Map #NM
Wood and brick make expansion worth a look.
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 I34 + I03. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I03 second to start with 1 wood, 1 sheep, 1 wheat.
How To Approach It
- The board produces relatively little sheep; secure a source or a way to trade for it.
- The board has more wood production than most other resources; check whether a matching harbor fits your opening.
- Keep I35 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
I34 Ore 10 / Brick 8 / Wheat 5
Overall 17.00, production 12.00, road 9.54, city 9.90.
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 | I34 | Ore 10 / Brick 8 / Wheat 5 | 17.00 | 5.42 | - |
| 2 | I03 | Wood 10 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 5 | 16.02 | 4.90 | - |
| 3 | I44 | Ore 10 / Wood 9 / Ore 6 | 15.41 | 6.16 | - |
| 4 | I24 | Brick 8 / Wheat 3 | 14.79 | 5.46 | Brick |
| 5 | I13 | Brick 6 / Wood 4 / Wheat 3 | 14.75 | 4.93 | - |
| 6 | I35 | Ore 10 / Ore 6 / Wheat 5 | 14.75 | 4.09 | - |
| 7 | I26 | Brick 11 / Wood 8 / Ore 4 | 14.70 | 4.72 | - |
| 8 | I45 | Wheat 12 / Wood 9 / Ore 6 | 14.50 | 4.08 | - |
| 9 | I15 | Brick 11 / Wood 10 / Sheep 9 | 14.21 | 5.62 | - |
| 10 | I25 | Brick 8 / Wheat 5 / Wheat 3 | 14.07 | 5.17 | - |
Top Opening Pairs
These pair scores reflect combined production, coverage, number overlap, port help, and long-term flexibility.
Top pair
Score 50.73These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I03 second to start with 1 wood, 1 sheep, 1 wheat.
Pair 2
Score 49.59Without sheep production, new settlements and development cards will need a trade. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I34 second to start with 1 brick, 1 wheat, 1 ore.
Pair 3
Score 49.45Road building will need trades for brick. This opening leans toward cities and development cards. Place I35 second to start with 1 wheat, 2 ore.
Pair 4
Score 48.92These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I15 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 sheep.
Pair 5
Score 48.78Road building will need trades for brick. This opening leans toward cities and development cards. Place I03 second to start with 1 wood, 1 sheep, 1 wheat.
Pair 6
Score 48.44Without sheep production, new settlements and development cards will need a trade. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I44 second to start with 1 wood, 2 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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I34 Ore 10 / Brick 8 / Wheat 5Opening score 44.33 · Best pair score 50.73You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I09 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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I35 Ore 10 / Ore 6 / Wheat 5Opening score 43.52 · Best pair score 49.45You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I45 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Neither settlement produces brick, sheep, so plan for trades.
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I02 Sheep 9 / Wheat 5 / Sheep 2Opening score 42.93 · Best pair score 46.19You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I26 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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I34 + I09Ore 10 / Brick 8 / Wheat 5 + Sheep 9 / Wood 4 / Sheep 2
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I35 + I45Ore 10 / Ore 6 / Wheat 5 + Wheat 12 / Wood 9 / Ore 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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I03 Wood 10 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 5Opening score 45.58 · Best pair score 50.73This 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. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I02 Sheep 9 / Wheat 5 / Sheep 2Opening score 42.93 · Best pair score 46.19This 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. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I26 Brick 11 / Wood 8 / Ore 4Opening score 41.62 · Best pair score 48.03This 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. Neither settlement produces sheep, wheat, so plan for trades.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I03 + I26Wood 10 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 5 + Brick 11 / Wood 8 / Ore 4
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I02 + I26Sheep 9 / Wheat 5 / Sheep 2 + Brick 11 / Wood 8 / 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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I26 Brick 11 / Wood 8 / Ore 4Opening score 43.56 · Best pair score 48.03This 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. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I16 Brick 11 / Wood 10 / Wood 8Opening score 42.17 · Best pair score 48.40This 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. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I24 Brick 8 / Wheat 3Opening score 40.60 · Best pair score 43.39This 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. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I26 + I03Brick 11 / Wood 8 / Ore 4 + Wood 10 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 5
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I16 + I03Brick 11 / Wood 10 / Wood 8 + Wood 10 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 5
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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I34 Ore 10 / Brick 8 / Wheat 5Opening score 42.60 · Best pair score 50.73You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I09 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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I03 Wood 10 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 5Opening score 41.50 · Best pair score 50.73You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I42 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
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I35 Ore 10 / Ore 6 / Wheat 5Opening score 40.96 · Best pair score 49.45You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I09 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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I34 + I09Ore 10 / Brick 8 / Wheat 5 + Sheep 9 / Wood 4 / Sheep 2
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I03 + I42Wood 10 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 5 + Wheat 12 / Ore 6 / Sheep 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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I03 Wood 10 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 5Opening score 41.67 · Best pair score 50.73This 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. Road building will need trades for brick.
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I15 Brick 11 / Wood 10 / Sheep 9Opening score 38.87 · Best pair score 48.92This 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. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I02 Sheep 9 / Wheat 5 / Sheep 2Opening score 38.60 · Best pair score 46.19This 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. Road building will need trades for wood, brick.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I03 + I42Wood 10 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 5 + Wheat 12 / Ore 6 / Sheep 3
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I15 + I32Brick 11 / Wood 10 / Sheep 9 + Ore 6 / Wheat 5
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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I26 Brick 11 / Wood 8 / Ore 4Opening score 40.51 · Best pair score 48.03This 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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I16 Brick 11 / Wood 10 / Wood 8Opening score 40.14 · Best pair score 48.40This 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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I24 Brick 8 / Wheat 3Opening score 38.86 · Best pair score 43.39This 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. Without sheep production, new settlements and development cards will need a trade.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I26 + I42Brick 11 / Wood 8 / Ore 4 + Wheat 12 / Ore 6 / Sheep 3
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I16 + I42Brick 11 / Wood 10 / Wood 8 + Wheat 12 / Ore 6 / Sheep 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 Brick 11 / Wood 8 / Ore 4Opening score 41.65 · Best pair score 48.03This 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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I16 Brick 11 / Wood 10 / Wood 8Opening score 41.04 · Best pair score 48.40This 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. Neither settlement produces sheep, ore, so plan for trades.
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I09 Sheep 9 / Wood 4 / Sheep 2Opening score 39.55 · Best pair score 46.60This 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 ore.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I26 + I13Brick 11 / Wood 8 / Ore 4 + Brick 6 / Wood 4 / Wheat 3
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I16 + I13Brick 11 / Wood 10 / Wood 8 + Brick 6 / Wood 4 / Wheat 3
Resource Profile
Scarcity & Abundance
Best Harbor Starts
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I24 Brick 8 / Wheat 3Port Brick, score 13.03
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I40 Sheep 11 / Ore 4Port Ore, score 10.01
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I38 Ore 10 / Brick 8Port Wood, score 9.68
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I04 Wood 10 / Wheat 5Port Sheep, score 8.98
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I11 Brick 6Port 3:1, score 8.53