[Vanilla] What is best use of builders?

[planetfall]

There are many options on using builders, and I still hate the lack of automation for using builders. Builders have a short life, so what's the best strategy for using builders before turn 150?

A- granary, builder for first two resources, other build options, add builders as city growth/production fails to improve,

or

B- builder(s) til city pop is above 4, then granary, then whatever

or

C- builder, granary, others items and hold off on more builders until new strat resources needs builder

or

D- granary, builder, something, builder if any worked tiles are not enhanced.


So four different approaches. Has anyone really examined to see which method yields the best production?

Thanks

 

[Nigel_Tufnel2]

Every game is different, of course. I play Immortal and Deity - I rarely build a Granary before a Monument, sometimes the Granary waits a loooong time... Culture seems way more important than Housing. I'm usually cranking out Settlers as soon as I get the Policy Card (having built one prior usually). So I don't have much trouble with Housing unless I start on a coast. Even then, you can usually get one Housing from 2 of the first 3 Improvements from the initial Builder. It often helps to get the boost for Irrigation from a Farm, so if you have Cows or Horses there is the second Improvement. Then the 3rd could be a lux Mine or a Quarry for more boosts. On a coast, you can usually get 2 Fish or something, another boost.

You will want culture to get you to Feudalism ASAP for the 5 build Builders. Using an early-ish Governor promo on Liang is helpful to get an extra build, especially if you have cash to buy a Builder now and then. Slotting the Builder card helps once you have 2-4 cities going for efficiency's sake.

You are better off having some sweet early tiles (3-4 food, 2+ production, and/or some Gold/Culture/Faith combos) than worrying about Builders super early. I often do Scout (1 or 2) opener on Pangea, start Builder, finish if no close Barbs or threats. Then go Settler unless threatened. You can block a lot of Barbs with one Warrior and two Scouts if need be. Run the Survey card before Agoge is available and you will get promos quickly. So no 2nd Builder for quite a while, it's often a cash buy after 2nd city is settled and I understand the map more.

 

[vorlon_mi]

In response to the OP by planetfall, I always play Gathering Storm rules, rather than Vanilla. Governors were introduced in Rise&Fall, so they are definitely a part of my game.

My early builds look a lot more like @Nigel_Tufnel2 - scouts to view the land, slingers to ward off barbarians, and settlers to grab the good spots for resources. Yes, I will include a builder in the mix when I have a key resource to improve and it's safe to do so.
My emphasis is grabbing more land, rather than improving one or two cities more thoroughly, in the first 100 turns.

I often choose Liang as one of my early governors, to get the extra charge for builders, whether they are built or bought.
As I'm still working on my skills to build up my economy in the mid-game, I'm not yet sure whether I prefer Reyna or Moksha, to buy districts with cash or faith (respectively).

 

[Planktonic]

My thoughts run very similar to both @Nigel_Tufnel2 and @vorlon_mi. Builders just aren't the highest priority up front. In deciding when/where to use builders I would instead say my priorities are:

1. Improve a horse or iron tile ASAP so as to start accumulating strategic resources ASAP.
2. Improve a resource tile so as to boost irrigation, wheel or masonry at the right time.
3. Improve three tiles when appropriate so as to boost Craftsmanship (I almost always complete Foreign Trade first, and frequently complete Early Empire before going to Craftsmanship, so usually no rush).

I don't usually build a granary until a city c fresh water reaches population of 4, although I will do it earlier on a coastal city.

My first builder is almost always bought with gold rather than being built.

 

[planetfall]

Interesting. I was wondering if I was missing something, I just use builders to get resources or jumpstart a city pop for a key district. Other versions of civ, development of tiles was more important, so I was curious if someone tried pumping up a few cities with builders. Thanks

 

[Nigel_Tufnel2]

For fast win times folks tend to chop almost everything - so that requires a lot of Builders. I personally don't chop much, usually just to harvest before laying down a District or maybe chop the forest from a hill. And sometimes to gain a pop or two. Certainly using Builders to jump start a city as you mentioned is useful. I just wasn't real sure why a Granary figured in so many options. But, the great thing is we can play however we want!