Can someone remind me what ICS stands for plese?

[snafuc4]

I've worked out what most of the other TLAs mean, but this one defeats me!

Cheers

[Aeson]

Infinite City Sprawl

[Bogdanovist]

or "Infinite City Sleaze"...

In previous Civ/SMAC games building lots of closely spaced cities was the 'magic bullet' strategy that was superior to any other, didn't require a lot of thought but was hell to micromanage and generally not asthetically pleasing. Civ4 as yet appears not to have a single 'right' way to play, though time will tell if this remains true...

[Diadem]

Actually I've never agreed with that statement.

ICS was an important strategy, agreed. But far more important than ICS was a quick beeline to republic, in the old civ games. Get republic, switch governement, and switch your luxury setting to 100%. Wait a few turns and all your cities are size 20. Now *that* speeds up research.

And you don't need that many cities if they are all using their full potentional!

[snafuc4]

OK, thanks all

[joncnunn]

The big note though is that the offical defination of ICS city spacing is now illegal in Civ IV. [C-X-C].

Tight city spacing [C- X - X - C] is now the cloest allowed city spacement.

Also the removal of hard limits of 6 and 12 until structures are built greatly decreases the need to have many ICS spacing to work all those tiles.

[VernMcC]

Actually, you can still get C-X-C if the two city locations are not on the same landmass.

L=Land
W=Water

WWWWWW
WWCWCLW
WLLWLLW
WWWWWW

The games lets you put cities one apart if you want.

[Enigma_Nova]

Didn't know that. Could prove useful. Thanks!

[VernMcC]

I have used it a couple of times to make a foothold on an island when the mainland city is conquered and there is no culture on the island. I can then make a city to stage an invasion of the new contintent with it. Even better if I can bring in an artist to this new city and culture bomb the new owner of the conquered city.