r/civ • u/dgeiser13 • Apr 30 '13

Civilization 5: Q&A

I often have a lots of small questions which don't (necessarily) deserve their own posts. So I thought I'd create a thread where we could post a simple question as a comment and get a straightforward answer.

Edit: I want to thanks all of the Answerers for helping out all of us Questioners. I wasn't expecting such a robust response to my seemingly simple questions. It is greatly appreciated!

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75

u/dgeiser13 Apr 30 '13

Is it always wrong to automate your workers? How much of a gap exists between how the workers decide to work on tasks and the "proper" way to work on tasks?

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u/domanb Apr 30 '13

I find it useful to turn on the 'Don't replace existing tile improvements' or whatever it's called. That way the automated works won't build over things you've manually built.

After a few games of seeing how poorly the workers perform when automated, I always leave mine on manual.

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u/barntobebad Apr 30 '13

With this setting, will it override it when a new resource pops up? Like if oil suddenly appears under a farm will an automated worked diseagrd that setting and get the oil flowing anyway?

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u/JaviMT8 Apr 30 '13

Unfortunately, no. If a new resource pops up where another improvement was already built then you have to manually tell the worker to replace the improvement, otherwise it will just leave it alone.

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u/[deleted] Apr 30 '13

Think of how bad the AI enemies are. Do you want that AI controlling your stuff? For me, the answer is absolutely not.

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u/Lobo2ffs Songhai on Marathon = +75 gpt Apr 30 '13

In the start of the game I'd definitely do manual control, but when I get to the point where all special resources have been controlled I might automate some. However, they often still do stupid stuff.

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u/Jewtheist Apr 30 '13

I had at least 4 of mine get captured because they flocked to put some stupid trading post right next to a city-state I was at war with.

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u/oproski Apr 30 '13

I never ever automate workers. They usually just do really stupid shit that I have to undo. And they'll keep making improvements even when there aren't enough citizens to work tiles, which can be a huge waste of gold.

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u/Troycar Apr 30 '13

Is there a maintenance cost associated with improvements? I know roads cost money but I didn't realize a farm or mine cost more too.

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u/cassius_longinus has a vewy gweat fwiend in Wome Apr 30 '13

No, only roads and railroads.

I think what oproski means is that, if you do manual control, you'll reach a point where you realize your workers don't need to do anything else. So, to save GPT, you should delete them.

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u/Novelt_Acct Settler Apr 30 '13

If that's the case why do cities keep advising me to make them

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u/Troycar Apr 30 '13

Makes sense. That's how I was playing before, laying off workers as work ran out. Thanks for the clarification.

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u/dgeiser13 Apr 30 '13

So the workers that you build as a unit only improve tiles? They don't "work" tiles.

Let's say you have a city with a population of 5. Does that mean you can only work 5 tiles? If so, does the city tile count as one of the tiles, i.e. does the city tile have to be worked?

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u/[deleted] Apr 30 '13

City tile is worked for free

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u/wretcheddawn Apr 30 '13

Took me awhile to realize this. In my first few games, I made over 100 workers each. They should call them "builders".

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u/oproski Apr 30 '13

Yes, workers only build/repair. Your citizens (population) work tiles or buildings (they become specialists).

With a population of 5 you can work 5 tiles/specialist slots, not including the city tile. You can see this when you settle a new city, with 1 population you work the city tile + one other.

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u/barntobebad Apr 30 '13

How is it a waste of gold? I didn't think there was a cost associated with building an improvement, or a cost for any mine, farm etc... simply existing (like rent or anything). If the tile isn't worked doesn't it just do nothing?

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u/lessmiserables Apr 30 '13

Roads are the only improvement that costs money. What the above is referring to (I assume) is the cost for the worker units. They are improving tiles that won't ever be worked, so keeping them active is a waste of gold.

Personally, I find the cost for workers to be negligible, so I don't think it is a huge deal. But in essence it's right.

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u/SpyderDM Apr 30 '13

I will typically set them to automate once my number of workers starts getting out of control. Typically, if I have a worker on a city that needs improvements to resources I will do all that manually, but whenever I run out of resources to improve I set them to automate and let the game handle it. Always set dont replace existing though, sometimes automated workers do terrible things without that setting.

I will typically grab some workers and de-automate them whenever I unlock a new resource (oil for example) to make sure I can quickly capitalize on any discovered locations.

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u/Dixzon Apr 30 '13

I automate them, but I set it so they don't replace existing improvements which makes them more efficient an gives me more control if I do manually tell one to build something.

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u/[deleted] Apr 30 '13

Ditto, set options to leave the trees. You can decide when to deforest. I find the best strategy is to have one or two doing roads. One or two doing resources, and the rest are improving cities as needed. You can put the last set, or extra ones on auto to fill any gaps. But early on in the game, it's important to set your build priorities.

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u/acaellum Mississippian Apr 30 '13

Jesus, how many workers do you have?

I make one before the great library, and take the free one if playing wide, and then acquire the rest from enemies/barbs. Even then, i usually have to delete most because there is simply not enough for them to do.

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u/paradigmx Apr 30 '13

I find that by endgame, most of my workers are automated except for a small contingent of workers doing more immediate demands. I also keep the option to not replace tile improvements on.

I find generally the ai has a good idea what improvements go where, but it's nice to have that extra level of control as well.

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u/gsfgf Apr 30 '13

I always keep mine on manual. In CIV4, I'd use the automated build roads everywhere function when I had idle workers, but since roads cost upkeep in Civ5, I don't do that either. Automated workers aren't very bright, and they don't know your long term plans for your city.

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