Coastal cities

[Crixus]

I usually hate coastal starts for many reasons but I'm trying japan out again and wondering how people position their cities ? Coastal cities lack the tiles of an inland city so you will grow less. You can send cargo ships with food but that means getting more coastal cities and that's my issue. Every single game I start I am surrounded by city states, they always spawn on the coast taking up the best land and it's annoying.

[General Malaise]

I've played 95% of the games I've played as England, and wouldn't start if I weren't on a coast(which it is biased towards). I'm now on my second game as Polynesia, so also coastal.

This is such a fun combo - Polynesia on Archipelago.

As England, I would say my Cities are often not as large as others. It may also be risky, if you were against humans. The AI doesn't have much idea how to take Cities from the sea(or anywhere else for that matter).

You can still get food from the sea, and you will often start near multple crab or pearls. Whales seem fairly rare though.

Give it a go, it's a lot of fun. The cash from Trade routes is phenominal too. I'm 300 gold per turn in my currrent Polynesia game.

:)

[Washell]

Originally posted by Marauder:

Coastal cities lack the tiles of an inland city so you will grow less.

By the time you have the population to work that many tiles, you also have the option to put them to work as specialist or improve the ocean tiles (especially those with resources) to the point it doesn't matter. Meanwhile, in the early game simply building a harbor connects coastal cities many tiles away and sea trade is far more lucrative and covers larger distances.

I aim for coastal cities, rather than avoid them.

[Regina]

Originally posted by Marauder:

I usually hate coastal starts for many reasons but I'm trying japan out again and wondering how people position their cities ? Coastal cities lack the tiles of an inland city so you will grow less. You can send cargo ships with food but that means getting more coastal cities and that's my issue. Every single game I start I am surrounded by city states, they always spawn on the coast taking up the best land and it's annoying.

You can get tons of food from sea resources, even more with some buildings like the lighthouse.

You can also make a float to conquer other coastal cities. If the enemy is the IA, pretty easy.

[Crixus]

I restarted 7 times and the most sea resources I got was 2. It's ususally 0 or maybe just 1. All them sea tiles giving 2 food later instead of 4 would be worth it if I could send cargo ships but like I said, the city states always seem to be right on the coast next to me.

Maybe it's because I prefer to play tall that I hate coast so much. Even with the extra gold from cargo ships I still get more gold from land cities because they grow much bigger and faster. Also the barbarians are 10x more annoying at sea, one ship can appear and make all your sea tiles unworkable. Last game as japan I must have sunk around 30 ships before turn 100. They was annoying the hell out of me plundering my trade routes and slowed me down a lot.

[General Malaise]

Try this scenario. It's my second attempt at it, and it's going very well. It really has been a lot of fun. Basically, the Polynesians can travel the sea right from the start, so you get to find a ton of Ruins. I built Warriors instead of Scouts, cos they also have a unique ablity(which I havent used much).

Honolulu had no sea resources, but did have some land ones.

I've played nearly all my games as England, on Continent maps, so this was a massive change.

I recommend it.

:)

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=838755552

[MapleLeifErikson]

My favourite civs are England, Polynesia, and the Netherlands, so to me, a city not located on the coast is a waste of a city.

[ForevaNoob Wonemorturn]

All my cities are coastal. Unless I can't help it.
For the sea view...

[PrivateXTC]

Coastal cities are slow starters but once you get harbours lighthouses etc they are very strong and easy to defend from land and sea with a decent navy.

edit: And England rule the sea. Even more so with a great lighthouse wonder.

[ForevaNoob Wonemorturn]

Not to mention how navy could be overpowered...

[General Malaise]

Originally posted by PrivateXTC:

Coastal cities are slow starters but once you get harbours lighthouses etc they are very strong and easy to defend from land and sea with a decent navy.

edit: And England rule the sea. Even more so with a great lighthouse wonder.

Yep. Opening Exploration policy tree also gives +1 Range, +1 Sight.

A Nuclear Sub can see 5 tiles in any direction(think that means it can see 78 tiles), and move 10. You can rule the ocean, and know everything that moves with less than 20. .

A Missile Cruiser can move 11 tiles, with both those!

[KalkiKrosah]

Coastal cities are great for trade routes. Build a city on the sea at the mouth of a river to really watch the cash flow in. Boat trade routes give double gold and being on a river gives a 50% increase to all trade routes.

Also building a lighthouse ASAP helps with both growth and production. Not to mention that there is a pantheon that grants a production bonus for coastal luxuries like clams, crabs and whales as well as fish. Getting a lighthouse helps get your city up off the ground quicker.

[Soteria]

There's also a few wonders that require a coastal city--Colossus, Lighthouse, Opera House. I usually like to have my capital city on the ocean for trade routes and wonder building, and most of the rest inland, depending on the map and my strategic needs. Usually no more than 4-5 cities total.

Your capital usually always gets the most trade income, and sea trade routes are just way more lucrative.

[ForevaNoob Wonemorturn]

(Sea)Trade routes are as crucial as rysky at first.
I didn't even know a river gave à 50% increase to all trade routes...

[KalkiKrosah]

Originally posted by ForevaNoob Wonemorturn:

(Sea)Trade routes are as crucial as rysky at first.
I didn't even know a river gave à 50% increase to all trade routes...

Yup. You can make 6 or 7 GPT on an ocean city on a river in the classical era. It's an ideal starting location if you going for a diplomatic victory.

[ForevaNoob Wonemorturn]

This game shall always keep its mysteries from me, no matter the time I play it. Just like a woman. The best part about both and the reason to love them too much I suppose...