Request: Economy Guide

[MK83M]

I would greatly appreciate a guide to how to create a good and sustainable economy in ciV at and/or above mid-rank difficulty.

Preferably this would be an economy that can support a peaceful victory and gives my empire an resonable chance of maintaining indepentence from various annoying and brutish civilizations.

 

[alpaca]

What exactly are you looking for? General tips about economy, a playthrough of a certain strategy, or something else entirely?

As for general tips, the most important one is probably to refrain from building things you don't need. Only build granaries if the city really wants that additional food and you have the happiness. Only build happiness if you need it. Only build science buildings when you feel like they are really worth it and you're not already zipping through techs in three turns. And so forth.

Specialise a few cities for production and a few for science and have the rest work trade posts. That should give you enough gold to be able to afford city state allies. Maritime city states are probably the most useful.

 

[al-rashid]

trade post spammed cities seem to be key at times, even the ai does it. washington in my save has around 12 TPs in one city.

 

[LuckyAC]

I play by a simple rule - maximize Golden Ages, which means getting both money and shields on as many squares as possible. So I irrigate/mine/lumber mill (I never chop) next to rivers, trading post everything not on a river (this has nice synergy with Civil Service). Ally with Maritime CS. Some adjustments based on how much excess food I have, but playing that simply works fine (at least to get Rocketry or Globalization in 1700s on Immortal in my last game). The +science specialists/TPs and half-price specialists Civics are a nice boost, but not even really necessary. The most important thing for economy/science in this game is just to have a large empire.

 

[MK83M]

What exactly are you looking for? General tips about economy, a playthrough of a certain strategy, or something else entirely?

There are several small economic treads spread through out this forum. But at the moment I feel that they are adressing specific situationz and thus it's hard to get a proper overview of the good gameplay principles.

But for me, I'm a defensive player and really enjoy developing my empire but in ciV I never seem to be able get an economy that can handle the multitude of expenses available. Well that's unless I wish to neglect my armed forces and function as the honeybait for a merciless and greedy world. On a side note I have no understanding of how the AI handles the diplomacy but that is for another discussion. Well, maybe I just lack a realistic view about what a good ciV economy is.

In SP I don't want to win by domination, I want to build a wealthy civilization. (In MP my sole reason to play is to one blessed day gain the ability nuke someone)

Summary:
1.General guide for SP, if possible please include a section for both a small empires (sub 3 cities) and large empire.
2. "Make me profitsss!! I want to roll in gold!! King Midas shall be a side note in history of wealth!!" A guide that can produce a result that those types of feelings aspire to would be nice.

 

[alpaca]

There are several small economic treads spread through out this forum. But at the moment I feel that they are adressing specific situationz and thus it's hard to get a proper overview of the good gameplay principles.

But for me, I'm a defensive player and really enjoy developing my empire but in ciV I never seem to be able get an economy that can handle the multitude of expenses available. Well that's unless I wish to neglect my armed forces and function as the honeybait for a merciless and greedy world. On a side note I have no understanding of how the AI handles the diplomacy but that is for another discussion. Well, maybe I just lack a realistic view about what a good ciV economy is.

In SP I don't want to win by domination, I want to build a wealthy civilization. (In MP my sole reason to play is to one blessed day gain the ability nuke someone)

Summary:
1.General guide for SP, if possible please include a section for both a small empires (sub 3 cities) and large empire.
2. "Make me profitsss!! I want to roll in gold!! King Midas shall be a side note in history of wealth!!" A guide that can produce a result that those types of feelings aspire to would be nice.

Well, how does +500 gpt during a golden age sound? I don't have an economic guide at hand for you but if you like check my thread called "Play with me: Rome - infinite style" to get some understanding about how to set up an ICS.

Trade post spamming is king. Trade posts should be the default improvement unless you have a good reason to do something else. This means every city that doesn't specialise in production or science will have the primary function of producing money.

 

[Silvis]

I play by a simple rule - maximize Golden Ages, which means getting both money and shields on as many squares as possible. So I irrigate/mine/lumber mill (I never chop) next to rivers, trading post everything not on a river (this has nice synergy with Civil Service). Ally with Maritime CS. Some adjustments based on how much excess food I have, but playing that simply works fine (at least to get Rocketry or Globalization in 1700s on Immortal in my last game). The +science specialists/TPs and half-price specialists Civics are a nice boost, but not even really necessary. The most important thing for economy/science in this game is just to have a large empire.

Thanks for the strategy. I will look into this on my next game. Who do you use as your primary Civ?

 

[Zortex]

I've worked my way up from Warlord and just last night completed the 3rd to hardest one (Immortal?). I found my last couple games I end up with copious amounts of gold so here is a couple tips that may be useful. These were all on epic so gold values are probably less on faster game speeds.

* Once you get can trade open borders (writing?), then trade it to all the civs for 50g each rather than a straight swap for open borders. Nice little kick start for the economy.
* If you have plenty of happiness then trading luxury resources for gold is a very good earner, works even better if you can get multiple of the same type as then it doesn't cost you the happiness. Civs tend to pay ~400g.
* Once I get about 1000g I tend to buy a maritime city state as an ally, this allows me to spam trading posts everywhere rather than farms. Costs 750g normally, less if you can destroy a barb camp for them or something first. Basically if its a forest lumber mill, if its a hill mine, otherwise trading post.
* When settling new cities the only thing you should look for is access to new luxury resources, a new city with 2 luxury resources you don't need the happiness from is a free 800g.
* In regards to improvements, never get any +food ones (maritime states is all you need, I end up with 2-3 by mid game). Try and avoid military buildings, unless you have one awesome production city you want to put them in.
* Roads can be a killer early on, if you have cities close together then road them for trade network, if they are a fair distance away (~10 squares is break even I think) then it actually costs you money.
* Avoid more than a couple military units early on, I tend to have my starting warrior and a scout, then pick up a couple archers after my initial worker and monument. Then I hold off for a while, this may not work on deity though, not sure.
* In regards to number of cities I've been going with 4 early on, as long as you can find 4 sites with luxury resources of course.

