Bad starting locations

[Juggler_Bob]

This is a first for me...

I set up a new game (Customize)
I chose large world, small land masses, archipelago, 5 billion years, King, raging hordes and standard rules, and I chose to be the Americans.

Ok, the game generates the world, and I am pleased to see that I am starting with four bonus techs

Alphabet, Bronze Working, Ceremonial Burial, and Pottery.

But then I remember from my browsings here at Apolyton that this may just be the game "compensating" me for a lousy starting location...

It is my habit when starting a new game to look to the right side of the screen first (the unit selection box) to see if the game has started me with one or two settlers. I got two!

Then I looked at the map portion of the screen

I don't have any screen capture software, or I would just post the screen and let the image speak for itself.

My two settlers are stranded on a one-tile island (grassland, shield) there are only two other land tiles visible (forest, and grassland, with a hut just begging to be tipped.) The rest is ocean, although there is coastline visible in 4 tiles to the south.

Looks like this (well, not really, but it's the best I can do on the fly with ASCII):

...O O
..O O O
.O O O O
..O I O (c)
.O O C F
..C O H
...C C

Where O = ocean, I = island, C = coastline, F = forest, and H = grassland with hut. the (c) = a dark tile in which the coastline is visible. (Edit: the .'s are necessary to preserve spacing...)

I think I'll play it anyway (you know mapmaking will be the *VERY* first tech I research!)

I saved the 4000 BC, if anyone wants to see it...

I guess I should be thankful that I can at least *SEE* dry land!

Has this (or worse ) ever happened to you?

-Bob





[This message has been edited by Juggler_Bob (edited February 10, 2001).]

[Theben]

That's pretty bad. The worst I've ever had happen to me was to be stuck on one of the poles with no connections to decent terrain. Happens quite often in x-small maps with 6-7 civs.

Then again I don't ever expect to be screwed over that badly when I pick large worlds. The worst was an island just large enough for 3 cities (not including ICS).

Now that I think about it, probably the worst start I ever had was an advanced game where my 1 size-6 city had been built on glacier! There wasn't enough food around to support even a size 1 city! I had 7 turns to race with my NON units/settlers to find a decent starting city point and build a new capital before the old one starved to death. Definitely a challenge!

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"Just got back from the Thought Police Station. It's not as bad as you might assume;
they spend most of their time thinking about donuts."-EnochF

[Theben]

Look at it this way: your capital should be safe from attack for a long time!

Don't forget that if you put a worker on a tile with a hut, you'll lose the hut (I think).

[Scouse Gits]

Yuk! Not a great position to find yourself in at 4000BC. It will be of little compensation but I have seen similar poor starts - sometimes without as many as 4 starting techs.

However, bad starts make good players! You are well on the way to Monarchy and if you are forced to take a non-Monarchy science research Map Making.

Keep us posted!

-----------

SG(2)

[Scouse Gits]

If you are checking for two settlers - you aren't playing deity - what level are you playing? Please send me the save, sounds fun ... git1@scousers.net
Good civin'

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____________
Scouse Git[1]

"CARTAGO DELENDA EST" - Cato the Censor
"The Great Library must be built!"
"A short cut has to be challenging,
were it not so it would be 'the way'." - Paul Craven

[Ming]

quote: Originally posted by Theben on 02-09-2001 11:08 PM Don't forget that if you put a worker on a tile with a hut, you'll lose the hut (I think).

That is correct. But you should probably open the hut before starting the city anyway to avoid getting barbs and maybe getting a non unit

[jcarkey]

SG, he said King. Ming, he can't get to tip the hut because he's on a one square island.

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If Al Gore invented the Internet, then I invented the spell check- Dan Quayle

If someone doesn't agree with you, you haven't explained yourself well enough-Luther Ely Smith

She turned me into a newt...well I got better- Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail

[Julius Brenzaida]

I am interested by the challenge. I’d like to win this one with OCC. Could you send the 4000bc saved game to me ? my e-mail is in my profile. Thanks in advance.
BTW : same thing once happened to me with a gigamap !

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Oh Man, when will you understand that your greatness lies in your failure - Goethe

[Juggler_Bob]

quote: <font size=1>Originally posted by Theben on 02-09-2001 11:08 PM</font> Look at it this way: your capital should be safe from attack for a long time!

No doubt!

If I am not mistaken, as long as there is one unit in the city, sea-based attacks will only become possible when Amphibious Warfare is discovered. Of course, a ship itself can bombard the city, but until the discovery of steam engine (Ironclad), this is not a major threat... YMMV...

I played the map a little last night, and here are the results so far...

Map-making is *NOT* among the first techs offered, so I continued along the Monarchy track (Code of Laws). When I got map-making, I explored the lands to the south. It is a small island, with space for two (or even three) cities with some (2 square) overlaps...(or more with 3 cities)

Not a bad position after all for a start, and I am sure I can catch up to the AI's in tech / # of cities.

I will keep you posted...

First time science advisor quote:
Sire, the torch of knowledge sputters in your hands...
He speaks the truth... Trade Advisor

-Bob


[This message has been edited by Juggler_Bob (edited February 10, 2001).]

[Ming]

quote: Originally posted by jcarkey on 02-10-2001 10:51 AM Ming, he can't get to tip the hut because he's on a one square island.

I know... it was a joke

[Bereta_Eder]

I get in nasty starting positions all the time.

Although not as tragic as Juggler!

I used to think it was because of bad luck or because the computer had something againsts greeks.

I later found (of course by reading the Apolyton Forums) a more logical explanation. ( 7 civs pink gets the terrain always last)

The worst was attached on South Pole with 3 squares (tundra, grassland, plains).

The funny thing was I never bothered to relocate my capital because the expansion actually was simetrical to Athens.

By the way NO UNIT EVER approached the capital in that game

[rixxe]

quote: Originally posted by Juggler_Bob on 02-09-2001 10:12 PM I think I'll play it anyway (you know mapmaking will be the *VERY* first tech I research!) I saved the 4000 BC, if anyone wants to see it...

Could you send me the savegame please,...?

[Bereta_Eder]

Can I have it too plz

[Julius Brenzaida]

Thanks Juggler.
I've got the game. Looks tough indeed. 3 ground squares and no specials ! I'll keep everybody informed with a log.

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Oh Man, when will you understand that your greatness lies in your failure - Goethe

[rixxe]

Where are you from Julius??!