Map #3B
Choose your first settlement carefully: the strongest spots stand apart.
Interactive Settlement & Road Draft
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 I26 + I43. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I43 second to start with 1 brick, 1 wheat, 1 ore.
How To Approach It
- The board produces relatively little brick; 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.
- 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
I48 Ore 8 / Wheat 5
Overall 16.17, production 9.00, road 7.26, city 8.86.
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 | I48 | Ore 8 / Wheat 5 | 16.17 | 4.90 | Wheat |
| 2 | I43 | Ore 8 / Wheat 5 / Brick 3 | 16.12 | 5.54 | - |
| 3 | I04 | Ore 10 / Sheep 6 | 15.57 | 4.92 | Sheep |
| 4 | I39 | Wood 9 / Wheat 5 / Brick 3 | 15.43 | 6.43 | - |
| 5 | I02 | Sheep 6 / Brick 5 / Wheat 2 | 15.37 | 6.02 | - |
| 6 | I08 | Wood 11 / Ore 9 / Brick 5 | 15.36 | 6.02 | - |
| 7 | I01 | Sheep 6 / Brick 5 | 15.32 | 5.20 | 3:1 |
| 8 | I42 | Wood 10 / Ore 8 / Brick 3 | 15.10 | 5.66 | - |
| 9 | I45 | Wood 10 / Ore 8 / Sheep 3 | 15.01 | 5.73 | - |
| 10 | I22 | Ore 9 / Brick 4 / Wood 4 | 14.84 | 4.73 | - |
Top Opening Pairs
These pair scores reflect combined production, coverage, number overlap, port help, and long-term flexibility.
Top pair
Score 48.75These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I43 second to start with 1 brick, 1 wheat, 1 ore.
Pair 2
Score 47.40City upgrades will need trades for ore. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I39 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 wheat.
Pair 3
Score 47.14City upgrades will need trades for ore. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I39 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 wheat.
Pair 4
Score 46.94These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I39 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 wheat.
Pair 5
Score 46.69City upgrades will need trades for ore. Your general harbor reduces bank trades to three cards for one. Place I39 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 wheat.
Ports: 3:1
Pair 6
Score 46.43Without sheep production, new settlements and development cards will need a trade. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I22 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 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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I43 Ore 8 / Wheat 5 / Brick 3Opening score 43.94 · Best pair score 48.75You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I45 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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I02 Sheep 6 / Brick 5 / Wheat 2Opening score 43.14 · Best pair score 47.40You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I42 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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I26 Sheep 11 / Wood 9 / Sheep 8Opening score 43.03 · Best pair score 48.75You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I08 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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I43 + I45Ore 8 / Wheat 5 / Brick 3 + Wood 10 / Ore 8 / Sheep 3
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I02 + I42Sheep 6 / Brick 5 / Wheat 2 + Wood 10 / Ore 8 / Brick 3
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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I02 Sheep 6 / Brick 5 / Wheat 2Opening score 43.14 · Best pair score 47.40This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I42 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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I22 Ore 9 / Brick 4 / Wood 4Opening score 42.58 · Best pair score 46.43This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I02 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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I08 Wood 11 / Ore 9 / Brick 5Opening score 42.36 · Best pair score 46.25This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I26 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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I02 + I42Sheep 6 / Brick 5 / Wheat 2 + Wood 10 / Ore 8 / Brick 3
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I22 + I02Ore 9 / Brick 4 / Wood 4 + Sheep 6 / Brick 5 / Wheat 2
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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I08 Wood 11 / Ore 9 / Brick 5Opening score 42.40 · Best pair score 46.25This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I26 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for wheat.
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I01 Sheep 6 / Brick 5Opening score 42.30 · Best pair score 46.69This 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. City upgrades will need trades for wheat.
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I45 Wood 10 / Ore 8 / Sheep 3Opening score 42.15 · Best pair score 46.30This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I02 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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I08 + I26Wood 11 / Ore 9 / Brick 5 + Sheep 11 / Wood 9 / Sheep 8
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I01 + I22Sheep 6 / Brick 5 + Ore 9 / Brick 4 / Wood 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
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I02 Sheep 6 / Brick 5 / Wheat 2Opening score 41.36 · Best pair score 47.40You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I25 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I43 Ore 8 / Wheat 5 / Brick 3Opening score 41.36 · Best pair score 48.75You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I04 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for wood.
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I39 Wood 9 / Wheat 5 / Brick 3Opening score 41.27 · Best pair score 47.40You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I04 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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I02 + I25Sheep 6 / Brick 5 / Wheat 2 + Wheat 12 / Wheat 6 / Wood 4
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I43 + I04Ore 8 / Wheat 5 / Brick 3 + Ore 10 / Sheep 6
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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I01 Sheep 6 / Brick 5Opening score 41.57 · Best pair score 46.69This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I42 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for wheat.
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I02 Sheep 6 / Brick 5 / Wheat 2Opening score 41.36 · Best pair score 47.40This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I25 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I25 Wheat 12 / Wheat 6 / Wood 4Opening score 40.52 · Best pair score 43.83This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I08 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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I01 + I42Sheep 6 / Brick 5 + Wood 10 / Ore 8 / Brick 3
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I02 + I25Sheep 6 / Brick 5 / Wheat 2 + Wheat 12 / Wheat 6 / Wood 4
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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I01 Sheep 6 / Brick 5Opening score 41.73 · Best pair score 46.69This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I42 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for wheat.
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I45 Wood 10 / Ore 8 / Sheep 3Opening score 41.55 · Best pair score 46.30This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I08 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for wheat.
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I08 Wood 11 / Ore 9 / Brick 5Opening score 41.14 · Best pair score 46.25This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I45 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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I01 + I42Sheep 6 / Brick 5 + Wood 10 / Ore 8 / Brick 3
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I45 + I08Wood 10 / Ore 8 / Sheep 3 + Wood 11 / Ore 9 / Brick 5
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 Wood 10 / Ore 8 / Sheep 3Opening score 41.78 · Best pair score 46.30This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I02 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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I25 Wheat 12 / Wheat 6 / Wood 4Opening score 41.04 · Best pair score 43.83This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I08 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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I34 Wheat 6 / Wood 4Opening score 39.59 · Best pair score 42.18This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I08 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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I45 + I02Wood 10 / Ore 8 / Sheep 3 + Sheep 6 / Brick 5 / Wheat 2
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I25 + I08Wheat 12 / Wheat 6 / Wood 4 + Wood 11 / Ore 9 / Brick 5
Resource Profile
Scarcity & Abundance
Best Harbor Starts
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I04 Ore 10 / Sheep 6Port Sheep, score 13.73
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I48 Ore 8 / Wheat 5Port Wheat, score 13.62
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I01 Sheep 6 / Brick 5Port 3:1, score 11.73
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I40 Wood 9 / Wheat 5Port Ore, score 9.68
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I28 Sheep 8Port 3:1, score 8.53