Starting positions on larger maps

[EinTroll]

On maps I've played with divide and about 5 or more players, I have never failed to start in a central position. This is data from over 20 games, a dozen done for this very purpose. I assume this applies to all map types with sufficient number of players.
The proposition is simple: Customizable starting location.

This could be achieved by a pre-game option, or pre-generating the map and allowing us tot choose our starting location.

Thoughts?

 

[Big J Money]

If you go to advanded Realm options, can you make player 1 an AI and player 2+ a human? It might be that the human player is always in slot 1, so you are always getting the map's slot 1 spawn location.

If this is the case, a 'random spawn' might be a nice checkbox to have so that the spawn locations are not so predictable.

 

[EinTroll]

If you go to advanded Realm options, can you make player 1 an AI and player 2+ a human? It might be that the human player is always in slot 1, so you are always getting the map's slot 1 spawn location.

If this is the case, a 'random spawn' might be a nice checkbox to have so that the spawn locations are not so predictable.

Your idea had merit, until I went in and set myself as human in slots other than 1 and still started in the middle of the map. It seems that the game actually checks for human players first.
I agree that a simple randomized start location checkbox might be the best course of action.

 

[Big J Money]

 

[flarebright]

If you set your realm to continents map will be generated with several continents seperated by water. Each continent would have 1-2 empires on it. Center would be water terrain so nobody would start there.

 

[EinTroll]

If you set your realm to continents map will be generated with several continents seperated by water. Each continent would have 1-2 empires on it. Center would be water terrain so nobody would start there.

Well, the one time I went with continents, the game did find out how to place my starting position in a central-ish position (By central I mean not even close to a map edge, in a spot that had me covered on all sides by a neighbour, even if across water, or the big ocean to my south).

All I want is a more cozy starting position in which I don't have to care about at least one of the sides of my empire. Restating that I prefer 4+ AIs.

 

[Melikat]

Interestingly I often find myself spawning in corners (not in the exact corner, but as close to the corner as to the middle of the map on either axis). In the most recent game I played (continents but it was setup closer to divide) 4 players spawned on the eastern half of the map and 2 on the west. Both humans spawned on the east, in the north and south position. One AI in the middle, and one underground (with entrance near the north).

I just tried 3 Divide maps and revealed the map (7 players, standard distance, no other realm options). In all 3 cases I was not in the middle (at least, relative to the other players). One spawn was rather centralized but I was still the closest spawning player to that corner of the map (this was also the side of the map with 2 players). In 7 player maps it seems to place 3 players on one side, 2 players on the other and 2 underground. In the two starts where I was with 3 players, I was not in the middle.

Are you by chance playing with particular opponents or with a particular Adaptation trait? If you really want to start near an edge you could go for Arctic Adaptation which might (always?) spawn you near the north edge on a standard map.

 

[irongajeel69]

yea i noticed too i always spawn near the center of the map, both single and multiplayer, unless i choose arctic adaptation which spawns me more northern edge of the map, but there should definitely be an option to spread all the players more farther apart randomly or at least spawn some empires central area and some edge of the map, not just everyone spawn central unless they have a certain adaptation, it becomes a little too predictable, especially with the way how cities can expand, its not so bad spawning at the edge of the map, unlike in civilization 6 games lol.

It would be nice to see a little more randomness in the empire spawns....and for gods sake we need a mountain slider option to adjust the mountain spreads and also for water as well! Theres too much useless mountains and water sometimes and that can affect how the empires spawn on the map.