First Settler timings

[BasedGod]

Hey guys, this is something I notice I'm really having trouble with the more I play. I tend to put off my first settler far too long in place of more and more buildings, until the places I planned to settle get grabbed up and I'm forced to war to expo. This is a problem that I really only noticed after I stopped taking Liberty but Tradition definitely fits my tall playstyle better. So when do you guys typically start your first settler, after your granary, your library, your first worker? I know for a fact I do it way too late mostly because I tunnel vision on National college. (playing on Emperor BTW)

 

[comatosedragon]

I play Emperor, almost always open with tradition, and I always try to have my first settler out by turn 45-48. My typical build order is scout, worker (or warrior), granary, shrine or library, settler.

 

[ahawk]

I play Emperor, almost always open with tradition, and I always try to have my first settler out by turn 45-48. My typical build order is scout, worker (or warrior), granary, shrine or library, settler.

This sounds exactly like what I do, to a T.

However, the one difference tends to be that I try my hardest to purchase that first settler rather than hard-build, because much of Tradition is about growing that capital city quickly and hard-building the settler stifles that.

 

[BasedGod]

@ahawk How the hell do you get the money to hard build a settler by turn 50?

Also I build a monument after my initial scout typically, is that considered dumb?

 

[Infantry#14]

The problem with buying settler is that it takes almost forever to accumulate that first 500 gold. Unless you get lucky to be the first to stumble a lucky El Dorado. (I was lucky enough to achieved this in 3 of my last 5 games!)

 

[eewallace]

With a tall empire, say 3 cities, you really want them in prime locations, so you need to get there early. I tend to build at least one settler before library. Also, granary usually can be delayed until your settlers are out because your city can't grown while you are producing settlers anyway. (Sometimes I do get a granary before my worker though, like when I have 3 wheat. Then my citizens can work those tiles effectively before the worker gets to them.)

Also, depending on the map, sometimes you can position your first and second cities to effectively block other AIs from expanding into the territory you want for your later cities. If you manage that, then delaying additional settlers for a bit is possible. (At least until the other civs can embark and swim over to settle behind you.)

 

[Scott Jegg]

Always third build after scout and monument, even if I'm still at 2 pop. Would prefer to have hit 3 pop and have good enough starting tiles to get it done in 10-11 turns, but that's not always possible. If going Liberty I should usually get the third not long after, and that will get a solid three cities in good locations. With non liberty starts I'd hopefully have mustered the cash to buy the third after selling lux and getting the caravans on the go for science and gold. Three cities by turn 50 latest is the norm. Can't muck about letting the AI grab the good land at immortal level.

 

[Scott Jegg]

Unless you get lucky to be the first to stumble a lucky El Dorado. (I was lucky enough to achieved this in 3 of my last 5 games!)

This is way beyond lucky. Not only did you find the rarest natural wonder in the game three times out of five games, but you found it first three times too....

 

[qalsip1977]

It's all about tile management. Focus on food until 3 pop (can be pretty fast if you get lucky with the goody hut) then make first settler (switch tile to production). I open with Liberty (old deity habits and all) and always build a scout (well almost always) first so I know the immediate map pretty well. 3rd city is generally from Collective Rule. I will generally have 3 cities out by turn 40.

I'm playing a game as Brazil right now and by turn 48 I have my 4 cities (probably won't go for any more) up and running.

 

[chazzycat]

depends greatly on the map. if your capital sucks then you need to expand faster. if there is an amazing city #2 site nearby and also another civ, you want to grab it faster.

in general, my plan is to grow up to however many decent production tiles you can work (typically 3-5) and then switch to settlers. that usually ends up being before library but after scouts/granary/monument/worker.

 

[Martin Alvito]

Depends on the dirt.

Sometimes you get a site that you simply have to deny the AI. Multiple Salt along a river, a key Natural Wonder like King Solomon's Mines, or what have you. In those situations, you should start building a Settler the second you hit size 2.

In other games, you can comfortably sit back until the 40s or 50s before pumping Settlers. If your key city sites are well distant from AIs, there's no rush and you can wait until size 5 or 6, build some Mines and chop some Forests to minimize growth downtime.

In general, size 4 or 5 is when you want to get started on a Settler.

 

[alpha wolf 64]

with BNW, i just sit a military unit near where I want my 2nd city. any civ that sends a settler near it will get attacked. what really pisses me off is when they send a settler halfway across the continent to a tile they have not even discovered yet on my border when they have plenty of great sites near their own capitol.

 

[Lanstro]

On immortal, I typically open with 2 scouts then a settler straight away. Tradition start.

 

[kb27787]

after finishing or during production of national college (unless 2nd city has Solomon's mines or the like); the delayed timing on that other library actually slows you down a lot (and makes your NC cost more hammers) and if you spent 500 gold on that settler there's no way in hell you have another 400 to rush-buy the library.

Of course, only if you can block the AI from your 2nd city spot... if not, then I have to train a settler the hard way early (less than ideal)

 

[dragonxxx]

If you do other things right, you get enough cash to buy a settler at the time when you are done producing one in your cap. I generally grow the cap to 5, and then build it. 500 gold is not that much, you can easily sell embassies and even your first lux. That plus the scouting money is enough for that. Thats why its highly recomended to get 2 scouts on Pangea.

I also find it pointless to make NC before you settle the second city. Even if you beeline it, it takes quite a while to get there. NC build time while growing fast and working only food tiles takes forever, so I really prefer to make 2 expos first, grow the cap a bit, and then get the NC to be ready around turn 90. After that I make a 3rd settler and get the final 4th city.

 

[budweiser]

2 scouts will get you decent money. But sometimes I buy a worker around t20 with it.

 

[Cicerosaurus]

Meeting a few CS's and goody huts can be a real boost towards that 500 gold. I prefer to purchase than hard build, but I often get gazumped and have to go the building way.

 

[ChrisTheMean]

If I'm going Tradition for me its scout, granary if I have at least one wheat or deer (otherwise shrine usually) then settler. People seem to think the Granary is wasted early? IIRC, the food from it does contribute to Settler hammers, does it not?

If I'm going liberty, I''l go scout, monument, settler.

Exceptions would be Shoshone and Polynesia, for which it would be 4x Pathfinder or Maori respectively, then settler. Or Maya I'd likely go 2 Atlatlists and a Pyramid then settler.

 

[ltccone]

This sounds exactly like what I do, to a T.

However, the one difference tends to be that I try my hardest to purchase that first settler rather than hard-build, because much of Tradition is about growing that capital city quickly and hard-building the settler stifles that.

That's what I do. I play with raging barbs.

 

[eewallace]

Another thing that can work, depending on your situation, is having your neighboring civs fund your first settler. If, for example, I have several lux resources that can be mined, I can get mining, delay getting writing, and get a worker to build mines ASAP, and then sell luxes to neighbors for a lump sum (240 g). This only works if the neighbors have a DoF with you. If you delay writing a bit, when they get writing they will want an embassy and offer you 25 g to place one. Thus, if I have 2 luxes and at least 2 neighbors who want embassies and are rich enough to afford my luxes, I get 530 gold from them and buy a settler. Yes, it delays science slightly but not much--I have done this and still got NC before turn 100.