Furycrab
King
- Joined
- May 26, 2011
- Messages
- 914
Your scenario is extremely specific, assured to be temporary and includes variables that cannot be controlled.
Not sure if the insult was needed, because I also think he points out a valid point... I've left it out of my quote, but I think you should edit it out of yours.
Up to 4 cities, you should expand... Now if you expand to where there is at least 1 extra copy of a luxury (doesn't need to be unique since can trade to get a unique) then when you build a 5th city either 2 things happen (since I don't know exactly how your governor spreads them)
1) New city comes online, you improve the luxury quickly like you would in any other civ game, then the governor can do an even split of 4 to everyone anyways.
2) There might even be an advantage to building that 5th city since it doesn't need 4 amenities at first so your governor might be able to give 5 to some cities at the cost of getting 3 in others. It's also very easy to control growth in your extra cities to keep them small if for example your capital really need 5... Just don't build housing till you can support the extra population.
Neither are disadvantageous to the guy building extra cities to not be exactly on a multiple of 4. Neither scenario is very specific... Your newer cities (unless conquered) will naturally be much smaller than the rest of your empire. Most importantly, there's no advantage to sitting on 4 cities if the 5th or 6th at least provide a Luxury each.
Also worth noting... One mistake I've seen a LOT of the preview builders do... even the ones that were previously deity players. If you are below 8 cities but above 4, unless you are really concerned about potentially helping the other AI, you shouldn't hang on to extra copies of Amenities if you can get a unique one instead. The governor can spread uniques to the needs of your empire, it can't completely use up a double if you don't have 8 cities... The AI isn't trying to cheat you if it offers such a trade.