When should I buy cities in Age of Wonders I and when should I not?

Solution 1:

I look at three criteria in this situation:

• Do I have enough gold to spare? The investment is usually significant. Are there any more important things I can use the gold on?

• Can I make use of the troops? Early game, when my armies are small the extra soldiers from that town could be very helpful. Later on, the soldiers from the town could be a nice town defence, which is immediately available and I don't have to spend the turns producing them.

• Do I need the experience? Is my hero or any of the soldiers close to levelling up? would that help in an immediate fight? Would that help more than the extra soldiers?