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primemover
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Houston, TX, USA
Nov 2001
time: 23:21
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If this mod is still in the works I had a few comments.
1. It seems colonization is an important issue in this mod and I cannot agree more. The truth is the AI has no clue how to place colonies and sometimes, good placement can give one an incredible advantage if they know what to look for. Sometimes, I think this is one of the main reasons its easy to beat the AI. I currently play MM2 and I am not sure what modifications have been made to help the AI place cities, but it still sucks. Here are a few things I think should be added to your list.
A. First and foremost, maximization of resources is a must! In order to do that one must space cities as far apart as possible, but just far enough so that one can still build roads from one to another. (Other things can influence one to put cities closer together.) Sometimes the AI puts cities no more than 4 spaces apart. This is ridiculous since a city cannot use a maximum amount of land around the city for growing and "gathering" resources. Consequently, I am not sure I like your numbers 5-7 spaces apart are quite right (unless that is diagonally... that is perfect diagonally since the diagonal radius from city to farthes square is 3). I think cities should be placed 6-9 spaces apart (since2 x 4... non-diagonal radius = 8, their should be a maximum of 8 empty squares between cities that are in line (or nearly in line) with each other).
B. Another thing I feel that is really beneficial when placing a colony is a mountain range. Building a city at the foot of a mountain range really helps production later when the city is large. A plot where about 1/2 - 2/3 is mountains and the rest crop lands (green) is IDEAL (IMHO). I think mountains should be a + factor. This is especially true when they come close to a coast. Ships are very expensive and so I ALWAYS grab a spot (if I find one) that has a beach on one side and a mountain range on the other. I use these cities to quickly build a navy later in the game (when I need one).
C. Another extremely beneficial place to put a city is on narrow necks of land where the width is only one. This is VERY nice because it allows one to send ships through a city from one ocean to another where an enemy has to sail all the way around. (I will mention that places like these are extremely rare. Most of the time, narrow necks are usually places where continents come to an end. Also, one can travel through anyways if sea tiles are kitty corner. This distinct advantage only works if a city is built where no sea tiles are kitty corner and their is a significant amount of land on either side of the neck).
D. Goods are really nice, but building right next to a good isn't always necessary. This is especially true in the beginning of the game when trade isn't available yet and later when it is still expensive. If their are other more favorable factors nearby, I usually try to build one expansion size away (meaning when my city expands at 7 or 9...depending on the mod being used... the good will be available. This idea is also beneficial when two goods are close enough that they both can be in reach within the first two city expansions. (I play with many good!).
The bottom line is that the +1 or -1 system might be too simplistic. Here are the factors that IMO should be considered (in this order (with a suggested weighted factor)
300-500 points for any neck spot
10 points for each mountain tile within a tile radius of three (up to 24 tiles, after which, there is an exponential penalty per tile err... but if I remember correctly, there is no native exponent in SLIC). If their is an adjacent sea spot, then it should be 30 points per tile.
50 points for a beach
7-10 points for each river tile within a radius of two.
8-12 points for each good within a radius of three (within a radius of 3 = 8 pts. rad 2 is 10 points. rad 1 is 12 points).
The other things you mentioned should also be factors (more or less):
- Military presence +pos (although this is really not a big deal since one can always send units)
- Fortification +pos (I don't necessarily agree with this one)
- Enemy presence -neg (In some cases. However, sometimes I deliberately put cities on borders of other countries to frustrate their expansion into what I consider valuable territory... so it would depend on the value of the territory in question.
- Trade post +pos (hmm... aren't these tile improvements anyway? dont they come after a city is built?
- Another settlement -neg. This really depends. I think up to the radius it should be VERY negative (more negative, the closer it is... like perhaps -400 if one tile radius, -375; if two, -350; if 3, -300 if 4, -250; if 5, -50, if 6 0; if 7, 50; if 8 100; if 9 10; if between 9 and 12 0, If greater than a certain number, I think it should fall into the negative again. A city far away is hard to defend and hard to supply... etc. But under some circumstances (such as a neck) it is still worth it.
Anyway, these are just some of my thoughts on this particular issue.
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17-11-2002 20:59
I couldn't think of any comment that couldn't be misinterpreted. 
So as long we don't have the source code hacking is the way to solve this problem.
I hope theres enough variation between each and not just a ladder system, where you move "up" a government rather than choosing the best to fit your Empire (not just max cities)
But more on that later........
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