How Many Cities Should You Aim For in Civ 6?
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In Civilization 6, the number of cities you should aim for isn’t a fixed number, but rather a dynamic target that depends on your chosen victory condition, your civilization’s unique abilities, and the map size. However, as a general rule of thumb, aiming for 8-12 cities is a solid foundation for most victory types on standard-sized maps. This allows you to effectively exploit resources, develop a strong economy, and have enough production centers to pursue your chosen path to victory. But, remember this is just a guideline.
The real answer is, “as many as you can effectively manage!” The more cities you have, the more potential for science, culture, faith, production, and gold. The key is managing the increased complexity and associated costs that come with expansion. Let’s delve into the nuances of city placement and optimal empire size in Civ 6.
Understanding the “Wide vs. Tall” Debate
The concept of “wide vs. tall” has been a cornerstone of Civilization strategy for years. In Civ 6, going “wide” – establishing many cities across the map – is generally favored.
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Wide Empires: These empires focus on rapid expansion, claiming as much territory and resources as possible. This allows for greater resource diversity, more district specialization, and overall higher yields across the board. The drawback? Increased management complexity, potential amenity issues, and potentially higher science and culture costs.
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Tall Empires: These empires focus on developing a smaller number of highly productive and specialized cities. While a few well-developed cities can be very powerful, they often struggle to compete with the sheer output and resource access of a wide empire.
In Civ 6, the game mechanics often incentivize “wide” play. Policies like “Colonization”, which provides bonus production towards settlers, and certain leader abilities encourage players to spread out. Moreover, the district system means that having more cities allows for greater specialization and adjacency bonuses.
The Importance of City Placement
Beyond just the number of cities, their placement is critical. Consider these factors when deciding where to settle:
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Fresh Water: Access to fresh water is essential for early growth and housing. Settling next to rivers or lakes is a priority.
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Resources: Identify nearby resources, both luxury and strategic. Luxury resources provide amenities, while strategic resources are needed for military units and certain buildings.
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Terrain: Look for terrain suitable for districts, wonders, and farms. Plains hills are often considered excellent city locations due to their inherent production. Coast tiles are also a strong start, as the article states.
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Defense: Consider defensible positions, such as hills or natural chokepoints, to protect your cities from early aggression.
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Distance from other Cities: As the article mentions, four tiles in between city centers is a good rule of thumb.
Strategic Considerations for Different Victory Conditions
The ideal number of cities will also vary based on your chosen victory path:
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Science Victory: Science victories often benefit from a moderate number of well-developed cities with strong campuses and industrial zones. Aim for at least 8-10 cities, focusing on maximizing science output.
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Culture Victory: Culture victories can be pursued with a wide or moderate empire. Having a large number of cities allows you to build more theater squares and generate tourism from various sources. 8-12 cities provide a good balance.
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Domination Victory: Domination victories demand a large and productive empire to support a powerful military. You’ll need a wide empire to produce units, generate gold, and access strategic resources. Aim for 10+ cities, focusing on production and military infrastructure.
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Religious Victory: Religious victories can be achieved with a smaller number of strategically placed cities, focused on faith generation and missionary production. 6-8 cities might suffice, depending on the map and your competition.
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Diplomatic Victory: A Diplomatic victory requires a solid economy and influence with City-States. You will want to aim for around 10-12 cities to produce enough to stay ahead.
Managing your Empire
Establishing a large empire comes with challenges. Managing amenities, loyalty, and infrastructure becomes crucial.
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Amenities: Amenities are essential for keeping your cities happy and productive. Luxury resources, entertainment complexes, and water parks can help boost amenities. If your cities are unhappy, consider consolidating your empire or focusing on acquiring additional luxury resources.
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Loyalty: Loyalty is a critical mechanic in Civ 6. Cities with low loyalty can rebel and join other civilizations or become free cities. Ensure that your cities have sufficient loyalty pressure, through governors, policies, and proximity to other loyal cities.
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Infrastructure: Develop infrastructure such as roads, trade routes, and harbors to connect your cities and improve their economies. Trade routes provide significant benefits, especially between cities with different specializations.
Remember to adapt your strategy based on the specific circumstances of your game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to further illuminate the optimal city count in Civilization 6:
1. What’s more important: quantity or quality of cities?
In Civ 6, quantity generally trumps quality. While well-developed cities are valuable, the benefits of having more cities to exploit resources and specialize districts often outweigh the advantages of a smaller number of highly developed cities.
2. How far apart should I settle my cities?
As the article mentions, a general rule of thumb is four tiles between city centers. This allows each city to claim a reasonable amount of territory and prevent overcrowding.
3. Should I raze conquered cities?
Razing cities is a situational decision. As the article states, if a city is in a poor location, difficult to defend, or likely to rebel, razing it might be the best option. However, if the city has useful districts or resources, consider keeping it and investing in loyalty management.
4. Is it always a good idea to settle on hills?
Settling on plains hills is usually a great idea, especially for your first few cities, as they provide bonus production. However, consider other factors like fresh water and resource access. Settling on other types of hills is beneficial as well.
5. When should I stop expanding?
Expansion should slow down when you start encountering significant amenity or loyalty problems. Focus on developing your existing cities and consolidating your empire. You may also want to shift focus as you near your intended victory condition.
6. Is it bad to have too many cities?
The article mentions “it is not really possible to have too many cities in Civilization 6.” While technically true, having too many poorly managed cities can be detrimental. Prioritize quality over quantity if you’re struggling to manage amenities, loyalty, or infrastructure.
7. How important are governors for managing a large empire?
Governors are crucial for managing loyalty and boosting city yields. Assign governors strategically to cities that are at risk of rebelling or that need specific yield boosts. The article mentions Pingala and Liang as two of the best governors.
8. How does map size affect the optimal city count?
The optimal city count scales with map size. On smaller maps, a smaller number of cities might suffice, while on larger maps, you’ll want to aim for a higher city count.
9. Should I settle on resources?
As the article says, while settling on a strategic resource provides the resource, it does not give the tile yields. It’s usually better to settle nearby and build a mine or quarry to get the yields.
10. Does my civilization’s unique ability affect my city-building strategy?
Absolutely. Some civilizations, like Rome, gain bonus amenities for new cities, making wide expansion easier. Other civilizations might have bonuses that incentivize a smaller number of highly developed cities.
11. What are the best starting points for cities?
The article notes that ideal starting points include coastal locations, rainforest tiles, mountains, plains, and near natural wonders. All of these positions can provide significant advantages.
12. How important is research for expanding my empire?
Research is critical. Technologies like “Animal Husbandry” and “Pottery” unlock valuable early-game improvements and units, allowing for faster expansion and development.
13. What do I do if I’m surrounded by other civilizations early in the game?
If you’re surrounded, focus on defense and internal development. Build walls, train military units, and secure your borders. You may need to prioritize military technologies and consider early warfare.
14. Is it better to build cities on the coast or inland?
Coastal cities have access to naval trade routes, harbors, and naval units, while inland cities are less vulnerable to naval attacks and can focus on land-based production. A mix of both is often ideal.
15. How can I learn more about Civ 6 strategy?
Engage with the Civilization 6 community through online forums, watch gameplay videos, and read strategy guides. Don’t forget to check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org for resources and insights into the educational aspects of gaming.
Ultimately, the “right” number of cities in Civ 6 is dynamic and depends on a multitude of factors. By understanding the core mechanics of the game, considering your victory condition, and adapting to the map, you can find the optimal balance for your empire. Good luck, and happy conquering!