CivIII score is essentially 2 parts territory, 1 part population, averaged over the course of the game. Therefore, bigger cities = bigger score. I, however, usually cap my cities' growth between size 17 and 20. Basically, I let them grow until they are in danger of dropping out of WLTKD (Monarch level), or the next citizen will be a specialist (which are useless), whichever is first. I will run 10% luxuries, but don't like going over that. Hence 17 - 20. Clearly, however, I could rack up more points if I irrigated everything and let the cities grow up into the 30s.
My problem with that approach is that, in order to increase the "score" I have to make my cities less productive (mines to irrigation) and my citizens less happy. So I don't do it.
Maybe I'm being stubborn for no reason. I used to not let my cities grow past size 12 until I had ecology (!) because I hate pollution so much... but 1.17 seems to have toned down pollution, so now I let them grow (slowly) during the Industrial Age. That makes sense, since those extra pop points actually work the land, producing shields and commerce. Once you cross 20, though, all they produce is score.
So maybe, just maybe, it makes sense (once I do have mass transits built) to irrigate everywhere, except for a few cities w/lots of hills that I will leave for SS/Wonder construction, and jack up the lux rate higher. Obviously, this assumes that my army is all set up, and I don't anticipate massive casualties.
What do you all do?
-Arrian
My problem with that approach is that, in order to increase the "score" I have to make my cities less productive (mines to irrigation) and my citizens less happy. So I don't do it.
Maybe I'm being stubborn for no reason. I used to not let my cities grow past size 12 until I had ecology (!) because I hate pollution so much... but 1.17 seems to have toned down pollution, so now I let them grow (slowly) during the Industrial Age. That makes sense, since those extra pop points actually work the land, producing shields and commerce. Once you cross 20, though, all they produce is score.
So maybe, just maybe, it makes sense (once I do have mass transits built) to irrigate everywhere, except for a few cities w/lots of hills that I will leave for SS/Wonder construction, and jack up the lux rate higher. Obviously, this assumes that my army is all set up, and I don't anticipate massive casualties.
What do you all do?
-Arrian
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