This means you should never go into a game and say, "I will have 3 Cities". Either is a valid choice, but very few would use Liberty for Tall play.Īs for Tall vs Wide, there is no best - often, you'll need to strike a balance between these playstyles.
Tradition is viewed as so good that people often use it even with wide play, relying on their first Cities' growth bonuses to help fuel Science and increase income. The Pyramids Wonder is unlocked with Liberty, providing a pair of Workers instantly and giving you another 25% faster increase in Tile Improvement construction. Liberty is usually the best Policy to open with, as it allows for fast expansion by increasing the rate you can produce Settlers in your Capital and the rate Workers construct Tile Improvements. It is better to choose locations that are at least somewhat desirable. You'll be working nearly every tile around, though spamming Cities is not wise as of Brave New World. This playstyle focuses on grabbing up much land and has Cities that do not have as much population but their combined output enables quick production of Military units and comparable Scientific output with enough Happiness to allow growth.
Wide: Numerous Cities with some overlap of workable tiles. The Hanging Gardens Wonder is unlocked with Tradition, giving your Capital even faster growth, complimenting the strategy and giving your Capital easier use of Specialists without sacrificing growth early on. Tradition is usually the best Policy to open with this playstyle. There is little to no overlap in tiles to enable Cities to work every tile within a 3-hex radius. Tall: 5 or less Cities on a standard map, with plenty of land between them to allow for optimal growth. Simple Definitions of Tall and Wide Empires So, while you may be inclined to play with only a few Cities, leaving large amounts of land unsettled only invites your neighbors to grab that land and use it against you. Civ is a game about exploring and using the land around you to create an Empire that can pursue one of the various Victory Conditions. This Guide will help you understand the differences between them and the benefits of playing with each layout. There are two frequently mentioned terms describing playstyle and City placement in Civilization 5: Tall and Wide. Civ 5: Tall vs Wide Empires Playstyle Comparison & Tips for City Layout/Empire Management