Mansa Musa - no desert

[Dagge]

Well as the title suggest. I have tried to start a game with Mansa Musa, who is heavily geared toward deserts. But after 30 restarts I have yet to get any desert near my starting point. Does he have no bias at all?

[JUMP'NSHOOTMAN]

My guess on this, which I've also noticed, is that while he can receive 1 Fa/Fo from adjacent Desert to the city center, I think it is an ability that is used for him to expand into deserts without it being crippling. Add in the fact that he doesn't receive a unique building or improvement specifically geared towards deserts, he seems designed with the idea that you should use desert cities as such:

1. Place a 3rd or 4th city in a position to get the most bonus, notice since this bonus can only affect up to 6 tiles, you could theoretically cramp the desert with 3 space cities. Though if you want to maximize the trade bonus, you'll likely want to favor 4 or 5 spacing and push out a monument fast. In addition keep in mind that Suguba gets +2 Gold for nearby Rivers/Holy Sites.

2. Spam Markets and use those cities as bases for international trade routes. I'd actually position towards having the ability for a Harbor in one or two as well if you can ensure protecting the routes. Don't forget the Mandekalu Cavalry can prevent friendly traders within 4 tiles from being plundered, only on land.

3. Add in trade based policy cards as able. Or some dedications can really bolster output.

4. Make good use of Reyna's Contractor promotion.

Though I feel the desert cities aren't to flourish outside of finances. Even 6 food, while nice, hardly makes up for the amount of food lost from being positioned squarely in the desert. And the fact that Mansa could almost use a single fully tiled desert city for all trade, provided there's enough foreign cities within range, only makes this stance stronger.

[Astasia]

I've only been playing one game so far with the expansion, as Mansa Musa, I started on the edge of a desert and spent two turns moving in towards a better position. I think it helps to tune your map to have more desert. It does have a massive benefit for him to get that 6 faith per turn right from the start of the game, you can very quickly grab the desert pantheon to get an extra 6 faith per city, and this puts you well on the way to dominating religion as well as economy, keeping in mind his unique district also reduces faith buyout costs.