Worth switching your capitol?

[Onionsoilder]

Is it worth switching your capitol to your gold or science city after you get enough to do so? Is the extra 8 worth the cost?

 

[Shurdus]

Not the extra 8 makes it worth it.

Sometimes your capital is on the far end of an island. You conquer a decent part of the island. With your capital being on the rim of your empire, that makes that the location is poor considering the average distance to capital and the upkeep that brings. You may want to move it to reduce maintenance then.

Also, sometimes your capital is in a poor location, and wise. Switching your capitol to make the most of the beaurocracy civic might be wise in tose situations.

I cannot think of another reason to move your capital really...

 

[Cutlass]

I usually have wonders in the capital that give it value by itself. But then I'll regen the map before starting the game if the location really sucks.

 

[6K Man]

It sometimes makes sense to move a capital in situations where you won't be running Bureaucracy anymore and it is inconveniently situated (on the wrong end of your empire or near a threatening enemy).

The one time I recall moving my capital was a game in which I started on a fairly small island (room for 2 decent cities and the rest Tundra/Ice. As soon as I conquered a larger nearby island, the colonial expenses were bad enough to make me move the cap to that island.

 

[Cutlass]

I also don't build the Forbidden Palace right as soon as I can, but wait until my civ has grown enough so that the "capital effects" don't overlap and I get the maximum benefit from that.

 

[Formica]

I tend to move my capital in perhaps half the games I play. As noted above, a good starting location that ends up being on the edge of your civ makes it pretty reasonable to move your capital for maintenance purposes. Doubly so if you're not Organized; relocating your Palace and orienting it strategically with your Forbidden Palace can really have a significant impact on your economy.

 

[Justy]

I also don't build the Forbidden Palace right as soon as I can, but wait until my civ has grown enough so that the "capital effects" don't overlap and I get the maximum benefit from that.

Is there a known quantity of tiles (depending on map size obviously) for the radius of effect.

Also while I'm at it is Versailles exactly the same power of the Forbidden City?

 

[Wodan]

Is there a known quantity of tiles (depending on map size obviously) for the radius of effect.

Imagine your capitol with a "ring" of cities around it. Probably between 4-6 cities, about 3-4 tiles away.

Now imagine the same ring for the FP.

Build the FP such that the two rings don't touch (i.e., no city is in both rings).

Also while I'm at it is Versailles exactly the same power of the Forbidden City?

Pretty much. I think the culture is different. But the maintenance bonus is the same.

 

[thadian]

sometimes versailes is better early build, then forbidden palace later if you NEED it.

 

[Cutlass]

sometimes versailes is better early build, then forbidden palace later if you NEED it.

That's what I try to do Although even though I target it, I don't always get Versailles built. However when I do, I try to make the capital, V, and FP, in approximately a triangle bracketing as many cities as possible. That'll minimize maintenance for all the cities that will ever likely be major cities for production, commerce, or science.

 

[CHEESE!]

Pretty much. I think the culture is different. But the maintenance bonus is the same.

VS gives +10 . FP gives 4.

 

[helemaalnicks]

Ill let the pics speak first:

Spoiler :

entire empire: earlier on, my empire was only the left cities, so paris was basically exactly in the middle:

Old capital, not a good capital, bad for cottaging, no river, decided early on to make this a production city, and never abandonded this. I like seaside production cities, and I dont like commerce cities that are low on food, ie, all tundra.

My new capital, a commerce powerhouse. Such a strong site for a capital. De gaulle got very lucky (untill 500BC that is), almost all grassland, more then enough food to cottage the entire thing, and gems for early commerce, this capital is simply great.

I do this sometimes. If my capital is naturally a stronger production site, then I usually make it a production city, and use it to make troops to conquer commerce cities . In this case it was a very easy decision to move it. Edit, forgot to tell you, I switched it around the time i got bureacracy, that and a tiny lil bit the 8commerce you can probably put through an oxford uni late game in your new capital are the only reasons to move your capital, but I think you can understand why i moved it. I am rome, so around civil service wartime was over for me, and bureacracy for my production capital was pretty useless at that time.