First 10 (or so) turns

[BillChin]

Originally posted by Amask
About deity - when I built my first settler I have met romans with a scout and observed their five cities at population 2. How is it possible?

On Diety, the AI gets 15 free units, a few with each new city, including at least one free settler. Also all their costs are 60% of normal, that includes population, so their food box is only size 12 (vs. size 20 standard), size 6 with a granary. Settlers are 18 shields vs. 30 shields for the human player.

Some players play expansionist and look for huts and try to get a free settler within the first ten turns and try another game if no free settler shows up. On large or huge maps, Diety is playable without getting the free settler, especially with fewer AI opponents. On standard size maps, eight opponents, many Deity starts are close to impossible because of the free units and the lack of land to expand.