Can You Build a City on a Resource in Civ 5? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer is yes, you can build a city on a resource in Civilization V (Civ 5), but the implications of doing so vary depending on the type of resource we’re talking about: bonus, luxury, or strategic. Understanding these differences is critical for effective city planning and resource management, and will ultimately affect your game’s progress. Let’s delve into the specifics.
Understanding Resource Types and City Placement
In Civ 5, resources fall into three primary categories:
- Bonus Resources: These provide additional food, production, or gold yields to a tile. Examples include wheat, cattle, and sheep.
- Luxury Resources: These provide happiness to your civilization when improved and connected to your network. Examples include gems, furs, and gold.
- Strategic Resources: These are essential for producing certain military units and buildings. Examples include iron, horses, and oil.
Building on Bonus Resources
Founding a city directly on top of a bonus resource in Civ 5 will result in the resource disappearing without providing any of its benefits. Cities will not act as an automatic improvement for the tile. This means you lose the tile’s potential yields if you settle directly on it, and the city won’t act as an automatic improvement. It’s generally best to settle adjacent to bonus resources and then improve them with a worker.
Building on Luxury Resources
Here’s where things get more interesting. If you build a city on a luxury resource, the resource is deleted, and you only get the base tile resources. Building directly on a luxury resource is not recommended unless absolutely necessary, as it deletes the resource and prevents you from gaining its happiness bonus. In some scenarios, it may be worth it if the city’s location provides significant strategic advantages, but carefully weigh the pros and cons.
Building on Strategic Resources
With Strategic Resources, you must build an improvement on that hex (i.e. mine or pasture), or found a city on top of it, to utilize the resource. If you settle a city on a Strategic Resource, the resource is deleted. Building directly on a strategic resource is not recommended unless absolutely necessary, as it deletes the resource and prevents you from gaining its bonuses. In some scenarios, it may be worth it if the city’s location provides significant strategic advantages, but carefully weigh the pros and cons.
Strategic Considerations for City Placement
While the immediate resource implications are important, consider the broader strategic value of a city site. Factors like access to fresh water (rivers or lakes), defensibility (hills or mountains), and surrounding tile yields should influence your decision. Never place a city on a resource unless absolutely necessary. Settle adjacent and work the tile for maximum gains.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What happens if I settle on a bonus resource like wheat?
If you settle on a bonus resource, it disappears, and you don’t get the resource’s bonus. It’s almost always better to settle nearby and improve the tile.
2. Does building a city on a luxury resource provide happiness?
No. Building a city on a luxury resource destroys the resource, and you do not gain the happiness it would have provided.
3. Can I get a strategic resource if I settle on it?
No, you will need to improve the tile with an appropriate improvement, or find a city on top of it to utilize the resource.
4. Is there any advantage to settling on a resource tile?
Generally, no. It’s almost always better to settle adjacent to the resource to maximize its benefits.
5. What is the optimal distance between cities in Civ 5?
Cities should be at least 4 tiles apart. This prevents overcrowding and allows each city to develop its surrounding tiles effectively.
6. How does fresh water affect city placement?
Access to fresh water (rivers, lakes, or oases) is crucial for city growth because it allows you to build farms. Farms next to fresh water receive an additional +1 food when the Civil Service technology is researched.
7. Should I prioritize settling near rivers?
Yes, settling next to rivers is highly beneficial. Rivers are sources of fresh water, and farms next to fresh water receive an additional food bonus, promoting city growth.
8. What are the best pantheons in Civ 5?
Some of the best pantheons include:
- Goddess of Festivals: Provides +1 Culture for each Wine and Incense resource.
- God of the Sea: Provides +1 Production to Fishing Boats.
- Fertility Rites: +10% growth in all cities.
- God of War: +20% Combat Strength near your Capital.
9. When is the best time to found a new city?
Settle a new city when you have at least 5 excess happiness to absorb the happiness penalty from the new city. Prioritize locations with a luxury resource you don’t already have.
10. How does world age affect the map in Civ 5?
Younger worlds have more mountains, while older worlds have more hills. This affects defensibility and resource distribution.
11. What should I consider when choosing a city site?
Consider access to fresh water, defensibility, tile yields (food, production, gold), and proximity to resources.
12. What’s the impact of settling near a natural wonder?
Settling near a natural wonder can provide significant bonuses, such as increased culture, science, or tourism.
13. Is war inevitable in Civ 5?
War is not always inevitable, but it is a common occurrence. Choose your battles wisely and consider the long-term consequences.
14. Should I accept embassies from other civilizations?
Accepting embassies allows you to see their capital and open borders, but it also allows them to see your capital. On Prince and below, accept all embassies.
15. What is the time victory condition in Civ 5?
The deadline for a time victory is usually the year 2050 AD. If no other victory condition has been met, the civilization with the highest score wins.
Learning More About Strategic Gaming
Want to dive deeper into the strategies and mechanics of games like Civilization V? The Games Learning Society is a great resource. Visit their website at GamesLearningSociety.org to explore research, discussions, and insights into how games can be used for education and deeper understanding. The Games Learning Society is a hub for researchers, educators, and game enthusiasts interested in the intersection of games and learning.
In conclusion, while you can build a city on a resource in Civilization V, it’s almost always strategically disadvantageous to do so. Prioritize settling adjacent to resources and improving them with workers to maximize their benefits and ensure a thriving civilization.