User Guide

Plains: These open areas differ from Grasslands in having poorer soil but better
resources of timber and minerals. They are poor food producers unless irrigated.
Due to the presence of resources, they make good choices for city sites. Plains
may be converted into Forests.
Rivers: Rivers are great sites for starting cities and civilizations due to the richness
of riverbank soils and natural trade routes for boats. However, only about half of
the River squares have resources. Rivers are as good as Grasslands for producing
food and always generate trade. River terrain may be irrigated to increase food
production. It was no accident that the first civilizations sprang up along rivers.
Swamp: These coastal wetlands and flooded interior lands produce only a small
quantity of food. Like Jungles, however, they can be converted into Grasslands
or Forest.
Tundra: These sparse lands of permafrost produce only a small amount of food
from grazing animals. There is no agriculture or use for irrigation. These areas
cannot be converted to other terrain and make very poor city sites.
Special Resources
Special resources can occur in many terrain types and add significantly to the
economic value of the terrain. The location of these resources is marked by
distinct symbols that are uncovered as the map is explored. More detailed
information about special resources can be found on the Terrain Chart in the
Technical Supplement or under the entry for their base terrain in the Civilopedia.
A brief description of the special resources follows.
Coal (Hills): Coal deposits represent rich
locations of coal or metal ores. These areas
produce greatly increased resources, especially
when mined.
Fish (Ocean): Fish represent the location of
underwater banks and reefs where currents and
nutrients create excellent fishing grounds.
Fishing grounds produce increased amounts of
food.
Game (Forest and Tundra): The presence of
game indicates excellent food sources available
Medicine
(Philosophy & Trade)
ShakespeareÕs
Theater
When selecting sites for new cities, consider the terrain types that are within
the radius of the prospective city (see The City Radius, page 45). The best city
sites offer immediate food, resource, and trade production, plus the potential for
long term development.
A brief description of the terrain types follows.
Arctic: Frozen glaciers of ice and snow found near the north and south poles. No
food, resources, or trade can be obtained here.
Desert: Very dry region that can be developed to be marginally productive. There
are some resources present that can be mined, food can be produced if the desert
is irrigated, and roads generate some trade.
Forest: These woodlands produce a modest mixture of food and resources. If
more food production is needed in the area, they can be converted into Plains.
Grassland: These open lands have especially thick topsoil making them excellent
food producing areas. Food production can be increased by irrigation. Roughly
half of the Grasslands also have some resources (shield symbol), making them
excellent city sites. Grasslands may be converted into Forests for increased
resource production.
Hills: An area of rolling hills that offers easy access to minerals, sources of water,
pastures, and some possibility for agriculture. When mined, Hills produce
excellent resources. They also produce some food and can be irrigated if
necessary. Irrigating Hills allows the irrigation to pass on to further squares that
may be otherwise cut off from water.
Jungle: These areas of rain forest and dense jungle produce relatively poor
amounts of food and no resources. However, they can be made much more
valuable by conversion into either Grasslands or Forest. For this reason, the long-
term potential of a city site containing several Jungles is good.
Mountains: This very rugged terrain can only produce a small amount of
resources but this can be increased by mining. Mountains make the best defensive
terrain, but the production is so low that they make a poor economic choice for
the site of a city.
Ocean: Oceans produce small amounts of food, but substantial trade. Only ships
or aircraft can enter Oceans. Landlocked Oceans are really lakes but are treated
like other Oceans in all respects.
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CIVILIZATION
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CIVILIZATION
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