Map #NW
Plan around limited ore.
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 I08 + I21. City upgrades will need trades for ore. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I21 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 wheat.
How To Approach It
- The board produces relatively little ore, 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
I08 Wood 9 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 8
Overall 18.24, 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 | I08 | Wood 9 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 8 | 18.24 | 6.41 | - |
| 2 | I22 | Brick 10 / Wheat 8 / Sheep 5 | 17.56 | 6.57 | - |
| 3 | I32 | Brick 10 / Wheat 8 / Sheep 5 | 17.41 | 6.16 | - |
| 4 | I13 | Sheep 9 / Wheat 8 / Wood 4 | 17.32 | 6.64 | - |
| 5 | I21 | Brick 10 / Wheat 8 / Wood 4 | 16.97 | 7.75 | - |
| 6 | I09 | Brick 11 / Wood 9 / Wheat 8 | 16.64 | 7.05 | - |
| 7 | I19 | Brick 11 / Wheat 8 / Sheep 5 | 16.53 | 6.74 | - |
| 8 | I33 | Wheat 8 / Sheep 5 / Ore 3 | 15.98 | 5.04 | - |
| 9 | I34 | Brick 10 / Wood 6 / Sheep 3 | 15.70 | 6.99 | - |
| 10 | I42 | Wheat 8 / Brick 4 / Ore 3 | 15.33 | 5.31 | - |
Top Opening Pairs
These pair scores reflect combined production, coverage, number overlap, port help, and long-term flexibility.
Top pair
Score 52.11City upgrades will need trades for ore. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I21 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 wheat.
Pair 2
Score 52.08City upgrades will need trades for ore. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I25 second to start with 2 wood, 1 brick.
Pair 3
Score 52.03City upgrades will need trades for ore. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I25 second to start with 2 wood, 1 brick.
Pair 4
Score 52.03City upgrades will need trades for ore. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I25 second to start with 2 wood, 1 brick.
Pair 5
Score 51.98City upgrades will need trades for ore. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I32 second to start with 1 brick, 1 sheep, 1 wheat.
Pair 6
Score 51.80City upgrades will need trades for ore. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I22 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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I08 Wood 9 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 8Opening score 46.52 · Best pair score 52.11You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I35 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I25 Brick 10 / Wood 6 / Wood 4Opening score 45.13 · Best pair score 52.08You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I35 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I13 Sheep 9 / Wheat 8 / Wood 4Opening score 44.48 · Best pair score 50.71You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I35 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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I08 + I35Wood 9 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 8 + Brick 10 / Wheat 8 / Sheep 3
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I25 + I35Brick 10 / Wood 6 / Wood 4 + Brick 10 / Wheat 8 / 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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I25 Brick 10 / Wood 6 / Wood 4Opening score 46.20 · Best pair score 52.08This 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. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I32 Brick 10 / Wheat 8 / Sheep 5Opening score 45.66 · Best pair score 52.03This 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. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I34 Brick 10 / Wood 6 / Sheep 3Opening score 45.58 · Best pair score 51.03This 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. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I25 + I33Brick 10 / Wood 6 / Wood 4 + Wheat 8 / Sheep 5 / Ore 3
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I32 + I02Brick 10 / Wheat 8 / Sheep 5 + Brick 11 / Wheat 10 / Wood 9
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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I34 Brick 10 / Wood 6 / Sheep 3Opening score 46.21 · Best pair score 51.03This 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. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I02 Brick 11 / Wheat 10 / Wood 9Opening score 43.87 · Best pair score 48.56This 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. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I35 Brick 10 / Wheat 8 / Sheep 3Opening score 43.60 · Best pair score 49.26This 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.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I34 + I33Brick 10 / Wood 6 / Sheep 3 + Wheat 8 / Sheep 5 / Ore 3
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I02 + I33Brick 11 / Wheat 10 / Wood 9 + Wheat 8 / Sheep 5 / Ore 3
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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I08 Wood 9 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 8Opening score 42.49 · Best pair score 52.11You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I39 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. Road building will need trades for brick.
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I32 Brick 10 / Wheat 8 / Sheep 5Opening score 42.38 · Best pair score 52.03You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I24 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I13 Sheep 9 / Wheat 8 / Wood 4Opening score 42.37 · Best pair score 50.71You 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.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I08 + I39Wood 9 / Sheep 9 / Wheat 8 + Wheat 12 / Sheep 6 / Ore 3
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I32 + I24Brick 10 / Wheat 8 / Sheep 5 + Wood 6 / Wood 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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I32 Brick 10 / Wheat 8 / Sheep 5Opening score 44.04 · Best pair score 52.03This 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. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I21 Brick 10 / Wheat 8 / Wood 4Opening score 42.51 · Best pair score 52.11This 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. Without sheep production, new settlements and development cards will need a trade.
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I25 Brick 10 / Wood 6 / Wood 4Opening score 42.25 · Best pair score 52.08This 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. Without sheep production, new settlements and development cards will need a trade.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I32 + I02Brick 10 / Wheat 8 / Sheep 5 + Brick 11 / Wheat 10 / Wood 9
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I21 + I42Brick 10 / Wheat 8 / Wood 4 + Wheat 8 / Brick 4 / Ore 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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I34 Brick 10 / Wood 6 / Sheep 3Opening score 42.99 · Best pair score 51.03This 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. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I35 Brick 10 / Wheat 8 / Sheep 3Opening score 41.68 · Best pair score 49.26This 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. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I02 Brick 11 / Wheat 10 / Wood 9Opening score 41.41 · Best pair score 48.56This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I35 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 + I45Brick 10 / Wood 6 / Sheep 3 + Wheat 8 / Brick 4 / Ore 2
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I35 + I02Brick 10 / Wheat 8 / Sheep 3 + Brick 11 / Wheat 10 / Wood 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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I03 Brick 11 / Wheat 10 / Ore 5Opening score 43.26 · Best pair score 49.05This 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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I02 Brick 11 / Wheat 10 / Wood 9Opening score 42.41 · Best pair score 48.56This 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. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I45 Wheat 8 / Brick 4 / Ore 2Opening score 42.36 · Best pair score 48.68This 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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I03 + I34Brick 11 / Wheat 10 / Ore 5 + Brick 10 / Wood 6 / Sheep 3
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I02 + I34Brick 11 / Wheat 10 / Wood 9 + Brick 10 / Wood 6 / Sheep 3
Resource Profile
Scarcity & Abundance
Best Harbor Starts
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I38 Wood 6 / Sheep 3Port Wood, score 13.03
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I01 Wheat 10 / Wood 9Port 3:1, score 9.88
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I24 Wood 6 / Wood 4Port Brick, score 9.28
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I04 Wheat 10 / Ore 5Port Sheep, score 8.98
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I40 Wheat 12 / Sheep 6Port Ore, score 8.28