Newbie questions for my first MP game

[Ceiliazul]

-rivers always appear on tile bottom if moving horizontal
-rivers always appear on right if moving vertical
-The direction you drag your mouse is the direction of flow

For complex stuff, I usually break into sections. I do the outlet section first (still dragging downriver) and do each section in order from delta to headwaters. It's not perfect, but can be made to work.

There is usually some cleanup at the end to delete loose ends.

I have noted rivers in 25 have messed up flow characteristics.... it's not mandatory to make them perfect, just that they give "fresh water" bonus to the right squares.

[novice]

I have noted rivers in 25 have messed up flow characteristics.... it's not mandatory to make them perfect, just that they give "fresh water" bonus to the right squares.

Does the flow direction affect which tiles are counted as riverside?

[Ceiliazul]

Does the flow direction affect which tiles are counted as riverside?

I don't think so, but don't listen to me, I'm a noob.

[Catwalk]

In my sandbox, my espionage points are converted to culture. So I'm getting 6 culture points per turn. Any ideas why that happens?

[spacetyrantxenu]

Is espionage turned off in your sandbox game? If it is, it is supposed to convert EPs into culture.

[haphazard1]

I agree with spacetyrantxenu that is sounds like espionage was turned off in your game setup. This causes EP to become culture, and some odd things happen with wonders that produce Great Spy points as well.

To avoid rebuilding your sandbox, you can save it as a world builder file, and then use that file to start a custom game where you reset the espionage setting (and any other settings). Then open world builder again on the first turn of the custom game. You will have to replay any turns to get your sandbox current again, but this is often easier than rebuilding the starting area.

[Catwalk]

Ah, makes sense. I didn't realize I'd turned off espionage, was from a previous game. Thanks for the tip haphazard1, I'll try that out.

[NobleHelium]

Does the flow direction affect which tiles are counted as riverside?

Flow direction just determines the graphics. And it can be used to tell how careful the mapmaker was or whether the river was generated or hand-made.