What map size/type is recommended for balanced and fun random game?

[LuRaZ]

Hi,

I have been playing a first game on the large map, but it was not super fun. Basically, in the first ages there was barely contact between the nations because of the distance between starting locations, and now in late game, we are basically just proceeding through the normal ages. There is one country that is focusing on knowledge and just rushing standard ages. I am playing on hard, which is fine for me as I can keep up.

But now I am thinking of changing some of the settings to have a more balanced an fun game. What would you recommend on map size, type and difficulty to ensure the ages really are random and not the classic ones?

Thanks

[Xuande]

Depends on if by "hard" you mean Adept, Master, or Grandmaster. Starting at Master they have a starting Settler and some diplomatic hate for the player (-10, and +10 with each other), which raises to -30/+30 at Grandmaster alongside some extreme bonuses to most Needs and various other metrics, see: https://millennia.paradoxwikis.com/Difficulty

The problem I run into is that if I dont play Grandmaster, the AI can't keep up, but if I do, warfare becomes a forced and frequent requirement. Conquering my neighbor early is effective, but doesn't make for much variety in good openings.

I like Continents in part because it seems to have more diversified land layouts instead of large swaths of trees often seen on Pangea/Inland Sea. Anything denser than 6p/Medium means getting into a nigh-mandatory war by the end of Age 2 on GM, so that's what I tend to play on, but Adept- likely doesn't have that issue.

[LuRaZ]

Yeah I am playing adept, which is fine for me, but the map "Large" seems big for 8 players, which means there will not be any wars in the first 2 ages. Also I do not know if I am just unlucky, but the ages are very standard. Did you get any unique ages?

[taomastercu]

Originally posted by LuRaZ:

Yeah I am playing adept, which is fine for me, but the map "Large" seems big for 8 players, which means there will not be any wars in the first 2 ages. Also I do not know if I am just unlucky, but the ages are very standard. Did you get any unique ages?

Well Adept is the default difficulty, it is not hard.

As far as special Ages generally the AI isn't rushing special Ages on purpose but it falls into them sometimes. If you want more special Ages you'll have to push for them yourself.

I take Monuments(4) and Aether(7) basically every time. Then Ecology(9) perhaps. Then usually Transcendence(10).

[Xuande]

Originally posted by LuRaZ:

Yeah I am playing adept, which is fine for me, but the map "Large" seems big for 8 players, which means there will not be any wars in the first 2 ages. Also I do not know if I am just unlucky, but the ages are very standard. Did you get any unique ages?

For Adept, it is too large if you want early interaction - that gap between the AI starting with and without a Settler is a large one when it comes to their early expansion rate. I'd suggest doing Medium or Small/8p on any map type besides Islands for Adept.

Adept gives some very minor AI buffs overall, mainly helping ensure barbarians don't hinder it much with a 200% damage against them along with a couple of extra starting troops. Technically the closest to "fair" is Apprentice, but that setting is arguably slightly player favored - they're not given permission to attack your towns. For a new player to the genre Adept could be seen as hard - its the "Civ Prince" of this game and many players find that too hard for their preferences.

Do be warned that Adept AI has a fair chance of forcing Age of Plague (as it has city growth bonuses but no bonuses to Sanitation, making it vulnerable to this Age's forced conditional), and that a lot of players dislike how game-warping that particular Age can be.

[LuRaZ]

Originally posted by Xuande:

Originally posted by LuRaZ:

Yeah I am playing adept, which is fine for me, but the map "Large" seems big for 8 players, which means there will not be any wars in the first 2 ages. Also I do not know if I am just unlucky, but the ages are very standard. Did you get any unique ages?

For Adept, it is too large if you want early interaction - that gap between the AI starting with and without a Settler is a large one when it comes to their early expansion rate. I'd suggest doing Medium or Small/8p on any map type besides Islands for Adept.

Adept gives some very minor AI buffs overall, mainly helping ensure barbarians don't hinder it much with a 200% damage against them along with a couple of extra starting troops. Technically the closest to "fair" is Apprentice, but that setting is arguably slightly player favored - they're not given permission to attack your towns. For a new player to the genre Adept could be seen as hard - its the "Civ Prince" of this game and many players find that too hard for their preferences.

Do be warned that Adept AI has a fair chance of forcing Age of Plague (as it has city growth bonuses but no bonuses to Sanitation, making it vulnerable to this Age's forced conditional), and that a lot of players dislike how game-warping that particular Age can be.

Thx! Yes, I will try medium map with adept setting next. Also I have not experience all the alternative ages, so am looking forward to the Age if Plague :D