Map #2QH
Choose your first settlement carefully: the strongest spots stand apart.
Interactive Settlement & Road Draft
How To Approach It
Choose a three- or four-player table and your seat, then record each settlement and its initial road in normal snake order. Occupied and adjacent blocked intersections are removed, while settlement and road recommendations update after every completed turn.
Board Read
The classic board view marks intersection quality directly on the map and reveals adjacent initial-road choices during each interactive draft turn.
Best Remaining Spots
The numbered spots stay visible during settlement selection and update after every completed settlement-and-road turn.
Best Remaining Pairs
Pairs update as opponents take spots; after your first pick they anchor to it.
Initial Board Assessment
For your two settlements, look at I43 + I33. City upgrades will need trades for ore. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I33 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 sheep.
How To Approach It
- The board produces relatively little wheat; secure a source or a way to trade for it.
- The board has more sheep production than most other resources; check whether a matching harbor fits your opening.
- Keep I30 in mind if you want to focus on city upgrades.
- These are starting plans, not promises: dice, the robber and other players can change them.
- Compare the numbers as long-run averages, not a countdown to your next build.
Best Immediate Read
I30 Ore 10 / Sheep 8 / Wood 5
Overall 16.92, production 12.00, road 9.54, city 9.13.
Best Starting Intersections
These are the best single-settlement openings before you account for draft order or pair timing.
| # | Spot | Read | Overall | Future | Port |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I30 | Ore 10 / Sheep 8 / Wood 5 | 16.92 | 5.36 | - |
| 2 | I33 | Brick 11 / Sheep 8 / Wood 5 | 16.26 | 6.39 | - |
| 3 | I39 | Wheat 9 / Wood 5 / Sheep 3 | 15.25 | 5.98 | - |
| 4 | I24 | Wood 11 / Brick 8 | 15.03 | 6.07 | Brick |
| 5 | I42 | Brick 11 / Wheat 10 / Wood 5 | 14.83 | 7.68 | - |
| 6 | I34 | Brick 8 / Sheep 5 / Wheat 2 | 14.81 | 4.90 | - |
| 7 | I48 | Wheat 10 / Wheat 9 | 14.70 | 5.13 | Wheat |
| 8 | I43 | Wheat 10 / Wheat 9 / Wood 5 | 14.46 | 6.02 | - |
| 9 | I38 | Brick 8 / Sheep 5 | 14.09 | 4.09 | Wood |
| 10 | I04 | Ore 6 / Sheep 4 | 13.98 | 2.79 | Sheep |
Top Opening Pairs
These pair scores reflect combined production, coverage, number overlap, port help, and long-term flexibility.
Top pair
Score 48.69City upgrades will need trades for ore. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I33 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 sheep.
Pair 2
Score 47.95These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I34 second to start with 1 brick, 1 sheep, 1 wheat.
Pair 3
Score 47.89These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I30 second to start with 1 wood, 1 sheep, 1 ore.
Pair 4
Score 47.76These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I42 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 wheat.
Pair 5
Score 47.19City upgrades will need trades for ore. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I34 second to start with 1 brick, 1 sheep, 1 wheat.
Pair 6
Score 47.13Road building will need trades for brick. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I30 second to start with 1 wood, 1 sheep, 1 ore.
Seat Plans
Your place in the turn order affects which settlements may still be available. Compare the suggested starts and the second settlements that work with them.
3-player game
Placement order reverses after everyone has chosen once: the last player picks twice in a row, and the first player waits longest. These examples compare four opponent play styles, not the odds of a spot staying open.
Player 1
You choose first, then wait until everyone else has placed both settlements.
Priority: Choose a useful first settlement without relying on one particular second pick.
Recommended starts
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I30 Ore 10 / Sheep 8 / Wood 5Opening score 43.14 · Best pair score 47.95You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I51 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I34 Brick 8 / Sheep 5 / Wheat 2Opening score 43.08 · Best pair score 47.95You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I13 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I38 Brick 8 / Sheep 5Opening score 42.09 · Best pair score 46.17You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I13 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for wheat.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I30 + I51Ore 10 / Sheep 8 / Wood 5 + Wheat 10 / Brick 9
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I34 + I13Brick 8 / Sheep 5 / Wheat 2 + Wood 11 / Wood 6 / Ore 4
Player 2
Other players choose between your two turns, so your preferred second spot may disappear.
Priority: Take a useful mix of resources and leave yourself more than one follow-up.
Recommended starts
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I43 Wheat 10 / Wheat 9 / Wood 5Opening score 44.44 · Best pair score 48.69This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I44 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I34 Brick 8 / Sheep 5 / Wheat 2Opening score 43.08 · Best pair score 47.95This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I13 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I39 Wheat 9 / Wood 5 / Sheep 3Opening score 42.94 · Best pair score 46.91This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I44 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I43 + I44Wheat 10 / Wheat 9 / Wood 5 + Brick 11 / Brick 9 / Sheep 5
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I34 + I13Brick 8 / Sheep 5 / Wheat 2 + Wood 11 / Wood 6 / Ore 4
Player 3
Your two settlement picks are consecutive, so you can choose them as a pair.