So my basic plan is pick up gold via trading and barb camps early on and use it to get a maritime city state, that allows me to spam trading posts while still growing. Expansion is done purely to get luxury resources (rivers are of course an added bonus). Try and get 4 good cities up with a minimal military at first, then you can make your plans once you get a solid income and 4 cities at about 8 pop. Pick up second and third maritime states where possible (use their missions as free rep if possible to keep the cost down).

Anyway this might be useful, if not then at least I tried lol.

 

[Drago Askani]

Economy Guide: Think before you build.

I know hard right? /sarcasm

 

[Horizons]

A simple one is set your cities to manual specialist allocation and micro-manage the tiles and specialists that you work. I have noticed that the AI 'governor' makes absolutely horrible choices in allocating citizens and specialists which can cripple your economy and productive capacity.

 

[the_lor]

I think my current biggest mistake is letting the city governors make decisions. I set them to a specific focus (usually production), and I’m only pulling in about 40/turn around the time of gunpowder.

 

[Jharii]

I have found that the key to sustaining my economy is building trading posts or farms on hills. If the hill is one that can sustain a farm AND is adjacent to a river, it gets a farm. Otherwise, it gets a trading post. I only use mines for resources.

This allows my typical cities to maintain a strong population and economic growth while remaining fairly productive. It's even stronger if I decide to go for a technological victory and grab the social policy that grands 1 beaker per trading post.

I will typically have 1 city that is focused on hammers that gets mines and lumber mills, otherwise it gets the above treatment.

On a related note... Iroquois, in forests, with a lot of smaller cities with the above method results in a booming economy. Forests in your territory act as roads (for trade, too!) and long houses are awesome for production.

 

[pi-r8]

First of all you, you need to be more specific than "economy". Unlike previous games, gold culture and science are all separated now. Hammers and food are pretty different also. So, for example, you might have a great science rate but low gold and low hammers- is that a good economy?

My opinion is that hammers are the most important thing to have, but that the best way to generate anything is lots of citizens, as many as possible.

 

[IronDraconis]

I've worked my way up from Warlord and just last night completed the 3rd to hardest one (Immortal?). I found my last couple games I end up with copious amounts of gold so here is a couple tips that may be useful. These were all on epic so gold values are probably less on faster game speeds.

* Once you get can trade open borders (writing?), then trade it to all the civs for 50g each rather than a straight swap for open borders. Nice little kick start for the economy.
* If you have plenty of happiness then trading luxury resources for gold is a very good earner, works even better if you can get multiple of the same type as then it doesn't cost you the happiness. Civs tend to pay ~400g.
* Once I get about 1000g I tend to buy a maritime city state as an ally, this allows me to spam trading posts everywhere rather than farms. Costs 750g normally, less if you can destroy a barb camp for them or something first. Basically if its a forest lumber mill, if its a hill mine, otherwise trading post.
* When settling new cities the only thing you should look for is access to new luxury resources, a new city with 2 luxury resources you don't need the happiness from is a free 800g.
* In regards to improvements, never get any +food ones (maritime states is all you need, I end up with 2-3 by mid game). Try and avoid military buildings, unless you have one awesome production city you want to put them in.
* Roads can be a killer early on, if you have cities close together then road them for trade network, if they are a fair distance away (~10 squares is break even I think) then it actually costs you money.
* Avoid more than a couple military units early on, I tend to have my starting warrior and a scout, then pick up a couple archers after my initial worker and monument. Then I hold off for a while, this may not work on deity though, not sure.
* In regards to number of cities I've been going with 4 early on, as long as you can find 4 sites with luxury resources of course.

So my basic plan is pick up gold via trading and barb camps early on and use it to get a maritime city state, that allows me to spam trading posts while still growing. Expansion is done purely to get luxury resources (rivers are of course an added bonus). Try and get 4 good cities up with a minimal military at first, then you can make your plans once you get a solid income and 4 cities at about 8 pop. Pick up second and third maritime states where possible (use their missions as free rep if possible to keep the cost down).

Anyway this might be useful, if not then at least I tried lol.

good post!

 

[MK83M]

Think before you build.

I know hard right? /sarcasm

I'm pressed for time but i just had to respond to that:

Thinking hurts, stupidity kills...

 

[Syntax Error]

Also, remember that in this game, money can buy you everything. Yes, happiness included (there's supposed to be a MasterCard joke somewhere in there).

If you can, get Chichen Itza for longer GA's. Pop great people for GA's if you have a surplus (e.g. if you go for a science victory, you'll be seeing a LOT of great scientists). Perfect for discovering tech early on, perfect for GA's on the late game when you research stuff for less than 1 turn, anyway. Also, you'll only really be needing a Great General for each attacking force you have, so pop those for GA's if there are extras. Also, just get units you will actually use, since unit maintenance is enough to cripple your GPT unless you get to TP spamming early.