From the publisher’s rulebook
Who goes first in A Column of Fire?
Thames & Kosmos English rulebook

Whoever was most recently in a church takes the starting player marker and begins the game.
Rule details
The starting player does not change during the game. Other players follow clockwise in both halves of each year.
Source & edition
- A Column of Fire: Thames & Kosmos English manualThames & Kosmos · Game Preparation; Overview of Gameplay: Course of the Game · Checked 2026-09-23Printed page references: 2, 3
Image: © Thames & Kosmos; Kosmos · Thames & Kosmos
If your rules call for a random choice, use the player picker.
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say. If you need a tie-break, pick a player at random.
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