What have I missed about irrigation?

mowerm · November 27, 2001, 09:03

Hi.

Just started a new game. Sent my worker to a grassland square producing (2 food) next to an inland lake. Told worker to irrigate. After irrigation the square is still producing only 2 food.

Is there some considerable delay after irrigation before the food bonus kicks in? Or have I missed something obvious that would prevent a grassland square, once irrigated, from getting the food bonus?

Regards,

matt.

Akka · November 27, 2001, 09:08

Quote:

Originally posted by mowerm
Hi.

Just started a new game. Sent my worker to a grassland square producing (2 food) next to an inland lake. Told worker to irrigate. After irrigation the square is still producing only 2 food.

Is there some considerable delay after irrigation before the food bonus kicks in? Or have I missed something obvious that would prevent a grassland square, once irrigated, from getting the food bonus?

Regards,

matt.

You're under despotism.
Under despotism (and anarchy), each tiles which produce at least 3 foods/shields/commerces will produce one less.

mowerm · November 27, 2001, 09:11

Quote:

Originally posted by Akka le Vil

You're under despotism.
Under despotism (and anarchy), each tiles which produce at least 3 foods/shields/commerces will produce one less.

Of course!

Thank you.

matt

EricWright · November 27, 2001, 09:16

Really? So I should only bother irrigating plains squares early in the game? I've been irrigating some grassland, and alternately mining/irrigating plains squares. I guess I've been wasting my time irrigating grassland?

Thanks for the info!

CharlotteCivver · November 27, 2001, 09:47

There is no advatage to irrigating grassland early on, but there are big advantages to irrigating plains or desert, since those will actually start producing enough food to let your city grow.

I usually go ahead and irrigate everywhere, so when I jump to monarchy, I get instant improvement.

mowerm · November 27, 2001, 11:01

Quote:

Originally posted by CharlotteCivver
There is no advatage to irrigating grassland early on, but there are big advantages to irrigating plains or desert, since those will actually start producing enough food to let your city grow.

I usually go ahead and irrigate everywhere, so when I jump to monarchy, I get instant improvement.

Do you find you have enough workers sat around such that this "pre-emptive" irrigation is worthwhile? i.e. do you already have a well developed network by this time? Or do you prioritize irrigation to get this instant "jump" effect when you get Monarchy?

Interested,

matt.

RickBlaine · November 27, 2001, 11:54

Personally, I am generally too short of workers in the early game to do any work that does not help immediately. Moreover, I generally mine worked grassland squares under despotism. Even after switching to Republic (I usually forego monarchy), I will leave most of the mines and irrigate only as needed to get moderate growth. Since cities will be capped at 12 for quite a while (and specialists are not particularly effective in the later game), I would rather emphasize production over population growth in most cases.

G.A · November 27, 2001, 16:39

Mine the bloody grasslands when under despotism!!!
You`ll have some advantage of them then. Notice how AI will always do that.

Andrew1999 · November 27, 2001, 17:11

One thing that affects my improvement strategy is limited access to fresh water. I'm currently irrigating my whole empire from one river in the eastern end of it. Often I'll find I've been seeded in a place with no fresh water at all (a small continent or part of a large one--remember you can't irrigate over hills or mountains.) If there's enough grassland it's survivable but not always. When I find my continent has no fresh water, luxury resources, horses, or iron that's when I restart on a new map.

Ghengis Brom · November 27, 2001, 18:25

Quote:

Originally posted by G.A
Mine the bloody grasslands when under despotism!!!
You`ll have some advantage of them then. Notice how AI will always do that.

G.A is correct. Early in the game, while still under Despotism, you will want to build mines in your grasslands. They will produce the same amount of food but you gain an extra shield. You can always go back and irrigate those tiles after you have discovered Monarchy. Note: Your mines will disappear once you irrigate over them.

Me at work ----->