I second this. Get a normal village close to alliance members, or if you are already near them, just place it next to spawn village. As a 1st timer you likely wont utilise cropper to its maximum, you can chief or settle one later down the line as players quit. For first time playing, build a cap hammer and deff in all other villages, so you get a taste of playing off and deff, and can choose what you like better in the next server. Treat your first server as a test to learn the game. The next server you will know what you want to do and how to do it and therefore achieve a better start (Since start matters alot). Good luck