Where should I drop my culture bomb?

[Mordraken]

I'm at a loss on where to drop my culture bomb. The year is 800 AD, and while I have a decent lead, there isn't much difference between my civ and those of France (to the West, in blue). France has already been hostile to me. Caesar (purple, to my south) is friendly to me and shares my religion but he's weak & pathetic, and I'd like to wipe him out

I just got my first great artist, and can drop a culture bomb in one of four cities:

1) Nottingham: Would hopefully push the borders of France back towards Rhimes and also the Roman boarder towards Neapolis to the South and Pisat to the East (picture #1)

2) London, my capital which is already pumping culture out (I think) which may engulf Pisat to the South-West. It also might expand my boarder north (see #4) but I think it's too far away.

3) Hastings, to push the boarder south towards Cumae and hopefully steal the horses. This would also be a prelude to attacking the Romans in about 20 turns.

4) As sad as it is... Coventry. I had to pick that location so I could grow the town with food from the water, and need it to expand so I can get access to the Iron south-west of the town. Until it expands, I'm stuck with archers & spearmen as I have no iron, steel, and can't trade for it. That also kind of means any attack plans are on hold until that border expands.

Any ideas on where I should drop him? I'm kinda stuck with this very crutial decision...

(PS - I tried embedding, but couldn't wait. Pics are here: http://ca.geocities.com/mordraken/Civ4.htm )

 

[KingSteve3721]

definitly in nottingham.
it looks like that city will take over culture-wise.
its better to drop the bomb in a city that hasnt expanded much so it will expand a few times while dropping the bomb.

 

[mnf]

I don't think it's going to do much good against Rhimes. It's already got developed culture. You may push it back one tile or even not at all, I'd say. On the other hand, Nepolis may actually flip? It'll definitely take away just about all its production (Ivory).

London is already quite developed, another 4000 culture won't do much good I think.

Hastings may be able to reclaim the horses, but it seems so much of a waste of Homer when compared to actually flippling a city.

As for coventry...I'd rather use Homer on Drama or some other technology than to dump him in Coventry.

But after all that consideration, I would actually keep Homer around for a while. If you happen to have to fight the French, Homer could come handy to end resistance instantly and give you more control over the battlefield. I'm guessing you would raze Neapolis anyway, right?

 

[Cam_H]

I agree with mnf ... I'd consider the 'rush technology' option, or the value of the 'culture bomb' in a 'newly acquired' city.

I'm assuming that a cultural victory is not being considered.

If you can get Coventry to build an Obelisk (30 hammers) rather than a Library (90 hammers), you might get to that border expansion sooner (have you got Calendar?).

There's a bit of room for more cities imho. I'm not sure of your longer term plans there.

 

[Mordraken]

I agree with mnf ... I'd consider the 'rush technology' option, or the value of the 'culture bomb' in a 'newly acquired' city.

I'm assuming that a cultural victory is not being considered.

If you can get Coventry to build an Obelisk (30 hammers) rather than a Library (90 hammers), you might get to that border expansion sooner (have you got Calendar?).

There's a bit of room for more cities imho. I'm not sure of your longer term plans there.

Thanks all for the advice. The reason I didn't consider the rush technology option is because I seem to be doing very well with techs (there are only 3 techs that my competitors have that I don't, while I have about 8 that they don't have).

I will definelty change the production in coventry... I never build obelisks, but this one could be good.

That leaves the decision to culture bomb now in Nottingham or later perhaps in a french city. However, since I think a CB in Nottingham might net me 2 cities (both Roman) and consolidate my borders, I think that's the way to go.

As for long term plans... I'll figure that out next turn . Actually, long term I'd like to take out the Romans, make nice with the french, and go find the new world.

Thanks again all!

 

[TCGTRF]

Thanks all for the advice. The reason I didn't consider the rush technology option is because I seem to be doing very well with techs (there are only 3 techs that my competitors have that I don't, while I have about 8 that they don't have).

I will definelty change the production in coventry... I never build obelisks, but this one could be good.

That leaves the decision to culture bomb now in Nottingham or later perhaps in a french city. However, since I think a CB in Nottingham might net me 2 cities (both Roman) and consolidate my borders, I think that's the way to go.

As for long term plans... I'll figure that out next turn . Actually, long term I'd like to take out the Romans, make nice with the french, and go find the new world.

Thanks again all!

If you're going to culture bomb, go for Nottingham. You've got two smaller Roman cities that you may quite possibly dominate with the extra culture.

What technology would you get with your Artist? If it is one that you need for your overall plan, consider it before using him up.

BTW, that is one sucky continent you're on. That's a heck of a lot of desert and ice--are you using a special setting, or did you just draw the short straw?

I also just noticed that your unhappiness problems are about to get worse as soon as the Hanging Gardens are completed. Are you planning on getting Monarchy soon?

Tom

 

[Mordraken]

BTW, that is one sucky continent you're on. That's a heck of a lot of desert and ice--are you using a special setting, or did you just draw the short straw?

I also just noticed that your unhappiness problems are about to get worse as soon as the Hanging Gardens are completed. Are you planning on getting Monarchy soon?

The location isn't quite as bad as it looks. yes, I got the short straw, but most of the "desert" tiles are actually flood plains which give 3 food, so it's not so bad. The north part definelty sucks... This is a default "medium, temperate, Continental" map. I also chopped down most of the forrests already.

As for unhappineness, I've just started building religious buildings, and with a few collesiums, I should be fine. ...at least I hope so... Monarchy is just around the corner (wanted to pick up some horse-archer raiders first).

 

[Qitai]

The other Roman city is too far to be assimulated. CB only gives you a culture border range of distance 4-5 from the city. In this case, it is at a distance of 6. Generally, I wouldn't count on even flipping a distance 5 city unless it has almost no culture in it (I.e., cultural defense is at 0% or 20%) and that is if you have some culture to begin with in order to have the cultural border going up to distance 5.

 

[Boppo]

The best use of a culture bomb is after you take cities. Save him until after you attack and have taken some cities. Drop the bomb and the city is out of rebellion and you have the territory under your control now.