Originally posted by OctoberSky:

I check the seed in the world generator before starting to insure that it does indeed have all of the points of interest I'll be hunting for when the game starts. But I don't go back or use console to explore the map. My memory isn't that good anyway so I'll end up blundering around to find crypts or infested mines regardless. But the preview at least tells me that it's me and not a bad map seed.

It has beyond my first play been my way to go, I have the same awful memory so it generally doesn't cause much problems, but...

Originally posted by Jogo:

Always 1, never 2.

Exploration and taking on the challenge, however hard, that the world presents, is what does it for me. Not being able to find large enough swamps or, say, Yagluth's vegvisir, or collect that last remaining black core, just makes me wanna play more. #2 would ruin most of that.

This take is so valuable, I am inclined to return to it. The old unknown, the adventure and frustration... but the chance the map/seed just plain sucks... hmm...