This would be my first attempt to run a mostly specialist economy so I'd like to use a map that has a lot of food. Anyone know which script and what settings would get me a lot of grassland and fresh water sources? I was thinking about rainforest, but it might be a big job to cut my way through it.

temperate climate will help

......but IDave thinks tropical climate better....

I'd say the opposite, temperate will give you more plains.

What you need is tropical, loads of jungle with rivers, once you get IW chop it all down and you have great expanses of grassland with rice and bananas dotted all over it, perfect for SE and CE.

Rainforest does have a ton of food, but you will need IW right away. I prefer Arborial my self, woods instead of jungle and tons and tons of deer.

Rainforest does have a ton of food, but you will need IW right away. I prefer Arborial my self, woods instead of jungle and tons and tons of deer.

I did an Arborial map last game (as the Aztecs to get use out of Jaguar's free woodman promotion) so I want to try a different map. I'll go with Rainforest.
Thank all.

Arborial. Not that I like the map, it provides very few different ressources, but it sure has tonnes of food.

Grassland isn't really ideal for SE (until Biology that is). And absolutely huge food isn't really necessary. What is a great SE commerce city is 3 or more food tiles with 5 or 6 food each. 3 really is enough. Say you have 2 clams, and a grassland pig ... with a lighthouse, thats 12 surplus food for 6 specialists at size 9. 6 specialists is a very nice output for that size city. If all you have is grassland, with maybe a single rice square, getting 12 surplus takes a size 8 city, size 14 to run the same 6 specialists.

I would like tropical though, because there should be enough bananas, sugar, and rice around to find some prime spots.

A specialist economy thrives on the captured capitals of its enemies. Often they're the best food sites on any map (especially when the starting location is otherwise crappy).

I'd say archipelago maps are good for learning to use the SE. They usually have a lot of food resources and not much room for cottages, forcing you to use specialists.