Question

[d=me]

I'm I supposed to get a free colony pod at the start?

[smacfan]

Yes, but only if you pick the setting "look first", which means you can move the colony pod to a better location if you wish.

HTH

[Mart]

Transcend difficulty level gives 2 colony pods

[Dis]

I always choose look first.

Even though I can't recall a time where I ever moved on the first turn. go figure.

[Mart]

I also almost always wish to establish the first base in the first turn. However, when being lucky to start on a river, one can relocate up to 2 tiles away

[Flubber]

Originally posted by mart7x5
I also almost always wish to establish the first base in the first turn. However, when being lucky to start on a river, one can relocate up to 2 tiles away

I will frequently NOT establish my first base on the first turn. If for example waiting a turn will mean that I can get on a river or If I am playing a One-City challenge and I can see an ocean (I prefer to have a port if I can)--
Even if I am on a rainy rolling tile and can move to that flat arid one . . . To me, amy of these are worth the loss of a single turn's production.

[Flubber]

Oh and d=me . . . . you really need to put more thought into your thread titles

[Mart]

I completely agree with you Flubber:
- Base has standard nutrient and mineral production, thus flat and arid receives the most bonus here. rainy is just a waste then, unless there are rainy only around - almost never happens...
- River still adds that 1 EC to the base
- port city in multiplayer though - danger of being infiltrated by other human before guarding probe team is in place

[Flubber]

Originally posted by mart7x5
I completely agree with you Flubber:
- Base has standard nutrient and mineral production, thus flat and arid receives the most bonus here. rainy is just a waste then, unless there are rainy only around - almost never happens...
- River still adds that 1 EC to the base

yes-- those are the reasons for my choice

Originally posted by mart7x5

- port city in multiplayer though - danger of being infiltrated by other human before guarding probe team is in place

Very small danger that a person will get flex and probes before I put a defensive probe in place-- and I said I would move for ocean in a one city challenge-- its because trawlers are so effective for an energy park

[d=me]

Why do the Ai always get 2 colony pods at the start? Sometimes I also get 2 in librarian difficulty.

[Googlie]

Prima says that the game engine will sometimes recognize a less-than-optimum start site by giving another Colony Pod (or sometimes a Unity Transport Foil) to compensate - even at lesser difficulty levels

[Major Guz]

I n my recent games, I received an extra colony pod in my starting base (don't use look first, because I think the AI doesn't) when in a dry, unhospitable environment. A unity foil when in a dry unhospitable environment but start = port. None of the above if the starting position is very green and hospitable, even not when it is a port.
I don't recall, what the engine would do if most tiles are hospitable, but overgrown with fungus; does it count as inhospitable (must have formers to clear, and sometimes it takes a while to be able to build them, especially miriam)?

[Chaos Theory]

I seem to get a Unity Foil if and only if I start on a small island, next to water.

[d=me]

How come all of the other factions ganged up on me when I'm strong? I hate that. The game becomes impossible to play. Gaians attacked for nothing.

[Clear Skies]

i) Everyone always hates you when you're riding high in the powercharts. Wouldn't you?
ii) Deirdre doesn't ever need a reason to attack. She's the most capricious little ***** I've ever laid eyes upon.