Map #3HD
Plan around limited ore.
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 I20 + I45. City upgrades will need trades for ore. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I45 second to start with 1 wood, 1 sheep, 1 wheat.
How To Approach It
- The board produces relatively little brick, wheat, ore; 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 I44 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
I45 Wheat 9 / Wood 6 / Sheep 5
Overall 18.39, production 13.00, road 10.95, city 9.45.
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 | I45 | Wheat 9 / Wood 6 / Sheep 5 | 18.39 | 6.41 | - |
| 2 | I34 | Wood 9 / Sheep 8 / Ore 4 | 17.03 | 5.48 | - |
| 3 | I32 | Wood 9 / Wheat 9 / Sheep 4 | 16.38 | 6.36 | - |
| 4 | I35 | Wood 9 / Wheat 9 / Ore 4 | 16.37 | 6.00 | - |
| 5 | I20 | Wheat 10 / Brick 6 / Sheep 4 | 16.26 | 5.43 | - |
| 6 | I26 | Wheat 11 / Brick 6 / Sheep 5 | 16.23 | 5.45 | - |
| 7 | I42 | Ore 11 / Wheat 9 / Wood 6 | 16.20 | 5.62 | - |
| 8 | I44 | Wheat 9 / Sheep 5 / Ore 4 | 16.02 | 5.01 | - |
| 9 | I30 | Ore 11 / Brick 6 / Sheep 4 | 15.33 | 5.74 | - |
| 10 | I16 | Brick 6 / Sheep 5 / Wood 2 | 15.26 | 5.75 | - |
Top Opening Pairs
These pair scores reflect combined production, coverage, number overlap, port help, and long-term flexibility.
Top pair
Score 52.24City upgrades will need trades for ore. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I45 second to start with 1 wood, 1 sheep, 1 wheat.
Pair 2
Score 52.14City upgrades will need trades for ore. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I45 second to start with 1 wood, 1 sheep, 1 wheat.
Pair 3
Score 51.92These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I45 second to start with 1 wood, 1 sheep, 1 wheat.
Pair 4
Score 51.31These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I08 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 ore.
Pair 5
Score 51.26City upgrades will need trades for ore. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I16 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 sheep.
Pair 6
Score 50.81These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I20 second to start with 1 brick, 1 sheep, 1 wheat.
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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I45 Wheat 9 / Wood 6 / Sheep 5Opening score 47.54 · Best pair score 52.24You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I08 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 Wheat 11 / Brick 6 / Sheep 5Opening score 46.50 · Best pair score 52.14You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I32 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I20 Wheat 10 / Brick 6 / Sheep 4Opening score 46.38 · Best pair score 52.24You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I32 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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I45 + I08Wheat 9 / Wood 6 / Sheep 5 + Wood 10 / Ore 8 / Brick 3
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I26 + I32Wheat 11 / Brick 6 / Sheep 5 + Wood 9 / Wheat 9 / 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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I34 Wood 9 / Sheep 8 / Ore 4Opening score 47.91 · Best pair score 50.81This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I20 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 Wheat 11 / Brick 6 / Sheep 5Opening score 46.50 · Best pair score 52.14This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I32 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I20 Wheat 10 / Brick 6 / Sheep 4Opening score 46.38 · Best pair score 52.24This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I32 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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I34 + I20Wood 9 / Sheep 8 / Ore 4 + Wheat 10 / Brick 6 / Sheep 4
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I26 + I32Wheat 11 / Brick 6 / Sheep 5 + Wood 9 / Wheat 9 / Sheep 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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I26 Wheat 11 / Brick 6 / Sheep 5Opening score 46.50 · Best pair score 52.14This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I32 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I20 Wheat 10 / Brick 6 / Sheep 4Opening score 46.38 · Best pair score 52.24This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I32 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I32 Wood 9 / Wheat 9 / Sheep 4Opening score 46.17 · Best pair score 49.17This 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 ore.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I26 + I32Wheat 11 / Brick 6 / Sheep 5 + Wood 9 / Wheat 9 / Sheep 4
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I20 + I32Wheat 10 / Brick 6 / Sheep 4 + Wood 9 / Wheat 9 / Sheep 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
-
I35 Wood 9 / Wheat 9 / Ore 4Opening score 43.58 · Best pair score 50.23You 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.
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I45 Wheat 9 / Wood 6 / Sheep 5Opening score 43.46 · Best pair score 52.24You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I21 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I44 Wheat 9 / Sheep 5 / Ore 4Opening score 41.64 · Best pair score 49.11You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I48 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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I35 + I22Wood 9 / Wheat 9 / Ore 4 + Wood 9 / Sheep 4 / Brick 3
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I45 + I21Wheat 9 / Wood 6 / Sheep 5 + Wheat 12 / Wood 9 / 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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I20 Wheat 10 / Brick 6 / Sheep 4Opening score 44.84 · Best pair score 52.24This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I43 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 Wheat 11 / Brick 6 / Sheep 5Opening score 44.53 · Best pair score 52.14This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I43 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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I32 Wood 9 / Wheat 9 / Sheep 4Opening score 43.87 · Best pair score 49.17This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I43 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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I20 + I43Wheat 10 / Brick 6 / Sheep 4 + Ore 11 / Wood 6 / Brick 3
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I26 + I43Wheat 11 / Brick 6 / Sheep 5 + Ore 11 / Wood 6 / Brick 3
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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I32 Wood 9 / Wheat 9 / Sheep 4Opening score 46.15 · Best pair score 49.17This 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 ore.
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I20 Wheat 10 / Brick 6 / Sheep 4Opening score 45.82 · Best pair score 52.24This 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. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I26 Wheat 11 / Brick 6 / Sheep 5Opening score 45.66 · Best pair score 52.14This 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. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I32 + I26Wood 9 / Wheat 9 / Sheep 4 + Wheat 11 / Brick 6 / Sheep 5
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I20 + I08Wheat 10 / Brick 6 / Sheep 4 + Wood 10 / Ore 8 / Brick 3
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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I26 Wheat 11 / Brick 6 / Sheep 5Opening score 45.91 · Best pair score 52.14This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I32 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I08 Wood 10 / Ore 8 / Brick 3Opening score 45.23 · Best pair score 51.31This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I20 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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I16 Brick 6 / Sheep 5 / Wood 2Opening score 43.71 · Best pair score 51.26This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I32 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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I26 + I32Wheat 11 / Brick 6 / Sheep 5 + Wood 9 / Wheat 9 / Sheep 4
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I08 + I20Wood 10 / Ore 8 / Brick 3 + Wheat 10 / Brick 6 / Sheep 4
Resource Profile
Scarcity & Abundance
Best Harbor Starts
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I38 Sheep 8 / Ore 4Port Wood, score 9.68
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I48 Wood 6 / Brick 3Port Wheat, score 8.98
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I11 Ore 8Port 3:1, score 8.53
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I14 Ore 8Port 3:1, score 8.53
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I24 Wheat 12 / Sheep 8Port Brick, score 8.28