How do Borders Expand in Civ 5?

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The expansion of borders in Civilization 5 (Civ 5) is an automatic process that depends on several factors, including the presence of luxury resources, with more important tiles being occupied first, and the expansion process is not random but rather follows a set of rules to determine which tiles are selected by the engine. The border growth is also influenced by the game’s speed, with Standard speed being the default setting, and the size of the city’s borders, which can expand up to a 5-tile radius, not including the city tile itself, allowing for the occupation of strategic and luxury resources located within that range.

Understanding Border Expansion

To fully comprehend how borders expand in Civ 5, it’s essential to consider various aspects of the game, including city placement, resource management, and diplomatic relationships with other civilizations.

Key Factors in Border Expansion

Several key factors influence border expansion, including luxury resources, city placement, and game speed. These factors determine how quickly and in which direction a civilization’s borders will expand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are 15 FAQs that provide more insight into border expansion and related topics in Civ 5:

1. What is the process of border growth in Civ 5? The process of border growth is automatic, with the game engine selecting tiles based on factors like luxury resources, and it is not random.

2. How long do Open Borders agreements last in Civ 5? An Open Borders agreement lasts for 30 turns on Standard speed, after which it must be renegotiated or it lapses.

3. Can City-States expand in Civ 5? City-States cannot build Settlers and thus are almost never interested in expansion, despite having the capacity for producing units, buildings, technological, and cultural progress.

4. Does the Great Wall expand in Civ 5? The Great Wall’s effect extends up to 5 tiles away from the city where it is built, and it expands every time you reload the game, affecting all tiles under the owner’s control.

5. Should you open your borders in Civ 5? Opening borders can spread your religion faster and provide a small diplomatic boost, but it may also allow other civ’s troops to act as roadblocks, and it is preferably done with a payment of 2-3 gold per turn.

6. How close should you build cities in Civ 5? Building cities near resources, especially strategic and luxury ones (1-3 tiles away), ensures access to them, as a city can only work tiles that are at most 3 tiles away from its main city tile.

7. Should you raze a city in Civ 5? Technically, choosing the razing option automatically annexes the city, making the thinning tactic a bad choice if you intend to avoid annexation of captured cities.

8. What is the strongest Civ in Civ 5? The strongest Civ can vary, but leaders like Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon are often considered powerful due to their unique abilities and bonuses.

9. Does world age matter in Civ 5? World age affects the prevalence of hills and mountains, with younger worlds having larger, more craggy mountains and older worlds having more sloping hills.

10. How big can a city border be in Civ 5? A city’s borders can expand within a 5-tile radius, not including the city tile itself, allowing for the occupation of strategic and luxury resources.

11. How many cities should you have in Civ 5? The ideal number of cities depends on the Civ and the victory condition, with strategies often focusing on either tall (2-4 cities with 20-40 citizens) or wide (6-12 cities with 10-15 people each).

12. What is the maximum year in Civ 5? The deadline for a time victory is usually the year 2050 AD, but it can be changed to an earlier year or a predetermined number of years, with the game ending at turn 500 on Standard speed.

13. Does Civ 6 end at 2050? Yes, 2050 AD marks the midpoint of the 21st century and is the year when a standard game ends in every Civilization game since Civilization III, with the player having the highest score winning if no victory conditions are met.

14. What is the best pantheon in Civ 5? The best pantheon can vary, but God of War is a strong choice for players seeking a military-focused civilization, offering bonuses that enhance military prowess.

15. Should you accept embassies in Civ 5? Accepting embassies allows you to see the AI and offers options to open borders and defensive pacts, but it also lets the AI see you, which can be a strategic decision based on the game’s progression and your diplomatic goals.

By understanding how borders expand and considering these FAQs, players can develop effective strategies for managing their civilization’s growth and interactions with other civilizations in Civ 5.