Settle near a volcano?

[Pacioli]

There are times when it is tempting to settle near a volcano to acquire resources, namely cattle. Is a volcano active only once during the game? What is the probability that a volcano will erupt on any given turn?

I'm looking for a decent starting position for a 20k game in this example. IMHO the settler should build the first city where it stands to allow access to the coast. This is on a 80% archipelago map playing as Carthage.

Thanks.

 

[vmxa]

Volcanoes can erupt more than once in a game. It seems the later it is in the game the safer they are.

 

[Spoonwood]

I'd build the city there, sure, but see the second paragraph. You might have some pollution to clean along the way, but it might not come as too bad. You'll want to pay attention if it ever says "active". Founding directly adjacent to a volcano only makes sense to me in a 100k game. But, 2 squares away I think manageable.

That said, I wouldn't play this map for a 20k game... or at least not found my capital there. If you found the city in place you would have, count with me, 9 productive tiles? A map with one cow or even no cows with 12 productive tiles would might work better than that.

 

[Pacioli]

Thanks guys.

 

[darski]

Personal bias... I will not play any start where I can see a volcano. But then the RNG gods hate me

 

[AutomatedTeller]

I once played a game where I settled a city 3 times next to a volcano. I didnt' really learn my lesson

Not that it mattered all that much - it was an early deity game and Babylon invaded with a stack of 50 modern armor or so. I didn't last long...

 

[GamezRule]

@Spoonwood: Founding next to a volcano on the last turn to get to the Domination limit also makes sense to me, but I would rather just keep conquering to get there.

 

[scratchthepitch]

A volcano is likely to erupt more than once in a regular unmodded game (you can mod volcanoes to erupt as often as you want in a mod, or have them not erupt at all). 2 tiles away from a volcano is generally safe enough, they only rarely lava a tile 2 tiles away.

Where your settler is good, but if you settle in the forest adjacent, you will also have the gold resource in your city area, and still get to use the fresh water benefit. But that will take you off the coast and make your capital an inland city. I'm partial to having my capital as a coastal city because of the more options a coastal placement offers.

 

[rollo1066]

I think the Roman city of Pompei shows what can happen to citys next to volcanos.

 

[darski]

I think the Roman city of Pompei shows what can happen to citys next to volcanos.

In a recent game I did settle one away from a volcano and I named the city "Not Pompeii".

 

[timerover51]

I think the Roman city of Pompei shows what can happen to citys next to volcanos.

Hilo, Hawaii is one good eruption and lava flow away from joining Pompei.

 

[Richie0]

if i get a vocano in the city radius or a tile or two around it in the starting position, i reload a new map.

it's just needless hassle. i don't want no vocanos, or no flood plains in my capital, just a river.

not a big ask, really.

 

[darski]

if i get a vocano in the city radius or a tile or two around it in the starting position, i reload a new map.

it's just needless hassle. i don't want no vocanos, or no flood plains in my capital, just a river.

not a big ask, really.

I am so with you on this one

and welcome aboard.