Who goes first in Sid Meier's Civilization: The Board Game?
Fantasy Flight Games English original board-game rulebook
Choose whoever can trace their family history back the farthest, or select the first player at random.
Rule details
The selected player receives the first player marker; it moves one player left at the start of later game turns, but not the first turn.
The original board game is distinct from Civilization: A New Dawn.
Source & edition
- Sid Meier's Civilization: The Board Game: Fantasy Flight Games rulesFantasy Flight Games · General Setup, step 9: Select First Player; Game Turn Overview · Checked 2026-09-23Printed page references: 10, 12
Image: © Fantasy Flight Games (publisher of the cited rules; cover art may have additional creators or rights holders) · Fantasy Flight Games
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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