Build a calm Year 1 start
In Against the Storm, your starting caravan is your opening mix of villagers and supplies, and embark bonuses are extra resources/perks you buy with embark points before the settlement begins. If this choice feels weirdly high-pressure at first, that is completely normal. You are not aiming for a "perfect" opener. You are aiming for a stable opener that keeps food, fuel, and building materials flowing through the first Storm.
When comparing caravans, prioritize immediate stability over flashy long-term value: more workable villagers, usable starting food, and basic construction materials. If two caravans look similar, pick the one whose food you can use right away so Resolve (villager happiness) stays safer while your economy is still tiny.
Reliable embark setup (works in most biomes)
- Take one food bonus so you are not forced into early risky glade openings just to eat.
- Take one bundle of basic materials (planks, bricks, or fabric) so your first production buildings come online fast.
- Take either extra villagers or extra parts (parts are a construction resource used for camps and many buildings) to prevent an early tempo bottleneck.
- Use your last points on a small fuel or trading buffer, depending on what your biome preview says is scarce.
Biome adjustment rule: if the map preview looks food-volatile, double down on food + fuel; if it looks resource-rich but labor-tight, prioritize extra villagers/parts. Avoid weak openings like spending most points on luxury or late-game pieces that do not help in Year 1.
Coaching line for a shaky start: if your first year is spiraling, stop opening new glades (new map areas) for one cycle, reassign workers to food and fuel, and buy a small emergency stack of food or parts from the first available trader to reset momentum.