Iron and Expansion Q's

[Torakami_Bltzen]

1st post

here are a few questions that have been on my mind since i got the game... thx for any imput hopefully soon i can be more productive on the forum to the point were i am ANSWERING questions not just asking them but for now here they are...

Why is it that occasionally the very turn I put a road on an iron source the iron "runs out" i don't even get a chance to make swordsmen to kill those pesky germans!, why does this happen?

next, about how long does it take you guys to play a full game, i mean like when u get to the modern age and win etc... because by the time i'm mid way through ancient i feel like my empire is so screwed up that i feel like starting over and stuff and it's really frustrating that i can't make myself complete a game!

Finally, how do u get a city to a big size when i'm constantly making settelers past size 3, is there any EASY way for me to make the rate of growth faster than the rate that settelers take 2 pop? thx again

 

[Brutal]

Well I just got done with a warlord game when not one, not two, but three sources of iron ran out on me shortly after I obtained them fortunately the indians dont need iron for their war elephants and the pikemen were not needed since I made a quick research effort to gunpowder. But it did pi@# me off enough to go for a quick and dirty domination victory instead of working my way through the ages. The probability is all random but it seems to happen at the most inappropriate times for me. Iron and uraninium seem to run out the most. Saltpepper very occasionally and oil will run dry fairly often.

As far as to how long a game takes is really based on # of civs and the size of map. Smaller map shorter the game. I have actually had a few games completed in about 2 hours. Where as a standard map with standard number of civs can take as much as two full days. I dont like to play the huge maps so you will have to ask someone that plays them but I wouldnt be surprised if it wouldnt take at least 4 to 5 full days.

Getting towns to grow is really pretty simple just dont worry about it. Irrigate with monarchy and they flourish with grasslands around. Early game just make settlers when towns reach size two or three. After you have 6 to 7 cities you will begin to need less settlers and the towns will grow.