Improvement Order

[canadianreefer]

Hi everyone. I usually play on emperor, but I've won a game on Immortal and one on Deity. I'm wondering what the best strategy is for the starting locations with low food. Should you try to build say at least 3 farms(on rivers) and 3 mines while getting the luxuries in between? I find unless I have a start with couple bananas, deer or wheat, I usually fall way behind in tech/expansion.

 

[tetley]

IMHO the first thing is, recognize that low food means your start is not that great. It is a handicap this game you have to overcome. I think you have to expand, in hopes that the next city will be good. If nothing else, two small cities grow faster than 1 big one. You should have your surroundings scouted by the time your first settler comes out; you can hope your expansion(s) redeem your game. Take into account your surroundings (not just your starting capital) when you choose your pantheon.

 

[canadianreefer]

IMHO the first thing is, recognize that low food means your start is not that great. It is a handicap this game you have to overcome. I think you have to expand, in hopes that the next city will be good. If nothing else, two small cities grow faster than 1 big one. You should have your surroundings scouted by the time your first settler comes out; you can hope your expansion(s) redeem your game. Take into account your surroundings (not just your starting capital) when you choose your pantheon.

Thanks, you make some good points. Usually I would try to convert the bad starting location to be good, with certain techs/improvements, even a pantheon. That usually slows my expansion, where I could have expanded and grabbed a second city that would benefit me more than trying to improve my crappy start. I always assumed my capitol HAS to be the best city I have, in terms of science/production.