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Step 1
Do not accept the random layout and standard procedure for determining starting positions, as this can give one player a large advantage (or disadvantage) right off the bat.
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Step 2
Lay out the tiles and dots in letter order as shown in the instructions and places all the settlements as so to give each player the same number of pips, and access to the same resources. If each player would not be equally happy with any color, you need to distribute things more fairly.
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Step 3
If the above sounds too time-consuming, create the board and let players place settlements as normal, but then randomize which player gets which color. This will force players not to advantage any one color. As an alternative to randomizing, give each player last choice at their own color.
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Step 4
Set up settlements randomly, then allow players to bid auction-style for the color start they want. This will balance out any inequality in starting position with fewer starting resources.
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Step 5
Replace the dice with a deck of 36 cards that model the standard probability on two 6-sided dice. There should be one 2 and 12, two 3s and 11s, three 4s and 10s, four 5s and 9s, five 6s and 8s, and six 7s. This ensures that every number comes up as often as it should, and that a bizarre streak of 12s or lack of 6s does not completely change the game.
Comments
landmarkal said
on 7/14/2008 I like some of your ideas but have a few remarks:
Step 2. If each player is not happy, well too bad. Why do you throw dice in any game to see who goes first? To give someone an advantage!
Step 3. I'm going to try that. Kind of a group effort to choose good settlements. Then you roll to go first and choose your colors around the circle?
Step 4. I don't get that. The most resources you would have to bid at the start would be three. That's not very high prices, and what great advantage is three more cards?
Step 5. I've seen these online and am tempted to buy some.