I would like to hear perspectives and opinions related to this matter.
Of course the obvious reason for picking a 5 city nation is when there are no other nations available. I also understand if someone intentionally picks a 5 city nation to have a more challenging early game or if they think that having only 1 supplies city is not that big of a disadvantage. While I think that having 2 supplies cities or more cities in general is less meaningful towards the end game, given that you expand and have a successful game, I still think that having only 1 supplies city instead of 2 is quite a significant disadvantage, especially in the early game.
I'm in no way saying that you can't be successful or win the game with a 5 city nation. I just don't see the reason to pick a 5 city nation and intentionally handicap oneself by having significantly less supplies in the early game which hinders the ability to research and mobilize basic infantry (motorized/national guard). Based on my limited experience in the game, I think that the most significant disadvantage is especially between 5 city nations and those with 6 or more cities. While having 2 component cities instead of one (6 cities vs. 7 cities) can be advantageous if you are going for a build including a big navy and somehow avoid running out of electronics before components, I still don't consider this difference as significant.
I guess I'm also trying to figure out the reasoning behind nations having unequal resources or resource production in the beginning of the game.
Of course the obvious reason for picking a 5 city nation is when there are no other nations available. I also understand if someone intentionally picks a 5 city nation to have a more challenging early game or if they think that having only 1 supplies city is not that big of a disadvantage. While I think that having 2 supplies cities or more cities in general is less meaningful towards the end game, given that you expand and have a successful game, I still think that having only 1 supplies city instead of 2 is quite a significant disadvantage, especially in the early game.
I'm in no way saying that you can't be successful or win the game with a 5 city nation. I just don't see the reason to pick a 5 city nation and intentionally handicap oneself by having significantly less supplies in the early game which hinders the ability to research and mobilize basic infantry (motorized/national guard). Based on my limited experience in the game, I think that the most significant disadvantage is especially between 5 city nations and those with 6 or more cities. While having 2 component cities instead of one (6 cities vs. 7 cities) can be advantageous if you are going for a build including a big navy and somehow avoid running out of electronics before components, I still don't consider this difference as significant.
I guess I'm also trying to figure out the reasoning behind nations having unequal resources or resource production in the beginning of the game.