What improvement is the lesser of 2 evil?

[Glassmage]

Farm on desert non-hill tile with no freshwater OR trading post on desert non-hill tile with no freshwater. I think the trading post is better because you have the choice of converting 1 into 1. If you make a farm in that situation why would you work it??? Third option is might as well have that person unemployed for 1

 

[sleepysteve]

I would agree the tp would be the way to go, since that 1gold (2 with economics) can pay for a granary, or help pay for maritime cs.

 

[anandus]

I would agree the tp would be the way to go, since that 1gold (2 with economics) can pay for a granary, or help pay for maritime cs.

On the other hand, if you put a farm on it it'll give you 2 food (with fertilizer) and you can save yourself the hammers for a granary.

But I'd go for a teepee as well.

 

[Ranos]

Depends on what's needed more.

Trading post costs you 2 food from another tile but you get 2 gold.

Farm gives you 2 food and you can use the 2 food from the other tile for a GP that can give you anything you need plus you get more science. Of course you do have to spend the time growing your city to the next level to get that pop for the GP.

 

[Windsor]

Starve him to death. Growing onto such tiles is not worth it and you should change some other tile improvement to prevent it.

But the farm is obviously the worst option. Using happiness on a tile that only sustains itself? Horrible. Use happiness in other cities instead.

 

[Montov]

Why not a specialist then?

 

[BjoernLars]

Trade Post without a doubt. +1 Gold with Economics, another +1 during a Golden Age and +1 Science if you are doing rationalism.

The farm will be at most +2 Food.

 

[Ravellion]

Unemployed. 1 beats 1 or 2 . Combine with rationalism for +2 , and Statue of liberty for +1 . Possibly the Commerce finisher for +1

 

[headcase]

Fyi, If you have the right side of Freedom, unemployed cost half the happiness and apples I think.

 

[turtlefang]

I agree with Ravellion if you have rationalism, Statue of Liberty and Commerce (or any two of the three). Otherwise, the TP.

The farm only lets you support the pop working the hex, increasing unhappiness, and doesn't really generate anything but an increase in science due increase population. The gold at least pays for something and slows down the population increase to help keep unhappiness under control. Plus you can switch it to the 1 hammer production if needed.

And if your own the right side of Freedom, a specialist gives you half the unhappiness at half the food cost anyway. Which means the 1 hammer production is a better deal unless your really hurting for gold.

 

[vexing]

in a normal game i'll absolutely never work a naked desert tile + farm or trading post,
in a game purely for points you end up needing to work the 2 food farm (after fertilizer),
the lesser of the two evils is the farm purely because puppet cities (due to their gold focus) will work those completely awful desert trading posts instead of something useful,

and as has been mentioned unemployed with all the modifiers rocks:
1 2 2 1 .5

 

[GenjiKhan]

I usually create a Citadel on desert tile if this tile is near of a important city,like the capital,b/c citizens doesn't work on useless tiles . but If the desert is on a puppet city,I'd choose trading post,even if I didn't pick up Free thought . Usually,I also destroy farms on puppets to help on happiness management .

 

[joncnunn]

None of the above

If there's fresh water; then after Civil Service work farm

No fresh water: Don't work the tile; 2f 0h 0c tiles are rather pointless to work; just causing unhappiness when the city grows. And most specalists are better than 0f 0h 1c

Making a Great person improvement on the desert tile would be the best approach if you want to work it.

 

[KrikkitTwo]

Well Actual Benefits:

Farm: 2 food... gives you 1 additional citizen so assuming it is unemployed to +1 hammer +2 Sci +1 (more with Specialist benefits)

Unemployed: +1 hammer and Specialist benefits

TP: 2 gold


So your options are
2 Gold

1 Hammer

1 Hammer +2Sci + 1

Unless you really want Gold, or Science, don't even bother working the tile

 

[bhavv]

If its not producing 3 or more resources, dont work it. A specialist would be better.

 

[KrikkitTwo]

If its not producing 3 or more resources, dont work it. A specialist would be better.

A specialist (besides unemployed) might not be available.

Basically it depends what you want

Science->build the farm
Gold->TP
Production->unemployed

(these are altered if specialists have policy bonuses)

 

[jtb1127]

I am already a trading post spammer so I'd go with desert trading post.