What resource do you build cities on?

[Exsanguination]

What cities do you like to build cities on? Which gives the best all-round resources (food, shields, trade?)

I had to leave a few (coal, wine, spice and a few others) because the poll wouldnt take so many... but just post it.

 

[el_kalkylus]

Definately a river. If it is without a shield I often build there, but it depends whether it's near the ocean, or specials etc. I have my priorities.

 

[duke o' york]

The people of my civs are always very keen to go whale-hunting with their primitive harpoons so they are often a priority. I am keen to get cities on those squares with 4 resources if possible, and am by no means averse to mining a grassland square to get that last resource I know must be there.
As such, I am not especially picky about the city square itself, rather getting the specials and as many river squares into the radius as possible. If I had a choice, then I'd like to build on a hill or forest with river square for the defence bonus. You get an airfield automatically with your city (though the railroad and farm don't arrive till you get the tech) so there isn't too much to worry about on that respect. It is really what is to be found in the radius that counts.

 

[jclayton]

I try and find a balanced site; with at least two special tiles. If grassland with shield squares are abundant all well and good.
I'm never too bothered about where the city actually sits so long as what is inside the city walls is good for rapid growth - ie food and or trade. Rivers are always a favourite spot as I consider the extra trade offered esstentail for my style of play.

Another consideration I have is to get as closley a packed core cities area as possible but I will not sacrifice a bounus tile to achieve this.

james

 

[Bob]

Originally posted by duke o' york
It is really what is to be found in the radius that counts.

I think you are only partially right. Of course, I wouldn't mind building a city on a toundra if the city radius was full of ressources. Unfortunately, it does not happen so often. I prefer building cities on nutrient-rich squares in order to grow rapidly, to harvest more ressources and finally to be less vulnerable against barbarian raids that destroy your small village.

 

[slothman]

I never build on resources. I usually get more that way. And if I use a non-shield grassland I get the bonus one for my city.

 

[cpemma]

I like plenty of coastal cities, easy to get in & out if the AI is crowding you in cease-fire or alliance.

The AI seems to go for near-coast cities, rather than on the coast - means no harbour so no extra food or oil-rigs. Silly AI.

Now I've learnt the trick (thanks!) I usually start a mine if settling on a hill.

 

[Sodak]

If I build directly on a special, I prefer SPICE over all others. You still get food, a shield, and a heap of trade. And a defesive bonus, tho that's not unique to swamp, of course.

Sometimes I'll build on coal or wine if it's on the coast, using the mining trick to get a 2/3or5/4or0 city spot. Good production, small city - can build a navy in representative gov't without unhappiness if a wonder or two are built. With walls or coastal fortress, there's no way the enemy will ever capture it.

 

[allan]

I often try to set up a city so that it will have 4 specials (i.e. in the middle of a "circle" of four), not on one.

One thing I noticed--no matter where you set up a city, the site itself will always have at least one shield. So if I build on grassland WITHOUT a shield, it will still have a shield. Therefore I try to do this too, because if I build on grassland WITH a shield I have in a way "wasted" that shield. Is this understandable? :crazyeyes

 

[Bob]

Sounds good to me!
I haven't noticed it yet as I never built cities on grassland without shield.
Someone said below that he always got a mine on a hill before building a city on it. I thought you always had automatically all the terrain improvement on a city square (road, irrigation, railroad if you have discovered the tech etc) so I never improve a future city square.

 

[allan]

Lots of times I'll build in forests, or on hills or even mountains. Not EVERY city, but some. They may not grow as fast initially, but they will later (if there's enough food squares around it that is), and they'll have a good defense.

Think: a vet mech infantry (9 defense), in a city on a mountain (9*3=27), with walls (27*3=81)--81 defense (or still 27 against howitzers)!! Lots of times "mountain cities" become my capital (I move my palace there). 54 with SAM against air or with coastal fortress against sea bombardment, too.

Lots of times "forest" cities are incidental--if the square in the middle of four specials happens to be forest, I will still definitely build there. Forests aren't too bad--slower growth initially (I may have to build two warriors, or a warrior and a barracks, before I can build a settler), but more shields initially too--they often are my early "barracks" cities.

Of course, strategic location is important too--any "isthmus" location is prime real estate, even if it will partly overlap another ideal location (a "4 specials" location). If it overlaps a "4 specials" city, I will try to control its growth so that the 4 specials city maxes potential, and let the isthmus city grow in the remaining "free" squares.

Oh, and for coastal cities, whales are better than fish (IMHO), and so as is often the case, if I must choose between locating a city near a whale or near a fish (i.e. it can't be both, and if I built two cities to take advantage of both they'd be too close), I'll always go with the whale.

I also like building cities on single-square islands (after I have harbors, of course)--virtually unconquerable until the enemy gets amphib warfare, and LOTS of trade when they get big....

 

[el_kalkylus]

I don't think anyone here choose fish over whale.

Or is there?

 

[jomey]

I generally build on grassland although I'm not too picky whether there is shield there or not. I would count the surrounding area for the maximum no of shields before I lay the foundations anyway.
rivers with Hills are a great bonus and my capital may be tempted to move there(I can't remember the last time I built a palace)

Whales are definitely the superior if I had to choose.Has anyone else found that it is very rare to get an isthmus with 4 ocean specials. Makes me wish that I could landfill the damn spot.

 

[allan]

I got a three-gold-mountain city once, and those were the ONLY three mountains in the city radius. That's VERY rare--wish I could have gotten to that site earlier and built the Colossus there....

Three- (or four-) spice cities are sweet, too....

 

[F1-17A]

I didnt see the river selection, thats what I like to build on, but normal grassland will do, If its not there I'll make it

 

[ferenginar]

I will build a city on almost any terrain, I do not often build on specials, but try to capture 3 within the city radius. Defense is always importan, particularly in coastal cities, so these are more likely to be built on a mountian, hill, or forest, and do not suffer to much as they gain good food and shield production from the sea once harbour/offshore platform have been built. I like fish, especially smoked fish.

ferenginar

 

[duke o' york]

One of my best ever cities only had a single special, but the vast majority of the squares were on one of those massive river deltas where you get huge blocks of all linked rivers. And all with grassland underneath!

 

[rogu]

Hi,

I'm new here, but not really a newbie .

I only build coastal cities. I hate it to have no possibilities to create any navy units. What do you think about that?

greatings
rogu

 

[jomey]

I only build coastal cities. I hate it to have no possibilities to create any navy units. What do you think about that?

Really depends on the general map.. If I have a large landmass and already have a few coastal cities then it will depend on the special resources available on the spot. I would really ask myself the question of how much resource is there in the surrounding area(ie if I couldn't build a harbour then how will it effect my city size).

Yes it would be nice to build coastal cities but you are also leaving an extra target for the AIs.

 

[rogu]

Originally posted by jomey


Yes it would be nice to build coastal cities but you are also leaving an extra target for the AIs.

IMO there is no difference between beeing attacked by navy or ground forces. Is that what you mean? Or why do you think there is an - extra - target?

thx rogu