How to grow cities faster.

V.O.C.'02 · June 16, 2002, 13:41

I have a problem with getting my cities to grow bigger. Let's say that I've got a 2-pop city. Ok, I can try to change the citizen to work on antother tile, but that does not always make change. I acnnot keep puuting workers in my city because i'm still only producing 4 food. And I cannot irriogate my tiles unless i'm next to fresh water or until i have discovered the right tech (....euh, yeah, right.... that's the one). Irrigating in despotism doesn't work, does it?)

Solver · June 16, 2002, 13:52

Irrigation in Despotism only works in once case: Wheat on Flood Plain. Except for that, a Despotism tile can't produce many food.

Generally, this is why switching to another government should be one of your top priorities, where you can easily get your cities to grow.

V.O.C.'02 · June 16, 2002, 14:00

yeah, but only near fresh water, that often restrict a lot of my cities from growing.

Solver · June 16, 2002, 14:10

Right, if you don't begin near a river, you're in some difficulty.

Jaybe · June 16, 2002, 14:12

Find that lake/river and start the great irrigation project (assuming no hills/mountains/ocean in the way).

Or link to another irrigated tile, even if it is well within someone else's borders. Use workers only and they won't mind (unless you're already at war with them).

Or (sigh...) move. Move your whole civ. Get a new start. At least you have until you are out of despotism before you need it.

DrFell · June 16, 2002, 14:21

Quote:

Originally posted by Solver
Irrigation in Despotism only works in once case: Wheat on Flood Plain. Except for that, a Despotism tile can't produce many food.

There are other cases too, such as cattle on grassland or plains, wheat on plains, and flood plains. Basically anything producing 3 food or more in a normal government when irrigated will produce 3 food or more in despotism.

Solver · June 16, 2002, 14:30

Right, generally those are bonus resources.

Theseus · June 16, 2002, 20:59

Mine your shielded tiles... even under Despotism, this will add another shield of production, thus getting you the improvements that will facilitate city growth.

Also, not mentioned above, but of course irrigation does work on Plains.

DeepO · June 16, 2002, 21:24

Quote:

Originally posted by DrFell Basically anything producing 3 food or more in a normal government when irrigated will produce 3 food or more in despotism.

Anything producing more then 2 food will produce 1 less you mean. An irrigated grassland normally gives 3, which becomes 2. An irrigated flood plain gets from 4 to 3, etc.

(things change when you have a railroad, but who has that under despotism?)

DeepO

DrFell · June 16, 2002, 21:38

That's what I meant

Mannamagnus · June 17, 2002, 04:36

Quote:

Originally posted by Solver
Irrigation in Despotism only works in once case: Wheat on Flood Plain. Except for that, a Despotism tile can't produce many food.

Don't forget irrigation on plains. It works and is absolutely essential in many cases.

Solver · June 17, 2002, 04:41

Generally, you'll often find yourself with little irrigations and lots of mines in Civ 3.

planetfall · June 17, 2002, 11:52

Don't forget the obvious, get out of despotism ASAP. If you play a religious civ, you can switch without anarchy penalty. If you lust after city growth, get to Monarchy|Republic|Democracy. From the forums it sounds like most players jump to either Monarchy or Republic as they are available in ancient era.

Capt Dizle · June 17, 2002, 12:07

Well, its not really an early game strat, but I always try to set up a few feeder cities near high food resources and build workers and just move and join them to my other cities. I'll build granaries in the feeders but not in all my other cities. Works like a charm...

Solver · June 17, 2002, 12:20

Jim, why workers? Isn't it better to use cities with high food to produce Settlers till you occupy each free spot?

DrFell · June 17, 2002, 12:23

Yeah I personally set cities in crappy locations (like with only one 2 food square) to building workers as they get them done every 10 turns and grow in the same amount of time.

Capt Dizle · June 17, 2002, 13:12

Solver, yes, I build settlers first and then switch to workers. Of course.

MiloMilo · June 17, 2002, 14:40

VOC I'm not sure what the problem is. Irrigated flood plains will get you 3 food under despotism. Irrigated anything with cow, wheat or game will get you 3 food. Irrigated grassland with wine will also get you 3 food (right?). Irrigated plains or tundra will get you 2 (all you need to keep growing), as will regular, unworked grassland. If you're in the middle of forest or jungle, just chop it down. Use those workers to work, not just to add to cities!

You don't need a tech to irrigate or chop down forests, you can do it from the beginning of the game. You do need fresh water, but there's usually some of that around. NO access to fresh water is a freak occurrence, maybe just restart in that case.