Evaluate starting locations! Please assist!

[AveiMil]

Hello!

I'm making a custom map for a 2vs2vs2vs2 (or 4vs4 or 8FFA) scenario and I've basically created 4 peninsulas connected by a landmass in the center as such:

http://www.aveimil.com/civ4/MC.JPG

Now each of the pininsuals are exactly the same in each corner of the cross and there are two starting positions in each one.

Please view:



Large: http://www.aveimil.com/civ4/MC_Peninsula.jpg

Starting Pos #1 and #5 are supposed to be teamed.

What I want to do is enable each player to have several choices on where to settle his first settler. This way if we play the map repeatedly there will at least be some strategical variation and options.

The purple and blueish squares are suggested sites to settle as your #1 spot.

When you look at the above screenshot with the resource overview would you consider one spot is far superior than any other? Basically I'm asking for 'balance' help so that each location has it's own advantages and disadvantage and that one spot is not far superior to any other as such that it would be pointless to settle anywhere BUT that spot.

Feedback is welcome!

PS: I have attached the map file if you'd rather load it up in Civ4.

Regards,
AveiMil

 

[AveiMil]

Hmm, let me ask a more direct question: Is any of the starting city positions shown on the screenshot with colored squares far superior to any other?

 

[Sian]

northenmost #1 is proberly the best one of those, 3 FP, Clams, Sheep and Gems ... sure

the weakest in #1 is proberly the westenmost ... not because it in itself is bad, but because it effectively blocks so the seafood to the southwest of it is hard to use

of #5 either the northenmost or the one on the elephants is the strongest, depending what you want out of the capital ... either Irrigated Corn, 3 seafood, Whale and two Spices ... OR 2 Hammer city with Oasis, Rice (irrigated automaticly after CS), Wheat and Gold
The one next to the Elephants just misses both Wheat (only having a lousy nonirrigated Rice as food) and the coast, while the southenmost have the same problem with westenmost#1 ... practially locking out the use of seafood ... And even less food to make up for it

 

[AveiMil]

Good observations Sian. Thank you.

If you would change anything to make it even a more difficult choice between the locations for the first settler, what would you do?

 

[AveiMil]

Calling all experts I need additional input on my map's starting locations.

 

[AveiMil]

Additional screenshots:

http://www.aveimil.com/civ4/Civ4ScreenShot0004.JPG

http://www.aveimil.com/civ4/Civ4ScreenShot0006.JPG

http://www.aveimil.com/civ4/Civ4ScreenShot0008.JPG

 

[TheMeInTeam]

The stone/marble allow for some interesting gambits, and I don't agree 100% with your city placement so we're already looking at something with multiple options.

I'm far from an expert on MP teamers though it seems like the goal would be making sure the island itself is conducive to team play, balancing it for that rather than individual civs.

 

[AveiMil]

The stone/marble allow for some interesting gambits, and I don't agree 100% with your city placement so we're already looking at something with multiple options.

Think you would ever settle your first or second settler towards the stone/marble to snag any of the early wonders?

I'm far from an expert on MP teamers though it seems like the goal would be making sure the island itself is conducive to team play, balancing it for that rather than individual civs.

Yes, that was one of the goals. As you can tell there is only one horse, Ivory and one copper/iron per peninsula so that the team has to decide who gets what. If you have any other ideas I'd welcome it.

Other than that I'm considering removing some resources as perhaps the land is a bit too rich. Not that it's that important since it's equal for all the teams but still...

 

[TheMeInTeam]

The best first city sites are the ones you can make use of the specials immediately. For #1, that means either stone or sheep/gem.

Start #5 would favor spice/seafood or marble as a 2nd city, depending on what your goals are.

 

[AveiMil]

Ugh, I notice that there's something wrong with that preview image in the OP.

Iron and Copper are missing, it should be like this:

http://www.aveimil.com/civ4/Civ4ScreenShot0004.JPG

I guess that just makes the #1 north spot with gems even stronger.

Does this change anything in regards to settling in place or on the ivory for the #5 spot?

Should I remove a food resource where the specialist resources are located to make the original (in place) spot more attractive?

 

[AveiMil]

I've edited the OP image and given the viable early settling locations coordinates so that it's easier to reference. There might be other viable moves, if you think so point em out!

More importantly, what should be changed to make the choices even more interresting?

Again, the key question is: where would you settle first and why (and possibly under what conditions)?

 

[AveiMil]

The intrest in this was dissapointing. Oh well, guess I'll have to ponder some more my self then