What's the most advantageous starting conditions on the True Start Huge Earth map?

[TheSpaceCowboy]

I usually like to select each and every civilization when setting up a game, instead of leaving anything to random chance.

When setting up a True Start Huge Earth map, which list of civilizations would offer the greatest advantage to the player?

Probably the most important factor is spawning directly adjacent to another civilization in order to simultaneously steal a settler and eliminate an opponent on turn 1.

Another important strategy is to otherwise give yourself at least an entire empty continent into which to expand.

It also helps to spawn several closely adjacent civilizations so that they'll struggle with loyalty and be forced to fight one another in the first few turns.

Maori aren't as advantageous as you'd think as it takes too long to sail to an otherwise empty North and South America.

I always like to include Sweden in order to compete in the Nobel prizes.

Am I missing any other considerations?

In my current game I'm playing as Spain and eliminated Portugal on turn 1. I included Byzantium, Greece, Macedonia, and the Ottomans, all of whom immediately began clawing at one another.

Should I play as a New World civ and have the continent all to myself? Should I only include New World civs and have the Old World all to myself? What would you all recommend?

 

[Linklite]

I usually like to select each and every civilization when setting up a game, instead of leaving anything to random chance.

When setting up a True Start Huge Earth map, which list of civilizations would offer the greatest advantage to the player?

Probably the most important factor is spawning directly adjacent to another civilization in order to simultaneously steal a settler and eliminate an opponent on turn 1.

Another important strategy is to otherwise give yourself at least an entire empty continent into which to expand.

It also helps to spawn several closely adjacent civilizations so that they'll struggle with loyalty and be forced to fight one another in the first few turns.

Maori aren't as advantageous as you'd think as it takes too long to sail to an otherwise empty North and South America.

I always like to include Sweden in order to compete in the Nobel prizes.

Am I missing any other considerations?

In my current game I'm playing as Spain and eliminated Portugal on turn 1. I included Byzantium, Greece, Macedonia, and the Ottomans, all of whom immediately began clawing at one another.

Should I play as a New World civ and have the continent all to myself? Should I only include New World civs and have the Old World all to myself? What would you all recommend?

If you're just trying to tilt I your favour as much as possible, be Alexander, spawn Gorgo and Pericles. Settle your city ASAP, and it should stop the Greeks from settling, allowing you to steal two settlers. Put the rest of the civs in the South America and congrats, you now have three cities to start with plus all of Europe, Asia and Africa to settle. Research cartography while you build an army, then march it over to the Americas knowing that they cannot strike back. With any luck, the other civs will have knocked a fair few of each other out for you. Make sure your army is heavy in cavalry though, you don't want the movement bogged down by the rainforest.

 

[TheSpaceCowboy]

If you're just trying to tilt I your favour as much as possible, be Alexander, spawn Gorgo and Pericles. Settle your city ASAP, and it should stop the Greeks from settling, allowing you to steal two settlers. Put the rest in the South America and congrats, you now have three cities to start with plus all of Europe, Asia and Africa to settle. Research cartography while you build an army, then march it over to the Americas knowing that they cannot strike back. With any luck, the other civs will have knocked a fair few of each other out for you. Make sure your army is heavy in cavalry though, you don't want the movement bogged down by the rainforest.

I'm going to try this next game! My one worry would be with loyalty issues, given that there would be so many settled cities so far from my own that I'd be trying to conquer.

 

[Linklite]

I'm going to try this next game! My one worry would be with loyalty issues, given that there would be so many settled cities so far from my own that I'd be trying to conquer.

Make sure you get Victor's promotion that buffs the loyalty of nearby cities plus keep a couple of other governors free. Conquer a few cities, at least 3, very quickly, and install the governors as soon as you capture each city. Buy monuments and make sure the population is stable and high. If you do all that, you really shouldn't have much of an issue. You can also use the the policy cards that gives you loyalty for garrisoning troops and for having governors in the city, and there should be plenty enough loyalty in your new colony.

Simply being quick will do too, capture the next city before the previousnone flips will ease pressure preventing the flip. Eventually you'll hit critical mass and they'll sustain each other.

 

[blackbutterfly]

I usually like to select each and every civilization when setting up a game, instead of leaving anything to random chance.

You have to do this on both TSL Earth maps really.
O/w you can get civs and/or CSs that overlap.

Basically pick any non European civ.

Play against Europe for a super easy game. (Mapuche?)
Or pick civs from the various continents so they are spread out. But you may find you still have to pick more than a couple of Euro civs that most likely will fall into free cities.