Land/Tile Management

[Dutch]

OK, one more for the experts. This one is about 'Tile Management' (BTW - I do look in the manual and other sources before I bring it to this alter; I'd hate to ask question and have not read the manual!).
When I create a city and I want to develop the surrounding terrain - which should I choose: Mine or Irrigation? (of course this question assumes I have access to a water source for the irrigation). The automated worker seems to mine everything (maybe I am wrong). I know on regular grassland I can get one extra shield for production and one extra food tile for irrigation.
Obviously, if my city is having starvation problems (or is near a desert environment) then I will strive to irrigate if possible. But, if my surrounding city tiles/land is relatively balanced - which should I choose?

 

[dragon.jade]

TILES MANAGEMENT

Here are my two cents about landscape modeling.

C = Clear forest or jungle
F = Food
I = Irrigating (+1F)
M = Mining (+1S)
N = Plant forest)
S = Shield

GENERIC RULES FOR OVERCROWED CITIES (maximizing Foods while allowing minimal city production)
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Aim: Ensure a maximum food per worked tile, so:
Grassland: I+R+RR
Plains + (no ressource): I+R+RR
Plains + (any ressource adding at least 1F): I+R+RR
Plains + (any other ressource): I+R+RR
Desert: I+R+RR
Forest on Grassland: C+I+R+RR
Forest on Plains: C+I+R+RR
Forest on Tundra: R+RR
Jungle: C+M+R+RR
Hills: M+R+RR
Mountains: M+R+RR
Flood: I+R+RR
Tundra: N+R+RR or M+R+RR

GENERIC RULES FOR POWERBUILDER CITIES (maximizing Shields while allowing minimal city growth rate)
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Aim: Ensure a minimum of 2F + 1S per worked tile, so:
Grassland: M+R+RR
Plains + (no ressource): I+R+RR
Plains + (any ressource adding at least 1F): M+R+RR
Plains + (any other ressource): I+R+RR
Desert: I+R+RR
Forest on Grassland: C+M+R+RR
Forest on Plains: C+I+R+RR
Forest on Tundra: R+RR
Jungle: C+M+R+RR
Hills: M+R+RR
Mountains: M+R+RR
Flood: I+R+RR
Tundra: N+R+RR or M+R+RR

SPECIFIC RULES (general rules apply except for the rules specified)
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Aim: Efficiensy under Despotism
Grassland: M+R+RR
Grassland + (cattle): (M or I)+R+RR depending on your goal
Grassland + (any ressource): M+R+RR
Plains + (any ressource adding at least 1F): M+R+RR

Aim: Developping a city in the Desert with Flood plains available
Desert: M+R+RR

Naturally, you can mix and match the rules to aim between a powerhouse and an overcrowded city.
A relatively interesting strategy in the game is first to max pop then to max prod by irrigating first then mining the tiles.
However city growth limitations (Aquaduct, Hospital) and workers slowness may prevent many to use it (It's mainly an Industrious civ strategy).

Thanks for reading.
Dragon.Jade. ;-D

 

[Matt_G]

I know this isn't the answer you're looking for, but it depends.

As a general rule I always mine shielded grassland and irrigate regular grassland, as well as plains. Desert, it depends on how much food I'm getting from the other tiles. If I'm getting enough to support a size 20 or so city I will mine it. If not then I irrigate.

A lot of times I will have several floodplains inside a city radius. If this is the case I will usually mine the plains and desert to get shields because the floodplains provide the food. It's a balancing act.......

 

[Catt]

Don't forget that your form of government should greatly influence your tile improvement choices. While still in despotism (the early game) you are subject to the +2 tile penalty -- if any tile produces more than 2 of something (food, shields, gold), it will produce 1 less than it normally would. While in despotism, irrigating grassland generates nothing -- grassland generates two food; irrigating produces another food, bringing the total to 3, but the despotism tile penalty reduces the 3 food back to 2 -- you've burned many worker turns irrigating and will have nothing to show for it until you switch governemnets. On the other hand, mining grassland or bonus grassland generates an extra shield -- you still get the 2 food, but because of the mine, you also get 1 shield, or, in the case of bonus grassland, 2 shields.

I generally will mine all grassland, and only after switching to Monarchy or Republic go back and irrigate a select few of the previously mined tiles.

 

[Matt_G]

Like Catt said goverment makes a big difference. I forgot to mention that in my post. I never irrigate regular grassland until I am out of Despotism.

 

[BCLG100]

I mine for the first 2 ages then change when i get industrialization(factories) and hospitals i change it all to irrigation


edit- put an extra number in

 

[Barker]

I only mine tiles in the later game if they allow me to get the RR bonus(+50% shields). Therefore, if a tile will be able to generate even quantity shields with a mine, I mine it, else I irrigate it.