what should my stories archive setting be

This is entirely up to you.

If you like the default /web-stories/ page created by WordPress, then keep the default.

Sometimes, depending on the theme that is being used, the /web-stories/ page might not look very appealing. If you want to customize that page to your liking, choose a custom page and add any content you like on that page.

If you don’t want that /web-stories/ page at all, you can disable it completely.

Thanks my main reason for asking wasn’t so much design but if and how that might affect indexing and it making it more or less likely for google to find. My 1st web stories were all ending up on discover but since Nov 1st I’ve changed so many settings and added Cloudflare pro that somethings now stopping them from being indexed. Yoast, Cloudflare, this forum and WPengine haven’t been able to help so Im working through process of elimination,

@evedawes Thanks for clarifying, and sorry for the frustration. I can confirm that the archive page settings would not have any impact on your stories’ indexing. Have you reached out to the Search Console team as noted in your other topic? They should be the best people to help you with troubleshooting in regards to indexing.

Thanks so much for clarifying that helped ?? I haven’t as I can’t find a way to contact them. All I can find is this https://support.google.com/webmasters/contact/indexing_issue_form

Do you know how to reach out to them? Thank you

Sure thing! You can post to their community forum here.

I created and selected a custom page and it is empty. Not a single story inside. Do you need some kind of shortcode on the page? Or how to get stories to be displayed there?

@ediet If you’d like to open a new support topic we’d be happy to assist with your case individually. Thank you!