What will you do when you start with a hut in your initial position?

[The Mad Monk]

It is uncommon, but not unheard of, to get an advanced tribe from a hut before you found any cities. It is more likely, and to me preferable, to get a horse unit or something similar. Although I used to love pulling advanced tribes out of huts, I've come to dislike it. The placement of the huts is such that the city will have only one or two specials (if any), and they tend to wreck the pattern of cities I try to acheive.

Though building initial city in hopes of advanced tribe is tempting, I go for the hut right off. The non unit is very nice. If it is a horse, I explore. If an archer (for instance), I send to my capitol.

[SandMonkey]

Plus, I think I remember reading somewhere, that barbs will never defeat your only defender in your only city. Just a bit more insurance for ya.

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SandMonkey

"Shut up brain or I'll stab you with a qtip"
-Homer Simpson

"Ecky ecky ecky!"
"It's just a flesh wound!"
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail

[geofelt]

It's true; you never get barbs if you enter a hut before you build your first city. I always explore for a few turns to see if I can uncover a few NON units, particularly horsemen. This lets me make a better decision on where to found the first two cities, and I might get a nice unit to explore with. After that, count on the odds: A study was done, and you get barbs only about 5% of the time. Early on, enter huts on the first turn with a horseman. This preserves the option to attack the barb that might emerge. Early, there will only be one. If you found a city, and the hut square is not worked, the hut will persist, and you can open it later. I think that this strategy will not yield barbarians, but I am not certain.

[SandMonkey]

George -

Many tests done by people at this site have proven that you can never get barbs from a hut before founding your first city. Never. So stop worrying and go open that hut!

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SandMonkey

"Shut up brain or I'll stab you with a qtip"
-Homer Simpson

"Ecky ecky ecky!"
"It's just a flesh wound!"
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail

[George Garrett]

I won't poke a hut if any of my precious early settlers are around - then even when they've safely built my cities for me, I investigate only with a unit that can look after itself - like armour, or better;-). As a civ pessimist, I always regard each hut as full - of barbs! Many a game has gone by, when I've not investigated a single hut, out of fear, negligence, or higher ambitions.

[Seeker]

The best thing is a NON unit, so always discover the hut first. Use it to explore and find other huts.

[oedo]

I found my capital several times under a goody hut, in SP as in MP.
I would always grab the hut before I build my first city. The best thing I can find is NONE horseman/chariot. The worst thing is warrior code.

If you pop it before building your first city then you won't get barbs or an advanced tribe.

[SmartFart]

If my hut lies on a grassland/plains,i'll build a road with one settlers until my other settlers are far enough (min 5 squares from my hut).
When i build my capital,i'll step on hut square with my other settlers.
*Poof*.....advanced tribe in about 50%,barbs in less than 5%.
Even if i don't get my advanced tribe it surely worth a try to me.
If hut lies on rough terrain,i'll try to get none-unit before i build my capital.