Clearing forests

yep , but you would THINK fire spells would also work, but they do not.

Yeah, don't forget the mysteriously-missing traditional method of using an axe and unpaid labourers.

Thanks for sharing the tip.

I tried blistering sands in the past and it didn't let me do it.  I'll try again.

Having a buiding like a wood lodge increasing materials but deforesting would be nice

Or even a building that costs 1 gildar in maintenance but removes a square of forest every 10 turns or w/e, would be awesome.

Would be interesting if the fire got out of control from this.

Did you try again and did it work?

No worries

Yup, tried again and it doesn't let me cast the spell.  I have the brownish square where I want to target.  I can raise and lower and create a mountain, but not blistering sands.

Stupid forests are impeding the growth of a couple of key cities and I am losing a influence war with two neighbors.  I am glad there is no city fliping ala Civ, but sheesh, I am losing resources and can't leave the areas because I am sorrounded. 

Have you tried building town halls and such?

Sure.  I can build to a point.  If I do not have a neighboring forest or one that doesn't encapsulate my city, I can build everything through lvl 5 aka metropolis. But often, I am either blocked by a forest or a neighbor that might actually be more than 5 squares from me.  Another thing I noticed last night is that the growth can be weird sometimes resulting in dead spots within my walls that I can't build in.  I think I am going to have to tak a couple of screenshots and post them here.

This could have something to do with rival or unlocked quest related locations. You could try scrapping labor pits/workshops for atleast to build a town hall, missionary, monument etc.

  I have no idea why that doesn't work for you

If you can cast the greater raise mountain spell though just cast that in a forest square and then cast lower land on the new mountain. You should end up with a clear squre (hopefully).