Rakshasa72
Warlord
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2012
- Messages
- 149
I do so enjoy the endgame ... but I think that is because I cannot reliable finish much before T350.
I disagree with your characterization that Standard/Standard is easier than Huge/Marathon. I do not know of objective evidence for that whatsoever! Sure, Huge maps take longer to finish. But that only means that they take longer, not that the AI has a better chance of winning. Maybe, by definition, a DomVC is harder with more AIs? So put more AIs on Standard/Standard if making the game harder is what you are looking for? Or are you playing Huge maps at Standard pace?
I agree that Huge maps are different, and I have not tried them myself, but I don't find the prospect at all appealing. It is quite clear that the devs tuned everything for Standard Pace / Standard Size. I would much rather play more games than fewer slower (and more tedious) games. I am not temped to go the other way because quick pace or smaller maps are quite broken, and certainly more games that that are faster but much less interesting is not appealing! So it is Standard/Standard not because I am an elite player -- but because that the only combination where the game is well balanced.
If my play improves to the point where I never see a GDR, maybe then I will try Large/Epic? Or maybe try advance start? I love the late game. But I love the early game too. But, of course, I want to play more games than fewer games -- with those games each being as engaging as possible. So Standard/Standard is the sweet spot.
I agree that larger map size doesn't make that much difference in difficulty but, we are talking about Deity difficulty in this thread. On Deity difficult game speed really makes a difference.
Just consider all the extra units that Deity AI starts with. At Marathon speed it would take the player hundreds of turns to build those units. The workers that the AI start with allows them to start improving land from turn one. Which on Marathon is a big deal.
Not to mention the science advantage the AI gets. Basically, on Marathon every advantage the AI gets is amplified 5 fold. Which is why is suspect we don't see many so called "Elite" players coming here bragging on Huge/Marathon/Deity wins.