When I started my first game, I hadn't read the forums or strategy guides. I was just randomly dragging my people to various parts of the island to check it out (after assigning people to each of the tasks necessary-food, shelter, research, etc.). I didn't know what the robe was until I dragged my villager onto it and, of course, she became the chief, on the first try, without my knowing that it was even an option. Naturally, since I had *just* started the game, this was a pain in the behind because now she didn't do anything "useful". So, I proceeded to "investigate" the island and discovered she could make food! Hooray, this is perfect for my flegling village! Aww, she can only do it every 24 hours. It didn't occur to me, at that point, that I could pause the game and wait until she could make more food but I probably wouldn't have done it anyway since I always get OCD when I start a new VV game (lol). Anyhow, it is my personal opinion that finding/making a chief right off the bat is not the best way to do it. As one previous poster noted, it takes away a worker and that result is not worth the 'Directing Work' you get from a chief. I just thought I'd put my two-cents in.