Idea: Scorched Earth

[Optimizer]

I got an idea of a city improvement called Scorched Earth.

It costs nothing, so it is built instantly.

It provides a great defense bonus, but produces lots of pollution and some unhappiness.

When under attack, one can build Scorched Earth in all cities to defend them, at the cost of spoiling the lands.

I don't suppose the AI to handle this correctly, though.

[Optimizer]

Of course it would need proper balancing.

[Optimizer]

It wouldn't just be cool, but useful, too!

[Saint Marcus]

try it out then

[Sheik]

I wonder how the AI would react. This is a good idea, try it out and report back to us. If you want to test it fast make a custom map with close starting location and give scortched earth no requirements. Then start a war and see.

[Ed O'War]

One potential problem is that defense bonuses don't work in cities with a size of 7 or higher - city walls deactivate when you go up to the next higher level of city.

[Optimizer]

Well, I have managed to build it in small cities. They seemed to get the defense bonus, and they spewed out lots of pollution. Could be good as a desperate defense technique.

Haven't seen the AI use it yet.

[trickey]

hmm, it would be great for far away border cities that are already useless.