[Request] Preferred Starting Location

Interesting idea, but afaik the starting locations are not going to be balanced or even worked on, because you do have that Ctrl+N and development time is probably better used elsewhere.

At least that was what I last heard.

Great idea. Just curious, but where do you usually like to start? I'm a new player. How are starts in the middle most differ from starts in the corner or edge? Thanks in advance

In my experience (which isn't the most complete by any means), when you start in the middle you have much space to expand, but also meet other players faster, because they are surrounding you most likely. You will have to deal with them all, but are also in the best position to do so.

When you start in a corner it is mostly just 1 or 2 opponents who are near you and you will most likely gain the "You are too far away to worry about +2" Diplomatic bonus for all other players. Also those opponents near you could bottleneck you leaving less space for you to expand. It really is a matter of playstyle, when you like to expand fast and strong you can start in the middle and its fine, when you like to conserve and endure you might be better off not facing all opponents at once.

My preference is the middle starts. I like being surrounded by AI, thus having more on my plate to deal with throughout the mid game. imo, it's more interesting and more interactive.

I just started a new game today with an interesting scenario. I started on a peninsula (located on the southwest corner) with with a 3/3/2 for my starting city and space for 1 other city to my west. I went east and found out I'm blocked off by 2 AIs. So it looks like I need to fight my way out of this. This will be fun since my custom faction is designed for war. 

That does sound like fun. Good luck and hopefully the 2 AI you are up against are designed for war aswell to help give you a challenging and fun experience.

Overall, I'm not against starting locations other than a middle start. I think all locations have their place. I'm just saying that sometimes I'm in the mood for a certain style of game, and not having the option to curtail that means wearing down my ctrl-n keys until a blue moon occurs or I get my randomly appropriate start.

Yeah it's Yithril and Ironeers. 

Instead of asking for an impossible thing here is the greatest reason to play a map, generated in the editor.

1. Made in 5 minutes this map will save you a lot of time for Ctrl+N restartings.

2. You can place AI opponents in balanced positions instead of realizing their poor achievements on a 50th turn.

3. You can add many things that are not used in random maps, such as quests, units and locations.

4. Though you will know the shape of the map, the resources will be placed randomly each time you start the map, so each time you play this map, each time it will be different.

If you play a random map you should accept the rules of randomness and your satisfaction of this playthrough will also be affected by random factors. Or... make a map and enjoy!

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I beg to differ, if you got a corner start where you have <2 cities at start, you are screwed. 

Actually middle is pretty easy. YOu get your choice of the best lands and with all the lands you obtain you can usually take on whichever AIs that are mad because of close borders. 

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Eh, anything the AI builds is one less thing I build because if I want it I'm going to take it.

Creatures attacking your settlements? Why did you not kill them before settling?

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I usually do. I hate monsters killing my cities. You however might like it being more risque and exciting?

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it should be basic to enable start position places on scenario games.