[quote=@AccursedBiscuit]
Hmm, start with a sizeable town to get to the interesting parts faster? They've got most basic technologies discovered, like farming, keeping livestock, etc. How do our villagers react to outsiders? What kind of politics do they use?
[/quote]

I do agree that we should start with at least some level of settlement, as to provide opportunities for conflict. There could still be environmental conflicts, if we started earlier, of course...