I don't think it must be mentioned more than once that the kind of start that you have is something to be taken with careful consideration. If you get started on the wrong foot, you may end up getting sidetracked onto the losing end of the race. Likewise, having a start that is viable and productive is the first of many steps towards success.
Not getting into more specifics like build and tech orders or other game goals, what types of starts do you prefer to have? I've set up a poll with some options which would describe four kinds of typical starts that you may end up rolling upon starting a new game. I am sure some players have a preference for starts other than those where you're well to do for the beginning of the game, but I'd like to see how it scales.
I'm sure there are probably more kinds of starts but I'd consider these four to be the most typical kinds of starts that someone would have. Assuming they don't re-roll the map first.
I personally prefer varied starts, since it forces you to think much more about every decision you make with mind paid to everything that is around you. And even if you do make those calls, it's not a sure shot you'll be in a position to win once you get into a more comfortable position. It keeps you on your toes. On the other end of the shoe, it sometimes forces you to play a certain way if you don't want to lose, and that is hardly ever fun for anyone.
Not getting into more specifics like build and tech orders or other game goals, what types of starts do you prefer to have? I've set up a poll with some options which would describe four kinds of typical starts that you may end up rolling upon starting a new game. I am sure some players have a preference for starts other than those where you're well to do for the beginning of the game, but I'd like to see how it scales.
- Suitable start - A starting location that provides you a considerable benefit towards your next goals. It may have favorable terrain, advantageous resources, and finds itself in land that you find feasible for future expansion. These kinds of starts may be preferred by players that would like to have several options towards their opening turns.
- Challenging start - A start that involves being in an unfavorable part of the map due to limited availability of resources, land, or neighbors that are known to cause you trouble without fail. These kinds of starts may be preferred by players that like to impose a challenge on themselves by giving themselves a tough beginning to work with.
- Unorthodox start - A starting position that is mostly unfamiliar to you or that you are not accustomed to working with. It may be on a small island or at the edges of the world where it is unlikely you'll be running into other civs. It may lack anything favorable for some time unless you play creatively. Isolated, bias-disabled, or map-influenced starts fit this description. These types of starts could be preferred by players that would like to learn how to play the map according to what they have gotten or to try different strategies that do not rely heavily on a civ's unique strengths.
- Varied start - Similar to an unorthodox start, where-in you are unsure if you are in a favorable or unfavorable position to begin, but where careful planning or specific actions will put you in a more viable position. Large expanses of practically useless land, annoying neighbors, ice-blocked oceans, unusual land-mass formations, and big clusters of city-states are typical of these starts. These kinds of starts would be preferred by players that want to think outside of the box and have some challenge or likewise break away from their typical patterns when approaching conditions within the game.
I'm sure there are probably more kinds of starts but I'd consider these four to be the most typical kinds of starts that someone would have. Assuming they don't re-roll the map first.
I personally prefer varied starts, since it forces you to think much more about every decision you make with mind paid to everything that is around you. And even if you do make those calls, it's not a sure shot you'll be in a position to win once you get into a more comfortable position. It keeps you on your toes. On the other end of the shoe, it sometimes forces you to play a certain way if you don't want to lose, and that is hardly ever fun for anyone.