How many cities?

[ngin]

i like to build a few (say 5/6) really big and prosperous cities and focus on them rather then having 15+ cities that are smaller.
while this worked for me in most games (civ2 master of orion 2) it doesnt seem to work so much in civ4..i do feel the need to build more cities just to keep up with the ai,s (specially research wise)..specially in the later ages i cant keep up.....
i started on emperor..soon set back to monarch...after a couple of games its prince now...but still i find it hard to manage....in fact this game is much harder then the previous civs imo..but thats a good thin i quess.

also i understand at noble the ai doesnt get a advantage...but is it still as good as it is at higer levels..or will the game be to easy on this setting..(theres nothing more boring when ur constantly the best civ in the game....i want to fight and strugle so when i do finally win its satisfying)

 

[lawine]

i usually have around 10 or so cities. maybe a few more. works just fine for me.

 

[Genghis Khan II]

The cities in civ4 cost gold. They did this in order to keep you from getting 50 cities more than every other player just because you got one more grassland tile than everybody. they also did it to make people think more within the lines of stratagy.
The AI has been made smarter and less cheating although they still have production bonuses on higher dificulties

 

[Ravinhood]

Prince and Monarchy appear to be the best for average players.

 

[Astax]

On tiny in 1vs1, Im usually in all out war with 4 cities :/ So I dont know what size you play.