Do you have a preferred start location??

[Flubber]

I know this will depend on faction, map size and momentum/builder preferences to some degree but I am just curious as to whether people prefer to be at the edge of the map or more toward the center. . . I am torn


AT A POLE


Defense is easier from the simple fact that there is a "safe area" at your back. It can be great for energy parks. Home defense is simplified since there are fewer directions from which attacks can come and you can often build longer since it seems that you may be left alone for longer. BUT you could be far far away from the factions that are growing and tech trading . . .



IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL

Obviously defense is tougher but trade and diplomacy is quicker and probing is easier just because you are closer to everyone. Also you can be more influential if you are not a far-away power. You can be a diplomatic power broker since your forces are at hand.



There are times I abhor my pole start since it takes forever to meet anyone and the darn AI I want to probe is oh so far away. Other times I curse my central continent when I am being sniped at from three directions.

How about you folks? Do you like to find yourself dead centre ot are you happier when you see that map edge?? Does it make a difference to you whether it is MP or SP ??

[Admiral]

For me, I usually like to start in the center. Sure the AI will snipe at me, but almost all of the time the AI isn't to hard to convince to go commit suicide someplace else (or I just wipe them out).

[Purple]

The best starting position is near or in the Monsoon Jungle, so that means a near-equatorial first base. I hate it when I discover the MJ is already occupied by an alien.

Having the HQ near the equator also minimizes drone activity at the most remote bases (although you could relocate HQ to a central position at any time).

I can't decide whether I like starting on a big land mass or on an island small enough to qualify for a free Unity Foil. It's nice to seed two land masses, and the foil can start popping seapods right away.

[Avenoct]

The jungle can be a pain if you are the University, but otherwise it's great, especially for Yang or Lal. If it were a real-life situation I'd want to be at the poles for defensive reasons, but against the AI, its far better to be in the center for early tech-trades, conquest, what-have-you.

My personal favorite starting location is right between the MJ and the Uranium Flats.

-S-

[Blake]

My greatest annoyance is when my HQ is right on the edge of the map, neatly splitting my empire into two halves on the mini-map. This annoys me.

being somewhat of an isolationist I prefer a pole start.

I run away screaming (restart) should I start in a rainy spot, it goes against my policy "everything must be terraformed". (I cant remember the last time I saw the jungle, cant turn up often on arid maps )

[T-hawk]

I HATE HATE HATE HATE the Monsoon Jungle.

It is RIDICULOUSLY unbalancing. Not only does it give +1 nutrient per square, all Jungle squares are automatically Rainy. That's more like +2 nutrients per square, which is a HORRIFIC bonus. The moment the food restrictions come off, it's just about game over.

And why does Yang ALWAYS land there?! In every one of my last five games (except when I played Yang), he landed in the Jungle. And when I played Yang, Lal landed there, on the continent right next door to mine.

I'm playing a game on Transcend right now as Morgan, and thanks to starting in the jungle, Yang's got triple my height on the power bar despite me throwing everything I can at him. I'm holding onto a slim tech edge with Doctrine Air, and desperately trying to reach Fusion and Orbital before he does. At least Yang didn't get Hunter-Seeker, but neither did I. Lal has it, and fortunately for me is treatied with Yang and sunspot activity just began (meaning Yang won't conquer Lal.)

Can the Jungle be removed from the game by removing the appropriate line from the Landmarks section of alpha.txt? I haven't tried, but now think I need to...

[Flubber]

[SIZE=1] My personal favorite starting location is right between the MJ and the Uranium Flats.

-S-

Well sure although I like the jungle and the +1 Planet one with the crater, flats and pholus ridge right nearby

AS I am beginning to consider this I am thinking that in a SP game , you may as well be dead center and enjoy some action ( since you will win anyway). But for MP, I'm still up in the air. . .

[Blake]

Can the Jungle be removed from the game by removing the appropriate line from the Landmarks section of alpha.txt? I haven't tried, but now think I need to...

I dont think that would work.... One thing I do is generate random maps in the scenerio edit, do some touchup work (remove the jungle, connect/disconnect continents to taste, pre-seed with forests, if SMAC make the ocean fresh etc etc.) then save it and start a new game on it. Then you get a map exactly how you like it, and the random map generator did all the monkey work.

[knowhow2]

I guess it's always nice to land next to the Manifold Nexus, almost all faction gets the ability to start hunting mindworms for more than just cash and morale boost.

for OCC I would say that in the middle of the ruins (I actually don't think you can land in there).

,,

[Sikander]

I like the poles so that my back is covered, or alone on a decent size round or square shaped continent where I can build my great wall defense.

[Fitz]

Originally posted by Blake
My greatest annoyance is when my HQ is right on the edge of the map, neatly splitting my empire into two halves on the mini-map. This annoys me.

You can recenter the minimap I believe. I know you can do it with the world map zoomed out all the way.

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by Fitz


You can recenter the minimap I believe. I know you can do it with the world map zoomed out all the way.

I have learned something new today. I did not know this. I shall try it right now I think.

[Tizzy]

The Unity Wreckage is a pretty good place to start.
I like the Ruins, MJ and Uranium Fields too.

[Sarxis]

The Jungle is great. It is a very powerful landmark, especially at the 'end of the opening' game.

[bobyk464]

I recently started a game where I used a "Map of Planet" for the first time. "Huge Map of Planet," specifically. I've always used random maps up until this point. I'm Zak, and found myself on the rim of the Freshwater Sea. I've built a ring of bases around it, and got a foil energy park going. Looks like a decent situation to be in. I'm also in the process of raising land bridges along the extreme SE & SW portions of the continent, connecting it to the south pole at those points and isolating that huge ocean, making it all mine; nobody's built bases in there yet.

Now, the power charts tell me that Yang is top dog, and the pop-up notices tell me that he's mopping the floor with Deidre. Let me guess - he's in the Monsoon Jungle? Do the factions start in roughly the same places every time you start a game using a "Map of Planet?"