Specializing cities - when?

[glcm1961]

I'm trying to wrap my brain around this game and find it fascinatiingly daunting. From reading this informative forum, I've come to the conclusion that the most successful players create specialized cities: one for science, one for production, and one for great persons (am I missing any other types?).

My question centers around the point in time one must concentrate on developing each city. Let's say it's 1000BC and I have three cities. Do I build a library on just the city that will be my science city or do I build a library on all three? What about universities? Will all three get them or just the science city? I guess what I'm trying to ask is there certain buildings and improvements that all cities should get regardless of their specialization?

I've been playing on noble and can hold my own until a certain point and then find myself hopelessly behind the other civs. Is there any point in continuing or will creating specialized cities catapult me(no pun intendend) into contention?

Any and all advice is welcome!

 

[ParadigmShifter]

All cities should have a granary, and a courthouse later (maybe not a courthouse in the capital).

Look at the beakers produced by cities to decide whether to build a library. So all commerce cities will want one. Also, high food cities want a library so they can run scientists. Production cities - probably not, you are better using slavery to produce more units than slowing the growth with specialists.

To build Oxford University (which you want in your best science city) you need 6 universtities (standard size map), and you need a library for a uni. If you want to build Oxford fast it can be worth building libraries and unis in cities with low commerce so you get enough to build Oxford ASAP.

National Wonders (max 2 per city) are what really helps city specialisation. You want to plan out which ones you will build in which cities.

 

[OTAKUjbski]

I think the sooner you can specialize your cities and your empire, the better off you're going to be in every respect.

When plausible, I try to have my cities specialized by city #3!

The way I see it, you really only need to worry about three basic things at the beginning of the game: , & .

Duh! I know that sounds stupid for me to say that, but lemme explain my thought process:

• City #1: ; Expansion. A high food (or high production) city can push out Settlers and Workers like there's no tomorrow. At least at the beginning of the game, this city does nothing but expand your empire. The capital used to be prime real-estate, but in BtS, capitals aren't as likely to start with uber-food, so you may have to settle this city. If ever you reach a point where you're done expanding or feel you have ample workers, this city can be easily converted into a production or specialist city for and/or .
  
  
• City #2: ; Military. Settle a high production area and devote it to strengthening your empire. If no high areas are available, you may need to settle a high food area and . This city typically has a Barracks and a Granary; it does nothing but build military units for virtually the entire game.
  
  
• City #3: ; Research. This can either be a high-food city running specialists, or a city surrounded with lush Grasslands and Flood Plains to Cottage over. You definitely want a Granary and Library in this city. For the purpose of maximizing Bureaucracy, if you intend to run primarily specialists across your empire, you may want to consider making your first science city a Cottage-spam city.

They don't have to be settled in that order, but that's typically even the order I settle my cities in. All later cities are settled with similar goals in mind -- usually at a 2:1 ratio of cities : cities.

I hope that helps ...


-- my 2

 

[VoiceOfUnreason]

My question centers around the point in time one must concentrate on developing each city. Let's say it's 1000BC and I have three cities. Do I build a library on just the city that will be my science city or do I build a library on all three? What about universities? Will all three get them or just the science city? I guess what I'm trying to ask is there certain buildings and improvements that all cities should get regardless of their specialization?

In my experience, specialization normally begins as the initial wave of expansion ends. Prior to that point, you are normally concerned with settlers, workers, military.

With practice, you can start anticipating which sites are going to serve in which roles, and depending on what's available to you, you may be able to begin sooner than that. For example, if you happen to catch a good military production center early, then your other cities can delegate their own military needs and dedicate their hammers to more local concerns.

Long term, you'll find that almost all cities want the growth buildings, the health buildings, and the happiness buildings. Sequencing of these buildings, and how much emphasis you want to put on the production of those buildings, will change with circumstances.

 

[manu-fan]

When I look at the start position, I immediately am concerned with how my capital is specialized over the whole game. Will it be a production powerhouse, or a science or commerce center, or a GP farm or what.

With every city site I'm looking at, it's with an eye to how it will be speicailized.

So, I guess the answer to the 'when' question is - always!

However, don't be dis-heartened if a city doesn't fit the mold for one of these specific types. I do believe there's room for hybrids in cities. That is, I can have a production powerhouse GP farm (by churning out wonders), or I could have a production/science center (focus mostly on science, but build units also) or a science/commerce city (all the buildings for both) with cottages etc, to generate the income etc.

Cheers.

 

[KMadCandy]

With every city site I'm looking at, it's with an eye to how it will be speicailized.

i agree. for me, specializing cities begins with that "what do i intend the purpose of this city to be". i don't necessarily begin the specialization process the year of the founding, but this "before the city even exists" thinking helps me know what to do in that city later when i have the time.

 

[dannyusmc78]

People, Im about to give up on prince level.....10 games now, and im getting nowhere fast.....i actually watch my score go DOWN after a while....im warlike, tried to fight the aztecs, but his units just kept comin....other civs way ahead technologically, theyd eclare war, and its over.....i just dont know wht to do anymore.....peace, war, nothing works....i even had the pyramids, chose representation and free religion, STILL couldnt keep up....

 

[ParadigmShifter]

War with Monty while or after building the Pyramids? I hope you had a lot of cities before you started building them. If you have like 2 cities and build the pyramids and Monty is next door you are asking for trouble. He will declare war on you!

I used to build the 'mids always on noble, then kept getting beat on prince until I weaned myself off them. They are good but shouldn't be a crutch. Try limiting yourself to 1 cheap wonder early on (great wall or oracle say).

When I moved up to monarch I built the pyramids more, and oracle less. But I always make sure I have 3 settlers out from the capital before starting them, and chop forests heavily (pre-chop them as well, i.e. cancel the worker action when they have 1 turn left to go, build a road so you can go back and chop them quickly). That way you can chop them all quickly when the mids are nearly finished, or if you are beaten to them save the chops for later for the Great Library.