25-07-2000 00:50									#1
	Two settlers in non-Deity Games Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

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

	25-07-2000 01:13									#2
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

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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	25-07-2000 03:22									#3
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

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

	25-07-2000 06:07									#4
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

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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finbar
Mono Rules!
#33984591

	25-07-2000 06:11									#5
	Increase the size of your Attachments

thats right finbar.

	25-07-2000 06:49									#6
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

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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	25-07-2000 10:05									#7
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

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.

	25-07-2000 10:43									#8
	Increase Your PM Length

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.

	26-07-2000 18:16									#9
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

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

	26-07-2000 22:54									#10
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

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...

	27-07-2000 03:52									#11
	Tired of ads?

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