Rivers

[Entrinzikyl]

Can someone explain to me the benefits of rivers and how to best take advantage of them? Someone wrote that he really liked having 2-3 cities along a river early in the game. Why?

 

[Sandman2012]

Economic: rivers act as a trade route between your cities. If one city has a resource, one further down the river has access to that resource as well.

Growth: Farms can only be built along rivers (or other fresh water) until you get tech which will allow farms elsewhere.

 

[franlato]

defense : it's actually giving the defender a bonus if someone attack across river. So I guess that you could build your city on one side of a river to give them extra def.

altough it's a minor aspect when compared to growth and economic aspects... it's still a usefull bonus.. you can consider buliding a line of city on one side of a river if there is a coast or peak on the other side...

 

[TigrisJK]

There are often bends in the river which may lend to a city being placed in the middle having two or even three sides defended by this bonus. Which is actually a defense from 5 out of 8 possible angles of attack.

It can really make a huge difference.

But yes, the other people said pretty much everything. Though it's nice, it isn't nearly as useful as the growth and economic aspects.

 

[Good Omens]

The trade connection is great. You don't have to worry about roadbuilding, which takes time and are vulnerable to pillaging later. If you manage to have a long, Nile-like river, you can connect several cities easily and safely.

 

[petey]

Also, tiles worked by a city that are bordered by a river get +1 commerce.

 

[southafrica]

Not to mention that religion is also spread by rivers (like trade)

 

[Dog of Justice]

In the midgame, I actually try to found cities one square off rivers if possible, since I don't want to waste a +1 trade square.

But early game, the instant trade route is too valuable, for a good chance of quick religion spread if nothing else.

 

[UberCivver]

Yah, it's just like in real life. Early civs almost ALWAYS formed along rivers. Easy transportation, trade, farming, etc. So in the early game rivers are boss, and though less important later on, are really useful in the later game (I love my waterwheels).
-UberCivver

 

[southafrica]

Yah, it's just like in real life. Early civs almost ALWAYS formed along rivers. Easy transportation, trade, farming, etc. So in the early game rivers are boss, and though less important later on, are really useful in the later game (I love my waterwheels).
-UberCivver

Yeah, the only major city without access to a waterway is Johannesberg, I wonder if gold was a factor

 

[tigerden27]

I also think that Rivers connect ot Coast which spread trade/religion, etc... There might be an early tech involved, maybe Sailing? So you can have two cities a long way apart, not connected by roads that still share resources.

You'll eventually connect them by road, but early on this can be very helpful.

 

[Brota]

And you get to build Watermills.