[SPOILERS] Dhal gets ready to bungle another game (oh yeah some guy is dedlurking)

[Sareln]

Tech Path:
AH -> Mining -> Wheel -> BW

Build:
Worker -> Warrior -> Settler begins the moment the city is Size 2, Warrior catches spare hammers, finishes after Settler build.

Worker Actions:
Sheep -> Pig -> Long Walk -> Road -> Road

Settle & Revolt T21. Not ideal, but it is a strong site and the turn lost isn't so bad since the worker still starts improving that corn.

[Dhalphir]

What do you guys think of this as a second city instead?



1E of the Pigs.

It picks up a number of hills, pigs are the strongest food resource on a hill, and more importantly it locks down a secure border with whoever is over there. It guarantees that the corn and sheep location to the north will belong to us, as well as making it a difficult proposition for the opponent over there to get those horses to the north too.

It's a bold play, and defending it wouldn't be easy, but I never like the conservative play, and we are playing on a handcrafted map so one would assume we all have metal, so defending shouldn't be too hard. If we go BW straight into Wheel, we have all the techs we need to get that location up and running.

This isn't something I'm really sure I want to do, but considering all options is always critically important, especially with our slow turn pace since we have all the time in the world.

[Dhalphir]

of course i'm assuming here that the mapmaker doesn't hate me

[Sareln]

I don't think it'd work out well for us. But if you were wanting to grab that spot, 1N or 1NE of the pigs is significantly better due to the hill defense bonus, the extra hammers if you place it on the PH, the grab of more resources etc.

The mountain to block off some approaches would be cool, except it blocks the wrong approach (the one from our side)

Humans aren't AIs, so blockers and backfills aren't nearly as effective (as humans will switch into aggro mode instead of accepting the contain) unless they're backed up with the force to hold them. Better to find and settle the strongest, most defensible sites you can manage, and then let those strong sites carry you forward into the midgame.

[Sullla]

That suggested spot east of the pigs is a poor choice for a second city. It's too far away, it's difficult to defend, it's not even a strong location (a single 5/1/0 pigs hill tile is not especially great), and it will contribute very little to your civilization in the crucial early turns. Rather than type more, I'll simply link to Speaker's long ago post on this subject.

Cool Gaming It Up

[Dhalphir]

Sareln - Right, I definitely need to keep in mind that humans and AIs are a different ballgame and aren't as easily shoved around.

Sullla - Thanks for that post, that shed a lot of light on the mindset behind city placement, rather than pure placement suggestions

[Dhalphir]

To be honest, I think I'm going to totally throw away and revise all city placement ideas at the end of this week when we are up to turn 17 and bronze working comes in. Location of copper will be a huge influence on the early game, and I don't intend to be caught without strategic resources.

[Dhalphir]

Tech Path:
AH -> Mining -> Wheel -> BW

Build:
Worker -> Warrior -> Settler begins the moment the city is Size 2, Warrior catches spare hammers, finishes after Settler build.

Worker Actions:
Sheep -> Pig -> Long Walk -> Road -> Road

Settle & Revolt T21. Not ideal, but it is a strong site and the turn lost isn't so bad since the worker still starts improving that corn.

Fuuuuck, I missed this post before playing the turn, and I'm continuing on bronze working in the current turn. I'll have to sim and change research next turn.

[Dhalphir]

if I go for wheel next, then finish bronze working later, I won't discover BW in time to change my city location based on copper, so wherever the copper is, it will have to be picked up by a third city. That's okay though, right? If we get horses on the first city.

[Dhalphir]

Due to the extra turn I invested in bronze working in today's turn, I can revolt turn 20 and settle turn 21, at the cost of one missed worker turn when I move the worker from the pigs to the grassland to road it. I think that's pretty much a wash - gain a turn of city production from avoiding revolt in second city, and lose a single worker turn.