Don't waist those first settlers!

[cody33rd]

I was playing ranked ffa last night. I rushed with aztecs. Took out everybody but the Americans with one warrior army, a horse unit from a hut, and a warrior unit. I approched the americans who were the farthest away from me. They had built their second city (I assume with their 100 Gold free settlers). I took out the only defender to find the most pathetic placing of a city I had ever seen. It didn't have a single production space near it. It could not build anything and the food it did have was all wheat. How do you build a granary without production? Sure you can use gold but that is costly early in the game. I just think that your second city should be your production city. Any after that would be ok for gold or science. I vacated the city it was not worth defending. I slowly built one unit out of it and let the american player have it back. I figured he was new to the game so I backed off and went for a cultural victory. That way he had time to learn more about the game. I have taken a lot of cities over like this one. They just seem to be in the worst possible places. I could understad if you are barbarians you don't have a choice. Every other Civ should be careful though. Those first settlers can make or break your game.

[bonafide11]

I've seen worse cities; yesterday I took an early Japanese city in MP that was built in the middle of a desert and did not have a single food source in its immediate access.

[deadbuffalo]

I've seen people move their capital settler, the very first one into tiles with no surrounding food tiles... And then build a settler (romans) leaving them with a 1 pop capital...

[MorteEterna]

I've seen people move their capital settler, the very first one into tiles with no surrounding food tiles... And then build a settler (romans) leaving them with a 1 pop capital...

I have seen an american that moved his capital near 2-3 mountains with only a plain and hills and forests maybe, I think they hope to reach fast the modern era

However, also new cities, I have seen a lot of times founded where there wasn't food..

[cody33rd]

Yea food is real important too. I have also come across settlements without food.

[cody33rd]

I've seen people move their capital settler, the very first one into tiles with no surrounding food tiles... And then build a settler (romans) leaving them with a 1 pop capital...

I never move more than one tile away from starting position. It gets you to far behind in my opinion.

[MorteEterna]

I prefer at least 2 food tiles and 1 forests. For new cities is also good 2 forests and 2 plains, because in 10 turns I build the granary, but 1 food tile is not good enough for a new city..