What’s your strategy for founding cities?

[Prince de Conti]

Playing a very long game, way past the end date already (why I love this game) and I realized after conquering the Macedonian city-rich Anatolian coast that I can build cities in nearly every non-food producing territory. Anyone does this? Does it work or no? What do you do?

 

[Lord Finnish]

I found cities in the territories with the coolest names.

 

[MagisterMundi]

I typically urbanize my entire capital province, food territories and all, because I typically get enough trade routes through events and just building the capital up that I can trade for food. Also nice to have most of the key rare resources in a single province unless I get REALLY unlucky with RNG so I don't have to rely on trade for them. Plus, I just like the idea of a dense urban core, you know?

Beyond that, I'll usually try to urbanize the territory that gives the province its name, if that territory exists. After that, I'll start urbanizing crappy resource territories to try and flip them to something useful, prioritizing city-friendly territories when I can. Interesting geography or names can also play a part, particularly if I think it'll look cool with a Wonder - I like building a city on the weird jetty sticking out of the north tip of Corsica and building a lighthouse Wonder there, for example.

 

[Will Steel]

I build all the cities that existed historically, regardless of efficiency or any other considerations. Major historical cities and my capital go further and become metropolis. I care about roleplay, not efficiency.

Where cities and towns didn't exist, I build no more than 1 per province, sometimes 2, based on location viability (such as crossroads), resources, name and so on.

 

[Mikhail_Mengsk]

One city per province minimum in case of tribal lands.

If there is already a city, make another one and specialize them (assimilation+conversion hub/trade/research/whatever).

If I have spare money/pp, I further urbanize my capital region.

 

[olivenkranz]

One city per province minimum in case of tribal lands.

If there is already a city, make another one and specialize them (assimilation+conversion hub/trade/research/whatever).

If I have spare money/pp, I further urbanize my capital region.

I always build up all my cities because with income of 150+ you roll in money. I start with Temples, Theaters and Foundries, then libraries, aqueducts (metroplises, big cities, metroplises to be) and marketplaces. If necessary the happiness buildings.

 

[Nostalgium]

I try to build cities in every non-food producing territory, starting with my capital and spreading out. I also try to have one densely urbanised province in important regions, for RP reasons - like a secondary capital. I also try to have at least one city per province in uncivilised country, usually province capitals, to form focal points in a road network.

Asides from in the capital region though, where I do it for productivity, my primary goal is making my empire beautiful. I love me some urban sprawl.

 

[olivenkranz]

I try to build cities in every non-food producing territory, starting with my capital and spreading out. I also try to have one densely urbanised province in important regions, for RP reasons - like a secondary capital. I also try to have at least one city per province in uncivilised country, usually province capitals, to form focal points in a road network.

Asides from in the capital region though, where I do it for productivity, my primary goal is making my empire beautiful. I love me some urban sprawl.

How do you get the PI to urbanize Hispania or Gallia? Or other uncivilized territories?

 

[Nostalgium]

How do you get the PI to urbanize Hispania or Gallia? Or other uncivilized territories?

Combination of getting reduced city costs and increased influence from tech, plus aggressive use of tributaries when fighting minor tribes. It might give the same AE as taking the land directly in the short term, but it doesn't give you as many unhappy pops of wrong religion/culture in the long term, so you don't have to spend influence on stab. If I fight a defensive league of 8 tribes, you bet all of them will end up tributaries to Rome.

 

[olivenkranz]

Combination of getting reduced city costs and increased influence from tech, plus aggressive use of tributaries when fighting minor tribes. It might give the same AE as taking the land directly in the short term, but it doesn't give you as many unhappy pops of wrong religion/culture in the long term, so you don't have to spend influence on stab. If I fight a defensive league of 8 tribes, you bet all of them will end up tributaries to Rome.

I almost never stab the pig. I get militant epicuranism. I mean, I get 1 City/province, but nor urban centres most of the time. i also want a few Metroplises (capital alwyas).

 

[Poliut]

If the province is a city I recognize I go ahead and develop it. On occasion I'll develop provinces with cool names or interesting history (mission completion options). And periodically I'll place one in a defensive area, like a chokepoint.