How to grow cities faster.

[V.O.C.'02]

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]

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]

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

[Solver]

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

[Jaybe]

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]

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]

Right, generally those are bonus resources.

[Theseus]

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]

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]

That's what I meant

[Mannamagnus]

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]

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

[planetfall]

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]

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]

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