Questions regarding city growth

[Ellye]

I just finished my first game of Warlock, and I must say I was extremely pleased. Quite an enjoyable game.
Nonetheless, the game left me with a few questions, most related to city growth:

I see that each new population unit in a city consumes 1 food (or mana for undead). But I don't see a relation between food surplus and/or shortage and growth.
Comparing my cities, it seems that having a food surplus provide no bonus to growth, is that correct?
But what really confused me is that, apparently, having a city with negative food also provides no penalty to growth. Is that correct?

The one situation I didn't test was having a negative empire-wise food. Does that give a growth penalty?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Frothingslosh]

According to the wiki, growth uses this:

RawGrowth = 215 - Population * 0.015 (minus 50 if the city is not of your own race)

Note: That should be "minus an ADDITIONAL 50".

Negative food DOES give a growth penalty.

Edit: Just found a link on this forum for you: Mechanics Behind Population Growth

 

[Ellye]

Negative food DOES give a growth penalty.

I keep reading this everywhere, but I'm not seeing it in-game.

City with 4 pop and positive food:


City with 4 pop and negative food:



Perhaps the only food that matters is my total food, and not local food for each city?

 

[player1 fanatic]

Yes, total food is only thing matters. If negative it gives growth penalty in all non-undead cities.

 

[Ellye]

Oh, alright then. Thanks!

 

[davidwalsh]

The fact that only the total empire amount matters makes it easier to specialise cities.