Land or Ocean?

[Loukov Herz]

Its really interesting how many people just start at the sea. I usually start off on the land, and then spread out everywhere, but if I'm at the heart of an island, its a real pain in the ass to get to the sea. But then again, if I start out at sea, then I dont have easy access to all parts of the island. I guess I'll try a Seafaring civilization next time and see what happens. What do you suggest I do first?

[joncnunn]

When I get a coastal start it always seems as if there's at least one sea resource within the starting city's expanded CR, which kind of makes it a no brainer to build Work Boats if you also started with Fishing. But without Fishing I build Scouts or Warriors as Scouts depending upon weather on not I started with Hunting while waiting for Fishing.

For a land start I'm always building a Scout (or Warrior as scout) first also depending upon weather or not I started with Hunting.

[Blaupanzer]

Welcome aboard, Loukov Herz.

[johnmcd]

I think one of the issues for me is that starting techs are in no way related to the start.

Why not give a historical start tech set - what you get for being that kind of civ (ie, your destiny) and something related to where you actually are - if you're Spain, and you're not on the coast, why would you have fishing. If you're surrounded by rice, have agriculture.

[Blaupanzer]

You would think the seafaring types at least would get the fishing tech. I've not found that, over time, coastal starts are anymore common for such civs than for any other. Some AI coastal starts will have four sea resources and 2 or more land resources. Two such starts exist in my current game. I don't recall ever having quite such a start.

[Supr49er]

Make sure you have a couple of coastal cities to get the seafood bonuses and of course, to build your navy.

Welcome to Apolyton Loukov Herz.

[Willem]

Originally posted by Loukov Herz
I guess I'll try a Seafaring civilization next time and see what happens.

Are you sure you're referring to the right game? There is no Seafaring trait in Civ 4, that's in Civ 3.

[Supr49er]

I think he means someone like Willem or Ragnar.

[Blaupanzer]

Or Hannibal. Civs with a UB or UU that emphasizes the sea, e.g., Portugal.

[rah]

Of course, nothing pisses me off more in an MP game then starting on the coast with a civ that starts with fishing but there aren't any sea specials. Starting landlocked isn't quite as bad but it's still irritating. A wasted tech early can make a big difference.

[joncnunn]

A possible solution for MP games is to have a 3rd party make the map who takes into consideration the starting techs of each civ.

[rah]

Since we play just one siting games that is probably impractical. After 4-6 hours it's pretty obvious who is going to dominate. So most people see no reason to continue the game. And we may restart or could be playing with anywhere between 3 human players up to as many as 10 so having a cache of maps ready for whatever we might need seems a bit muchl. Besides, anyone that would volunteer to make maps usually wants to play.

[Theben]

Originally posted by Blaupanzer
You would think the seafaring types at least would get the fishing tech. I've not found that, over time, coastal starts are anymore common for such civs than for any other. Some AI coastal starts will have four sea resources and 2 or more land resources. Two such starts exist in my current game. I don't recall ever having quite such a start.

I've had ones similar to that. It's not too uncommon.

Maybe that's why I like the NA so much. Agri+ fishing, research BW and you have tons of food with Slavery and a decent non-resource dependent UU. Everthing just clicks very early.