Starting the Civ

[btaft]

I have only been playing for a couple of weeks but have been enjoying it alot. One question that comes to my mind:

Is it better to search for a good location for your Civ or is it better just to choose one of the 9 squares you can see and make the best of it?

I have read most of the articles on the site but was curious to what others do. I in general just set up shop right at the start.

Thanks,

BT

 

[Crimso]

Yeah, hitting b immediatley is an ok way to start, but you should really move your worker on to a hill or mountain if you can, just too see if there are any bonus resources around, or maybe some fresh water. You can miss a few turns if it means getting a rad settler factory.

But most of the time just ploping down where you start seems to work.

 

[kb2tvl]

I allow myself one move and I try to move toward fresh war(like a river) and either settle on or 2 tiles away from ocean.

 

[Zild]

Back in Civ2, I used to scout for a long time before settling. But then, that's because back in Civ2 I used to put it on a relative easy setting, only build one city - a utopia which was almost always called Milton Keynes (some Brits may get that joke...) I would then keep ahead of my rivals in tech, build up great armies in the modern era, and systematically crush my enemies...

Of course, that's a bit hard to do (without making your own map) since they added strategic resources into Civ3

Nowadays I typically move one tile at most, then settle. I tend to be quite culturally minded, so an extra 40 years to move a second tile seems like too big a sacrifice for me.

And many players just start a new map if their starting location is poor

EDIT: But totally agreed on the water. Getting near a fresh water source is always a high priority, as is settling next to a sea - or failing that, without sea tiles in the city radius. If they only change one thing in Civ4, it would be stopping AI civs building cities with salt water in their radius, but no access for harbours. (And yes, I admit that very occasionally there might be good reasons for placing a city as such. Very very occasionally!)

 

[Padma]

Move your Worker (and/or Scout, if you're Expansionist) to get a better view of the area. If you don't see anyplace better within 2 moves, you're probably better off just starting where you stand.

I generally build where I start; never later than the 2nd turn.

 

[Squirrelking]

Yeah definitely not more than 2 tiles away. Try to get near fresh water but the ocean is more important if you have to choose. I also agree with the moving the worker. It's move your settler next to a black tile, though, I lost a game once because I moved my settler next to a barbarian.

 

[Dragonsbain]

I agree no more than 2 turns of movement, mostly I only move if there are to many moutains in the city radius.
Later in the game that sort if citty are fine later in the game but the first city must be able to grow fast to produce setlers Quickly.

 

[citizen001]

No exploration unless expansionist even with worker. i think its a waste as every turn early in the game is crucial.