Corner Starting Positions

Ironhawk · #1 October 29th, 2007, 02:37 PM

So, we all know that players who start in corner positions almost always do better in a game due to the defensible nature of thier capital placement. I had a thought about a way to fix that tho:

Place corner/edge capitals directly in the corner or on the edge of the map.

This would cut down the number of connections thier home province has significantly and act as a balance for the defensive nature of thier placement. So, players in the middle would have high connections and good production at the expense of being located in a vulnerable place. Whereas players on the edges would be very secure but have more trouble producing and fewer avenues of expansion (if they hit hard indys).

What do you think?

Morkilus · #2 October 29th, 2007, 02:45 PM

Sounds like a good idea. I maintain that diplomacy is always much more important than starting position, but a tad more difficult when dealing with 4 or 5 neighbors instead of 2 or 3.

Zylithan · #3 October 29th, 2007, 02:49 PM

Or play on maps without corners

The corner placement will, imo, hurt resource needy races more than gold needy races.

KissBlade · #4 October 29th, 2007, 03:20 PM

Corner placements aren't always advantageous. Keep in mind if your few neighbors are extremely powerful you are effectively cut off from any help or even expansion that you may hope to take.

archaeolept · #5 October 29th, 2007, 04:09 PM

i don't like corner placements personally.

Ironhawk · #6 October 29th, 2007, 04:40 PM

Zylithan, I assume you are proposing the use of wraparound maps. Which is fine, but it sidesteps the issue. There are more static maps than there are wraparound maps and as a result you may not be able to find a wraparound which is the correct size for your planned game and number of players.

Velusion · #7 October 29th, 2007, 06:26 PM

Quote:

KissBlade said:
Corner placements aren't always advantageous. Keep in mind if your few neighbors are extremely powerful you are effectively cut off from any help or even expansion that you may hope to take.

Yea I've been in that position before. While I think it can possibly be advantageous to start in a corner you have much more limited options expansion wise. I'm pretty sure I'd never elect to start in the corner if it was the exact corner. Of course that doesn't mean that many maps (randomly generated ones probably) give out corner starting positions that are too generous.

I'd be interested in seeing the statistics proving that more winners start in the corner...