Two settlers in non-Deity Games

rah · July 24, 2000, 15:50

I played a rare non-Deity mp game the other day and was faced with starting with only one settler. I asked the other players how many they started with and Berzerker said that he had started with two, but that he would disband one of them. (very similar to a restart when the host gets techs) I was wondering what the norm is for this situation. Does everyone disband a second or do some play, what you get is what you get?

Thank you.

RAH

cavebear · July 24, 2000, 16:13

I think it is very important to start even. Let the game play decide the differences, not the computer (I know, the computer makes the map and sets starting positions, but that's what it's for).

I had an odd situation recently where my opponent had 2 extra techs, but I had an extra settler. In retrospect, I wish I had played that game, it could have been very informative. Opposing imbalances should be considered carefully.

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Empress · July 24, 2000, 18:22

I wonder just how common is it for when a host gets a lot of techs, the other player gets an extra settler??

finbar · July 24, 2000, 21:07

Isn't starting with 2 settlers at non-Deity level a sign of a really dreadful start position? In which case, disbanding the second settler isn't evening up things, it's putting the disbander way, way behind.

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suas333 · July 24, 2000, 21:11

thats right finbar.

cavebear · July 24, 2000, 21:49

A reasonable assumption, considering programming parameters for attempting to balance the game start. And it matches experience, too.

Another reason to restart games...

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SmartFart · July 25, 2000, 01:05

Like Rah, I rarely play non-deity games but when I do restart is a must,because disbanding doesn't actually solve problem of an equal start.

Smash · July 25, 2000, 01:43

I've only played a few non deity mp games also and nothing was done.You just crossed your fingers.It did not work out very well at all.Cept for me.I've always gotten 2 settlers and decent land in non deity games.All 3 0r 4 of them.Green and dark blue seem to get 2 settlers often.Not always, but often enough to make them my top choices.

When I first played mp we would go with accelerated starts.Talk about uneven.But it was fun.

With more than 2, it can be a lenghty process to get no techs and even settlers below deity.

I'm sure in civ3(dam I hope it is good)this will be addressed.

Ming · July 26, 2000, 09:16

I think if somebody gets two settlers, and the rest don't, just reset. Finbar raises a good point, but then again, I question whether the computer can really tell the difference between a good and bad starting position

Two settlers vs one is just too big of an advantage. Even with a bad starting position, give me the two settlers anytime

Novi Nomad · July 26, 2000, 13:54

I was wondering about that. I seem to remember someone posted that if you start with a lot of technologies and multiple settlers that you probably have a terrible starting position. But as Ming noted, the computer probably doesn't have much of a clue as to what constitutes a good starting position. Most of the games that I've had with two settlers have gone very well for me, and I didn't really notice anything too poor about my starting position. Other times I've started with only one settler, but found myself between two other civs on a relatively small land mass...

rah · July 26, 2000, 18:52

I have to agree. I host most of the games i'm in and i've seen great starting positions (huts & great city locations) only be negated by free techs, then get placed in the middle of plains with nothing in sight and get no techs. It's not always this way, but more often than not.

RAH