Map #HE
Plan around limited brick.
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 I13 + I02. Road building will need trades for brick. This opening leans toward cities and development cards. Place I02 second to start with 1 wood, 1 sheep, 1 wheat.
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
I02 Wood 11 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 8
Overall 16.07, production 11.00, road 9.40, city 8.09.
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 | I02 | Wood 11 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 8 | 16.07 | 5.83 | - |
| 2 | I08 | Sheep 9 / Ore 6 / Wood 3 | 15.83 | 5.16 | - |
| 3 | I01 | Sheep 9 / Wheat 8 | 15.05 | 5.13 | 3:1 |
| 4 | I33 | Sheep 6 / Wood 5 / Brick 2 | 15.02 | 5.22 | - |
| 5 | I20 | Wood 11 / Sheep 6 / Wheat 4 | 14.83 | 5.15 | - |
| 6 | I32 | Wheat 12 / Sheep 6 / Wood 5 | 14.70 | 4.70 | - |
| 7 | I03 | Wood 11 / Wheat 8 / Ore 4 | 14.65 | 4.63 | - |
| 8 | I39 | Wheat 8 / Sheep 5 / Brick 2 | 14.40 | 3.63 | - |
| 9 | I30 | Sheep 6 / Wheat 4 / Brick 2 | 13.71 | 4.50 | - |
| 10 | I13 | Ore 9 / Ore 6 / Wood 3 | 13.70 | 4.21 | - |
Top Opening Pairs
These pair scores reflect combined production, coverage, number overlap, port help, and long-term flexibility.
Top pair
Score 47.55Road building will need trades for brick. This opening leans toward cities and development cards. Place I02 second to start with 1 wood, 1 sheep, 1 wheat.
Pair 2
Score 46.83These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward cities and development cards. Place I39 second to start with 1 brick, 1 sheep, 1 wheat.
Pair 3
Score 46.66These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward cities and development cards. Place I08 second to start with 1 wood, 1 sheep, 1 ore.
Pair 4
Score 46.46Road building will need trades for brick. This opening leans toward cities and development cards. Place I02 second to start with 1 wood, 1 sheep, 1 wheat.
Pair 5
Score 46.32These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward cities and development cards. Place I39 second to start with 1 brick, 1 sheep, 1 wheat.
Pair 6
Score 46.21City 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.
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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I08 Sheep 9 / Ore 6 / Wood 3Opening score 44.00 · Best pair score 46.66You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I39 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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I13 Ore 9 / Ore 6 / Wood 3Opening score 43.78 · Best pair score 47.55You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I39 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 Wood 11 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 8Opening score 41.54 · Best pair score 47.55You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I12 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I08 + I39Sheep 9 / Ore 6 / Wood 3 + Wheat 8 / Sheep 5 / Brick 2
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I13 + I39Ore 9 / Ore 6 / Wood 3 + Wheat 8 / Sheep 5 / Brick 2
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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I13 Ore 9 / Ore 6 / Wood 3Opening score 44.91 · Best pair score 47.55This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I39 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 Sheep 9 / Ore 6 / Wood 3Opening score 44.07 · Best pair score 46.66This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I39 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 8 / Wheat 4 / Brick 3Opening score 43.78 · Best pair score 46.66This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I33 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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I13 + I39Ore 9 / Ore 6 / Wood 3 + Wheat 8 / Sheep 5 / Brick 2
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I08 + I39Sheep 9 / Ore 6 / Wood 3 + Wheat 8 / Sheep 5 / Brick 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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I26 Wheat 8 / Wheat 4 / Brick 3Opening score 43.78 · Best pair score 46.66This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I33 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I39 Wheat 8 / Sheep 5 / Brick 2Opening score 42.94 · Best pair score 46.83This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I33 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I20 Wood 11 / Sheep 6 / Wheat 4Opening score 41.81 · Best pair score 45.42This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I33 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 + I33Wheat 8 / Wheat 4 / Brick 3 + Sheep 6 / Wood 5 / Brick 2
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I39 + I33Wheat 8 / Sheep 5 / Brick 2 + Sheep 6 / Wood 5 / Brick 2
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 Wood 11 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 8Opening score 41.51 · Best pair score 47.55You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I12 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
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I08 Sheep 9 / Ore 6 / Wood 3Opening score 41.22 · Best pair score 46.66You 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 brick.
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I33 Sheep 6 / Wood 5 / Brick 2Opening score 40.13 · Best pair score 46.21You 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 + I12Wood 11 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 8 + Ore 9 / Ore 6
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I08 + I04Sheep 9 / Ore 6 / Wood 3 + Wheat 8 / 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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I08 Sheep 9 / Ore 6 / Wood 3Opening score 41.63 · Best pair score 46.66This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I04 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
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I32 Wheat 12 / Sheep 6 / Wood 5Opening score 40.70 · Best pair score 43.96This 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. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I33 Sheep 6 / Wood 5 / Brick 2Opening score 40.44 · Best pair score 46.21This 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. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I08 + I04Sheep 9 / Ore 6 / Wood 3 + Wheat 8 / Ore 4
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I32 + I25Wheat 12 / Sheep 6 / Wood 5 + Wheat 12 / Brick 10 / Ore 9
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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I12 Ore 9 / Ore 6Opening score 40.50 · Best pair score 44.81This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I39 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for wood.
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I20 Wood 11 / Sheep 6 / Wheat 4Opening score 40.31 · Best pair score 45.42This 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. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I39 Wheat 8 / Sheep 5 / Brick 2Opening score 40.07 · Best pair score 46.83This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I12 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for wood.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I12 + I39Ore 9 / Ore 6 + Wheat 8 / Sheep 5 / Brick 2
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I20 + I25Wood 11 / Sheep 6 / Wheat 4 + Wheat 12 / Brick 10 / Ore 9
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 8 / Wheat 4 / Brick 3Opening score 41.53 · Best pair score 46.66This 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. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I12 Ore 9 / Ore 6Opening score 41.04 · Best pair score 44.81This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I39 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for wood.
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I39 Wheat 8 / Sheep 5 / Brick 2Opening score 40.91 · Best pair score 46.83This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I12 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for wood.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I26 + I20Wheat 8 / Wheat 4 / Brick 3 + Wood 11 / Sheep 6 / Wheat 4
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I12 + I39Ore 9 / Ore 6 + Wheat 8 / Sheep 5 / Brick 2
Resource Profile
Scarcity & Abundance
Best Harbor Starts
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I01 Sheep 9 / Wheat 8Port 3:1, score 11.73
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I24 Brick 10 / Ore 9Port Brick, score 11.41
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I40 Wheat 8 / Sheep 5Port Ore, score 10.38
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I04 Wheat 8 / Ore 4Port Sheep, score 9.68
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I11 Ore 6Port 3:1, score 8.53