Move From Starting Position?

[okblacke]

Should I do it? (Actually, I did do it. But was it a good idea?)

I guess I'm wondering about the trade off between workable land and coastal squares.

[okblacke]

Let's try that screenshot again.

[Julian Delphiki]

Thats one good looking start either way. Carthage would of course benefit from Cothon on coast, but i probably would not waste turns for moving and there is no certainty of seafood.

[wodan11]

Looks like you'll lose your fresh water, too, unless you settle on the dye. Plus, your corn will then require 1 semi-useless farm. Being carthage, I'd probably be shooting for a CE. I'd stay right there.

[Nikomakkos]

Settling on the dye would actually be a really good idea, in my opinion. That would mean you could use more squares for towns. And having a resource on the city square means you get access to that resource (once you have the required tech, Calendar). This is an excellent starting location. I agree with the computers choice, and it's just one turn lost.

[wodan11]

Originally posted by Nikomakkos
Settling on the dye would actually be a really good idea, in my opinion. That would mean you could use more squares for towns.

With probable tiles in the black areas, settling in place allows 15 Towns. Whereas moving to the coast dye allows 11 maybe 12.

You can see that the coast curls around the top plains, and continues west of the dye. So you lose quite a bit to coast tiles.

And having a resource on the city square means you get access to that resource (once you have the required tech, Calendar).

Losing the couple of turns to make a plantation is not a big problem. Saving "build" turns is really only an issue in the early early game. If I can hook up copper 10 turns early, that can be huge. If I can hook up dye 10 turns early, all it does is give me +1 happy across my empire. Net result is a some extra commerce and hammers because I presumably have extra citizens (and that even assumes that I have a ton of cities which are sitting there maxed out). But you lose out by having fewer Towns, which is a much bigger issue.

[couerdelion]

Settling on the coast looks a strong start. If nothing else, your capital tile will have three commerce and with a bit of luck you’ll get some fish to allow a workboat/worker build.

If I’m correct, you’ve got a fishing/mining tech start and also have fish you should probably go for Bronze first. Build workboat using the highest product tile available. Grow to size two with warrior, then switch to worker and whip it.

Second tech is agriculture. While you wait for this, mine the gems then farm the corn.

It all looks so easy from here

[Nikomakkos]

Originally posted by wodan11

With probable tiles in the black areas, settling in place allows 15 Towns. Whereas moving to the coast dye allows 11 maybe 12.

You can see that the coast curls around the top plains, and continues west of the dye. So you lose quite a bit to coast tiles.


Losing the couple of turns to make a plantation is not a big problem. Saving "build" turns is really only an issue in the early early game. If I can hook up copper 10 turns early, that can be huge. If I can hook up dye 10 turns early, all it does is give me +1 happy across my empire. Net result is a some extra commerce and hammers because I presumably have extra citizens (and that even assumes that I have a ton of cities which are sitting there maxed out). But you lose out by having fewer Towns, which is a much bigger issue.

You won't necessarily have fewer towns, they'll just belong to another city. You can still use that land. Having a coastal city has all kinds of benefits.

It will be very long until you can have such a huge and happy city that it'll be working close to 20 squares. I think that the coastal option is more beneficial, because the earlier part of the game is more important usually.

[patcon]

Why not move your warrior one tile to the northeast, thus revealing more of the coastal tiles before deciding on city placement? Or did you already move your warrior?

[Nikomakkos]

Yeah, tell us Okblacke, have you moved the warrior at all or are you still sitting looking at that start position waiting for more advice? :P

[Theben]

Normally I'd build right there, but as the Carthaginians a coastal move is a good idea.

[TriMiro]

If the map is Pangaea, coastal cities would not give you much advantage, if you are playing on something else, then waisting a turn might be a good idea.

[Supr49er]

I see two options, both pretty good.

1) move to coast to take advantage of Cothon.
2) settle in place, scout out N for good coastal 2nd city.

Every time I see posted starting locations, it makes me want to play. I love the early game strategies and exploration.

[Theben]

Originally posted by wodan11
Losing the couple of turns to make a plantation is not a big problem. Saving "build" turns is really only an issue in the early early game. If I can hook up copper 10 turns early, that can be huge. If I can hook up dye 10 turns early, all it does is give me +1 happy across my empire.

In this case, having the capital w/dye next to river should kick in his FIN bonus in the city square, which could be a big boost early on.

[snoopy369]

I'd settle in place. There will be plenty of spots for coastal cities, and the starting location often has bonus surprise resources you can't see (ie, copper/iron/etc.) I'd be surprised if that plains hill did not have one of the early starting resources...