Priority: Use your consecutive picks to cover missing resources or support one building plan.
Recommended starts
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I13 Wood 11 / Wood 6 / Ore 4Opening score 43.85 · Best pair score 46.09This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I34 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I34 Brick 8 / Sheep 5 / Wheat 2Opening score 43.22 · Best pair score 47.95This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I13 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I38 Brick 8 / Sheep 5Opening score 42.24 · Best pair score 46.17This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I13 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for wheat.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I13 + I34Wood 11 / Wood 6 / Ore 4 + Brick 8 / Sheep 5 / Wheat 2
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I34 + I13Brick 8 / Sheep 5 / Wheat 2 + Wood 11 / Wood 6 / Ore 4
4-player game
Placement order reverses after everyone has chosen once: the last player picks twice in a row, and the first player waits longest. These examples compare four opponent play styles, not the odds of a spot staying open.
Player 1
You choose first, then wait until everyone else has placed both settlements.
Priority: Choose a useful first settlement without relying on one particular second pick.
Recommended starts
-
I30 Ore 10 / Sheep 8 / Wood 5Opening score 42.09 · Best pair score 47.95You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I51 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I43 Wheat 10 / Wheat 9 / Wood 5Opening score 41.78 · Best pair score 48.69You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I03 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
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I33 Brick 11 / Sheep 8 / Wood 5Opening score 40.90 · Best pair score 48.69You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I22 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I30 + I51Ore 10 / Sheep 8 / Wood 5 + Wheat 10 / Brick 9
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I43 + I03Wheat 10 / Wheat 9 / Wood 5 + Wood 12 / Ore 6 / Sheep 4
Player 2
Other players choose between your two turns, so your preferred second spot may disappear.
Priority: Take a useful mix of resources and leave yourself more than one follow-up.
Recommended starts
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I43 Wheat 10 / Wheat 9 / Wood 5Opening score 42.02 · Best pair score 48.69This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I03 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
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I39 Wheat 9 / Wood 5 / Sheep 3Opening score 40.56 · Best pair score 46.91This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I22 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
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I34 Brick 8 / Sheep 5 / Wheat 2Opening score 40.41 · Best pair score 47.95This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I13 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I43 + I03Wheat 10 / Wheat 9 / Wood 5 + Wood 12 / Ore 6 / Sheep 4
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I39 + I22Wheat 9 / Wood 5 / Sheep 3 + Sheep 8 / Ore 4 / Wheat 2
Player 3
You pick late in the first round and early in the second; look for complementary resources.
Priority: Compare what your second settlement adds, not just how strong it looks on its own.
Recommended starts
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I13 Wood 11 / Wood 6 / Ore 4Opening score 41.69 · Best pair score 46.09This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I44 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for wheat.
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I34 Brick 8 / Sheep 5 / Wheat 2Opening score 41.12 · Best pair score 47.95This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I13 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I45 Brick 11 / Wheat 10 / Brick 9Opening score 40.32 · Best pair score 47.89This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I13 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Without sheep production, new settlements and development cards will need a trade.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I13 + I44Wood 11 / Wood 6 / Ore 4 + Brick 11 / Brick 9 / Sheep 5
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I34 + I13Brick 8 / Sheep 5 / Wheat 2 + Wood 11 / Wood 6 / Ore 4
Player 4
Your two settlement picks are consecutive, so you can choose them as a pair.
Priority: Use your consecutive picks to cover missing resources or support one building plan.
Recommended starts
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I45 Brick 11 / Wheat 10 / Brick 9Opening score 40.32 · Best pair score 47.89This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I13 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Without sheep production, new settlements and development cards will need a trade.
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I44 Brick 11 / Brick 9 / Sheep 5Opening score 40.22 · Best pair score 47.10This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I13 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for wheat.
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I03 Wood 12 / Ore 6 / Sheep 4Opening score 39.75 · Best pair score 44.40This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I34 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I45 + I13Brick 11 / Wheat 10 / Brick 9 + Wood 11 / Wood 6 / Ore 4
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I44 + I13Brick 11 / Brick 9 / Sheep 5 + Wood 11 / Wood 6 / Ore 4
Resource Profile
Scarcity & Abundance
Best Harbor Starts
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I48 Wheat 10 / Wheat 9Port Wheat, score 14.25
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I24 Wood 11 / Brick 8Port Brick, score 13.03
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I04 Ore 6 / Sheep 4Port Sheep, score 12.11
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I38 Brick 8 / Sheep 5Port Wood, score 10.38
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I01 Ore 6Port 3:1, score 8.53