From the source rules

Who goes first in Federation?

Eagle-Gryphon English public rulebook, Explor8 ©2022, linked from the Deluxe edition

Federation Deluxe Edition game box

Agree on a method for choosing the starter. Give the chosen player the President of the Senate pawn; they begin the Ambassador phase.

Rule details

Before play, players choose Starting tiles counterclockwise, beginning with the person to the starter’s right. This is a setup draft, separate from the clockwise Ambassador turns.

The President’s Office action can change who starts the next round.

Source & edition

  • Federation: Eagle-Gryphon Games rulesEagle-Gryphon Games · How to Play / Ambassador Phase; President’s Office; credits; PDF pages 7, 20, 32 · Checked 2026-09-23Printed page references: 7, 20, 32Cited PDF pages: 7, 20, 32
All 13 Eagle-Gryphon Games starting rules

Image: © Explor8 / Eagle-Gryphon Games and any cover-art licensors or artists (precise ownership not stated on product page) · Eagle-Gryphon Games

If there’s a tie

The rulebook doesn’t say.

More starting rules

Browse available game rules

Games with a similar starting rule

More starting rules about letting the group decide

Free game-night tools: score keeper · turn timer · dice roller · all tools

Embed this answer on your site

Copy this HTML into a blog post, forum or game café page. It’s plain text with a link back to this rule, so it works almost anywhere. More embed options

Found a different instruction in your edition? Send a correction with the game, edition, and source.