Depends on the map/scenario. If it's one like Mesopotamia, for example, all the starting locations are set in the map editor. If it's a random start scenario, just keep restarting it until you get the location you want. Or, you can use the editor to 'force' the scenario to let you start where you want.

Restarting previous world doesn't change the starting location. It seems to always put the player on a far edge. I wish I could swap with specific other starting locations.

Did you try to open them/it in the editor?

You might also try different civs in the scenario. If you are just playing a random game then just keep restarting until you get the spot you'd like,

If you load a Map you like in to the editor, you can literally add and remove the start locations. Just experiment.

As long as you don't save, any mistakes you make, just reload and start again. When you are happy, make sure YOU SAVE IT UNDER A NEW NAME...

Originally posted by Hully:

If you load a Map you like in to the editor, you can literally add and remove the start locations. Just experiment.

As long as you don't save, any mistakes you make, just reload and start again. When you are happy, make sure YOU SAVE IT UNDER A NEW NAME...

What I do is make a copy of the scenario (Ctrl+X then Ctrl+V). You will end up with a file that has '- copy' at the end. Edit that one.

Ctrl+X is 'Cut' on Windows. I think you mean Ctrl+C which is copy.

So if you save the Seed you can play on the map again by inputting the seed during the map type selection menu and it will often shuffle placement among the starting locations (particularly if you have DISABLED culturally linked start locations).

Additionally, as others have mentioned if you go into the map in the map editor you can manually adjust the starting locations as you please.

In my experience, you can change your starting location by changing the climate on a given map

Just turn off culture link, enable food & shields shown on map. Start game, if stuck in a jungle, marshes or mountains forget it. New game please, lovely grasslands with 2 food & shields, ok now its worth starting.