Ground:

Learn how to maximize Food, Production, and Trade from Ground tiles in Sid Meier's Civilization VII. Discover irrigation, roads, and railroads for early game advantage.

Hey there! So, you're diving into Sid Meier's Civilization VII and wondering about those basic Ground tiles? They might not seem like much, but they're actually super important, especially when you're just starting out. Let's break down how to get the most out of them.

What Ground Tiles Give You:

• Food: You get 1 Food from a basic Ground tile, but you can bump that up to 2 with Irrigation.
• Production (Build): It gives you 1 Production point, and if there are Horses nearby, it jumps to 3!
• Trade: Normally, Ground tiles don't give you any Trade points. However, if you build Roads, you can get 2 Trade points when you're in a Republic or Democracy government, and 1 point with other governments.
• Movement: It costs 1 movement point to cross a Ground tile.
• Defense: No combat bonus here, just a flat 0% to defense.

Ground vs. Grass: Early Game Advantage

You might hear that Grass tiles are better later in the game, and that's true. But at the start, Ground tiles are your best friend. Why? Because it's really easy to irrigate them, matching the Food output of Grass, and you can build things faster on Ground spots. Don't underestimate them early on!

Can You Change a Ground Tile? Absolutely!

Your Settler units can actually modify Ground tiles. Here's what you can do:

• Forest: You can turn a Ground tile into a Forest. This gives you more Production but less Food. It takes about 15 turns to complete. Whether it's worth it is up to your strategy!
• Irrigation: This is key for boosting Food. While Grass spots eventually give 4 Food, irrigating a Ground spot early on will get you more than 2 Food points. It only takes 5 turns to set up. Definitely prioritize this early in the game!
• Road: Building a Road is a game-changer. It makes your units move three times faster and really speeds up your Science output, which is crucial at all stages. Plus, it's quick to build, taking only 2 turns.
• Railroad: Once you have a Road, building a Railroad on top of it is even better. It costs 4 turns, but it multiplies your gains by 1.5. So, if you were getting 2 Food, you'll now get 3. If you had 3 Production, it becomes 4. Just remember, it only works with whole numbers!

The Absolute Best Ground Tile Usage

When you've got a Ground tile set up perfectly, you can expect it to give you a sweet spot of 3 Food, 4 Production, and 2 Trade points. That's a solid boost for your growing empire!