:old: I don't recall but I have a vague recollection that we started with only a settler.

To speed up the initial stages of the game ... what if we also get a worker and maybe a warrior.

Or if you want to make it sexy ... give each team an initial number of shield values so that each team can pick what units they start with that add upto this value.

eg. A team may choose more than one worker or just warriors or even another settler depending on what the shield value is agree on.

Thoughts?

That’d certainly allow a whole extra wrinkle to the strategy – and would potentially speed up the early game where not a whole lot happens for those first turns.

The biggest problem I see is that if (just for the sake of an example) each team was given 30 shields to play with, I find it hard to believe that any team would take 3 warriors over an extra settler.

Perhaps we could start each team with X number of shields (say 40-50?) and just forbid selecting any extra settlers. And limit each team to no more than 2 workers.
Then each team could PM their selections to Rik, and he could add the extra units in the capitals of each civ.
Unit selection would, of course, have to be limited to starting technologies – and if a team picks a water unit (as the Commercial Civs could) then they could just list an alternate unit in case their capital is land-locked.

Final thought – as long as Rik could add units that teams don’t necessarily have the technology for, we could allow each team to select any units they want (regardless of starting technology) from the first-row techs (Bronze Working, Alphabet, Wheel, and Warrior Code) – obviously you couldn’t pick someone elses’s UU.

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea! Spices up the start of the game and gives the teams something to think about while Rik works on the map!

Just my 2 cents.
:salute:

If it were to happen, I'd suggest giving each team a free chariot, plus 2 additional warriors or an archer or a spearman (in sumeria's case they'd get 2 enkidus), plus an extra settler and an extra worker.

Or, just give human civs the starting units of an Emperor AI?

I don't think we should complicate things further, I say just start with the standard settler and worker.

Being one of the ag civs we'd be thrilled with an extra settler. The agricultural bonus of 1 extra food in every base city square (that borders a river) would give us a slight edge that's so pivotal in the early game. Add to this the ability to immediate access to granaries allowing us to REX two cities not one. Hence, faster high shield cities from pop growth, faster settler/worker production and faster combat unit production.

It seems a little overpowered to me but if the non ags are willing I'd say we're game. :D

Just make it standard, I say.

Adding more units tips things too much one way or the other.

An industrious civ would benefit greatly from another worker.

An agricultural civ would benefit greatly from another settler.

Etc.

Adding units like that, especially increases the already powerful agricultural and industrious traits.

--Elear

I, too, would like to see us stick with the usual.

As much as spicing it up might be nice, I think the game is already spiced up enough with our coming custom rule changes.

We should leave any additional "sexy" things to SG's and GOTM's.

Being one of the ag civs we'd be thrilled with an extra settler. The agricultural bonus of 1 extra food in every base city square (that borders a river) would give us a slight edge that's so pivotal in the early game. Add to this the ability to immediate access to granaries allowing us to REX two cities not one. Hence, faster high shield cities from pop growth, faster settler/worker production and faster combat unit production.

It seems a little overpowered to me but if the non ags are willing I'd say we're game. :D
:agree: We go with Panda Boy.....or, just keep it standard ;)

:wavey:Daghie Boy.
Since we're in the giving season here's a present (especially the wild chicks in the background) from me to your team. Check out Elton John on keyboards too
I love you guys, man :cry:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ePiG2Fe13jc

And one for Irongold too (miss you too pal). The Pogues fronted by Joe Strummer....
http://youtube.com/watch?v=DAKyA2ttv0I

I'd lean towards not starting with extra units.

No extra units please. I would like to keep this game fair for all, instead of giving the AGR teams a huge advantage right out of the gate.

Keep it standard. Any changes like letting civs get an extra settler or worker would unbalance the game, it would be unfair.

One settler, one worker. :)

Since there are no expansionist tribes, why not give a worker & a scout? That would allow for land improvement and exploration.

one settler, one worker

Since there are no expansionist tribes, why not give a worker & a scout? That would allow for land improvement and exploration.

They already start with a worker, I don't see why they need a second one. ;)

I'm siding with the "one settler, one worker" crowd, just for the record.

One settler, one worker, one modern armor.

....

....

....



:lol:

They already start with a worker, I don't see why they need a second one. ;)

I'm siding with the "one settler, one worker" crowd, just for the record.

:old: I can remember man kicking the dust of the moon, but not that we started with a worker :blush:

Thanks for clearing that up :D

@Whomp and Dags :wavey: :xmas:

Joe Strummer RIP :cry:

My suggestion should have been one settler, one worker & one scout (the standard expansionist start). Sorry about the confusion

After enjoying Whompers little gift I've changed my mind.

One settler, one worker and one tartan clad 70's bassist

One settler, one worker, one modern armor.

I want to see us start with a missionary. :D

:rotfl: nice one

I don't see a reason why we should start with anything other than a worker and settler. I don't believe anyone should be given a scout, if someone wanted one they should have gone with a expansionist civ.

I'm with the standard crowd... If we keep bringing up changes to this game, we'll be here until next Christmas before we have that save that GA was talking about in the sign-up thread.

ok - I am (mostly) convinced.

Standard start will be fine! :thumbsup: