diff --git a/src/games/civilization/CivilizationAI.js b/src/games/civilization/CivilizationAI.js
index c52e05c..69acaec 100644
--- a/src/games/civilization/CivilizationAI.js
+++ b/src/games/civilization/CivilizationAI.js
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import {
   considerRequest, considerGift, makeTreatyRequest, resolveRequest, aiWouldAccept,
   escalateFrustration, checkPledges, pickFairTrade, setCooldown,
 } from './CivilizationDiplomacy.js';
-import { siteQuality } from './CivilizationWorldGen.js';
 
 const MAX_UNIT_STEPS = 40; // per unit per turn, guards against loops
 
@@ -437,11 +436,50 @@ function stepSettler(rules, state, civIdx, unit, strategy) {
   return moveToward(rules, state, unit, best.x, best.y);
 }
 
+function aiCitySiteScore(rules, world, x, y, covered) {
+  // Score the full working radius (Chebyshev distance <= 2), but only count
+  // tiles that aren't already within range of another city.
+  const { cols, rows } = world;
+  let q = 0;
+  for (let dy = -2; dy <= 2; dy += 1) {
+    for (let dx = -2; dx <= 2; dx += 1) {
+      const nx = x + dx;
+      const ny = y + dy;
+      if (nx < 0 || ny < 0 || nx >= cols || ny >= rows) continue;
+      if (covered.has(nx * 1000 + ny)) continue; // tile already covered by another city
+      const terr = rules.terrainList[world.terrain[ny * cols + nx]];
+      if (terr.water || terr.id === 'mountains' || terr.id === 'glacier') continue;
+      const spec = world.special[ny * cols + nx] >= 0 ? rules.specialList[world.special[ny * cols + nx]] : null;
+      const food = spec ? spec.food : terr.food;
+      const shield = spec ? spec.shield : terr.shield;
+      const trade = spec ? spec.trade : terr.trade;
+      q += food * 3 + shield * 2 + trade;
+    }
+  }
+  return q;
+}
+
 export function bestCitySite(rules, state, civIdx, unit) {
   const { world } = state;
+  const myCities = civCities(state, civIdx);
   let best = null;
   let bestScore = -Infinity;
-  const R = 7;
+  const R = 12; // search wider so distant good sites are found
+
+  // Pre-compute which tiles are already within working radius of own cities
+  const covered = new Set();
+  for (const city of myCities) {
+    for (let dy = -2; dy <= 2; dy += 1) {
+      for (let dx = -2; dx <= 2; dx += 1) {
+        const cx = city.x + dx;
+        const cy = city.y + dy;
+        if (cx >= 0 && cy >= 0 && cx < world.cols && cy < world.rows) {
+          covered.add(cx * 1000 + cy);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   for (let dy = -R; dy <= R; dy += 1) {
     for (let dx = -R; dx <= R; dx += 1) {
       const x = unit.x + dx;
@@ -450,10 +488,25 @@ export function bestCitySite(rules, state, civIdx, unit) {
       if (!canFoundCity(rules, state, x, y)) continue;
       const terr = terrainAt(rules, world, x, y);
       if (terr.water || terr.id === 'mountains') continue;
+
+      // Don't found right on top of a neighbour's doorstep
       const enemyClose = state.civs.some((c) => c.alive && c.id !== civIdx
         && civCities(state, c.id).some((ct) => cheb(ct.x, ct.y, x, y) <= 3));
       if (enemyClose) continue;
-      const score = siteQuality(rules, world, x, y) - cheb(unit.x, unit.y, x, y) * 2;
+
+      // Penalize sites too close to own cities (overlapping working radii)
+      let tooClose = false;
+      let minOwnDist = Infinity;
+      for (const city of myCities) {
+        const d = cheb(city.x, city.y, x, y);
+        if (d < minOwnDist) minOwnDist = d;
+        if (d <= 3) { tooClose = true; break; } // hard reject: radii overlap almost fully
+      }
+      if (tooClose) continue;
+
+      const score = aiCitySiteScore(rules, world, x, y, covered)
+        - cheb(unit.x, unit.y, x, y) * 1.5
+        - (minOwnDist <= 5 ? (5 - minOwnDist) * 6 : 0); // soft penalty at 4-5 tiles
       if (score > bestScore) { bestScore = score; best = { x, y }; }
     }
   }