, normal speed.

 

[Tabarnak]

I've only got three cities with no more room to expand without war.

Settings are Pangea, Standard size, 8 civs and 16 CS, normal speed.

Don't over estimate the power of NC. You can delay it as long as it needed. Don't be afraid to build 4,5 or even 6 cities before NC. You will probably face some angry civs around, but why not expand more if they attack you? It shouldn't be difficult with all these cities to build an army.

Alternatively, if you prefer a good tech pace pretty soon in the game but still want more cities, you can rush 1 extra city(buy a library) then NC, then expand after(around turn 55). You will find enough room most of the time to add at least 2 more cities.

If you think the AI will get best spot before you, just settle city(ies) there ASAP. Keep backward land for later cities(before or after NC).

Make a test : try to settle 4 cities as fast as you can. Try to get 4 cities and 4 workers before turn 45. Then synchronize every cities to finish libraries right in time to start the NC around turn 60-65 in your capital. After this, try to do the same but with a swordmen rush(delay the NC a bit more...)

 

[Auere]

I was having some of the same thoughts.

I have recently started a game with the exact same settings for map and level, playing with Isabella.

I was lucky enough to find the barrier reefs and another natural wonder which is pretty devastating with isabella and enabled me to really get ahead early on. Since then I have gotten considerably ahead by building all wonders but the pyramids and great wall. I have 4 cities and I have just reasearched Civil Service.

But what is the best strategy from here? Build more cities? I can still squeeze in 2-4 more cities, but with no extra luxuries. Should I crush a nearby city state or maybe go directly for Elisabeth, who has declared me war? What is the best time to push home my attack if I am ahead technologically, and will it even pay off to invade Elisabeths cities?

 

[apocalypse105]

Settle only cities with new luxury tech the propary techs for luxury resources around you and you should have no trouble to have 4 cities.

Tech construction if you want more happiness and archery for the early rushes those technologies are the one's you need to spam cities

 

[Realyn]

I just started a Immortal LP some days ago. Maybe you want to check it out? http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=455968

Personally I never use the "1 city and rush NC" thing on Deity. For the most part because it is one thing: boring. Instead I try to aim for 3-4 good cities.
Another problem I have with all those ... I dont even want to call them strategies, is the fact that they only work on a very limited set on maps and/or with reloading/restarting ...

Should I immediately settle a city near all luxuries that aren't connected yet? Or is the general idea to just capture enemy cities? This game is at turn 150 or so and I've only got three cities with no more room to expand without war.

Its not nice to hear but: It depends on the map. It really does. On some maps you have to try to steal a good city spot from the AI. Then they get pissed at you and you have to build archers to defend yourself.
Settler wise you should get the tradition one very early. Then, sell your luxury and buy another settler. Don't care about happyness at that point ... It is ok if your new cities stay at size1 and work a high production tile.

I would like to invite you once more to check my LP. The first video should help you very much!

 

[bonafide11]

Not sure that I agree with the player who said settle up to 6 cities before building the NC. Not on Immortal anyway. I'd probably build 3, the 2nd one near a happiness resource, and the 3rd one should be right around the discovery of Iron Working and be near Iron. I'd build a library in each city and the NC in the capital before building a 4th city. You don't want to expand too fast because your cities will reach their happiness cap fast and then the growth will halt, which will affect your science, production, and wealth. Taking a couple city-states for extra gold with some swordsmen wouldn't hurt though.

 

[chazzycat]

You can definitely settle a lot of cities before NC on immortal, I do this all the time. It just depends on the map. Expanding to each new unique luxury is a good general rule. The happiness from the luxes allows growth to make up for lack of NC. If you have a lot of horses/ivory nearby you can even get away with a couple more cities as well because of circuses.

3 city NC is a good strategy too, if the map only gives you 3 good cities there's no need to push it. 3 is enough to win using the PT/rationalism/RA style.

 

[fat_tonle]

I like to turtle because I am a turtle player no less. Domination is tough and tedious.

Sit on 2-3 cities. Tech up. Go Liberty Tradition Piety. Sometimes honor depending on the civ. Aztecs and Mongols you tend to go Honor, as with Sully and Biz.

 

[chazzycat]

I like to turtle because I am a turtle player no less. Domination is tough and tedious.

Sit on 2-3 cities. Tech up. Go Liberty Tradition Piety. Sometimes honor depending on the civ. Aztecs and Mongols you tend to go Honor, as with Sully and Biz.

You going for culture vic? otherwise, not sure why you would use piety with only 3 cities. Rationalism is generally a much better choice for small empires (mostly the opener, for RAs)

 

[Walter E Kurtz]

Make a test : try to settle 4 cities as fast as you can. Try to get 4 cities and 4 workers before turn 45. Then synchronize every cities to finish libraries right in time to start the NC around turn 60-65 in your capital. After this, try to do the same but with a swordmen rush(delay the NC a bit more...)

Trying this right now, on a new map that allows early expansion too. I got a good spot covered by long mountain ranges with plenty of room for 4 - 6 cities in between.

I would like to invite you once more to check my LP. The first video should help you very much!

Thanks, I will do that. And you are right about strategy depending very much on the situation. Perhaps the problem is that I'm not used to having a small empire. Doesn't feel right to settle only a few cities of my own on a standard size map.

 

[fat_tonle]

You going for culture vic? otherwise, not sure why you would use piety with only 3 cities. Rationalism is generally a much better choice for small empires (mostly the opener, for RAs)

Yeah with 4 cities you get the extra culture building, but also greater chance for war and less optimal city placement considering you need another city in there somewhere. The free building is not a huge deal especially when you burn it much later, like on three free Museums or a combo of museums/opera houses. Not bad value.

Sometimes if you have incense or wine in multiple locations you can burn that policy early and get free temples and monasteries.

I don't use the policy early because monuments are dirt cheap. Plus you want to take advantage of the Piety opener which takes off building time on culture buildings.

Don't use that policy until Opera houses or Museums unless your capital is already tall as is and you want to finish tradition soon.

 

[The_Quasar]

Hello all, my first post on these forums!

Welcome to these forums

This game is at turn 150 or so and I've only got three cities with no more room to expand without war.

Settings are Pangea, Standard size, 8 civs and 16 CS, normal speed.

Some things to consider here... who are your neighbours? Are they civs like Alex or Monty that will covert your land and attack you anyway? If so, then be prepared, absorb their attack when it comes, then counterattack.

You can win at Immortal level with 3 cities in any of the Victory conditions. If there is not a good place to plant a new city, it's better not to. It is often good to wait and add a city or two later. However, if you have a nasty neighbour, don't worry about them attacking you if you build close to them, they will do it anyway sooner rather than later, so get in there! If the neighbour is more peaceful, you have little to worry about (except that they are more likely to attack you at Immortal than at a lower level).

If you go for only 3, build high... 3 high cities at Immortal can take on anyone, as long as they are in touch technically. Science building take on more importance here. Policies will also be your friend with only 3 cities, use them wisely depending on what you're going for.

Good luck

 

[civplay]

There is so much to consider. Personally I almost always use liberty for free settler then build 2-3 settlers for a total of 4-5 cities. If i go that route, Ill usually go back to tradition and build huge pop centers spitting out GP's as fast as possible. Or ill go 4-5 then honor and puppet my closest enemy. Or ill go straight Liberty and ICC if I have that much room. It all depends on what you feel like doing, but generally I never build more than 8 cities and never less then 3 (unless going for a science victory or on a huge map). Just go with the flow