Need advice on Dotmap/HowtoProceed

[TheArchduke]

I got the most amazing capital by the RNG for my Zulus and my scout got lucky early in the game by finding AH/TheWheel. Disappointingly though, my near surroundings consisted of many desert tiles and peaks, so I went for a very insane Impi rushed against the only civ I knew where it was, Greece.

The war went awesome and I wiped him off the map, but now with 4 cities, Ulundi, Mgund..., Athens and Sparta, the big question is, how to proceed?

Apart from a possible good relationship with Isabella, I took Metal Casting from the Oracle, not CoL a mistake, I am really bad when it comes to dotmaps. Where the heck should I found up my cities to consolidate my empire?

Attached is the overview screenie and the save.

 

[The Mad Swede]

I can't load up the game and the screenie is kinda small so its hard to tell, but it looks like 1W of the Cow east of your capital might be a decent hybrid city although I think it lacks water. Similarly 1W of gold south of Athens would be a decent science city and would link up your empire.

There are lots of duplicate resources around otherwise I tend to go for city spots that are decent and have resources I don't already possess. Always make sure there is enough food potential to work the resources and grow the city.

 

[TheArchduke]

I can't load up the game and the screenie is kinda small so its hard to tell, but it looks like 1W of the Cow east of your capital might be a decent hybrid city although I think it lacks water. Similarly 1W of gold south of Athens would be a decent science city and would link up your empire.

There are lots of duplicate resources around otherwise I tend to go for city spots that are decent and have resources I don't already possess. Always make sure there is enough food potential to work the resources and grow the city.

Duplicate ressources and a vast desert are the main problem, that and that I only can build 2-3 cities without wrecking my economy longterm, but I need to close the gap between the two empires here.

 

[cabert]

agree with mad swede, your pic is a little too small...
2 things :
- the zulu barracks (ikanda?) make a rather nice mini courthouse

From what I could see, you have unsettled food resources in the middle of your current empire. Settle those and go for scientists.
I can see those city sites I certainly would settle :
- gold rice horse
- rice cow copper
- rice cow iron
- gold sheep (fur?)
-
There is also a nice river site with wine and stone. Not a fast growing city, but nicely cottageable (not the wines, wine give +1 food, making the plains self feeding)

 

[Ecofarm]

Great reply, cabert


Let's not ignore the oasis.

On second look, we might have to. It seems the empire will be divided. Forbidden Palace?

 

[cabert]

an oasis cow copper city is possible.
Not great for commerce, but not too bad for production.
this would be SW of the oasis, if I can read the map well.

Don't be afraid of overexpanding a bit, if you have high food cities.

 

[TheArchduke]

It was a close game of filling the gaps, but I managed to keep Carthage in the north entirely in the desert. Spain, my friendly jewish ally managed to snatch the gems in the south of me, but apart from that, it worked out nicely.

France is 2nd, Spain is 3rd in points nowadays, whilst the other continent is a techless backwater. So as soon as I razed Paris and saw that I won, I ended it.

Thanks for the input.