Last night, thru another thread, I learned that the Fractal map script is back. This alone has enhanced my game much more; I'm very pleased. 
When I first picked up the game, I was disappointed that it wasn't there since that's all I played in Civ 4.
I don't know how I missed it since I knew of the advanced setup and thought that I looked at all the options. I think I just assumed that the available maps in the advanced view were the same as the available maps in the pretty, default view. Wow, was I wrong.
If anybody else didn't realize it, go to the advanced setup screen and not only do you have a bunch of additional options, but you also have a ton of additional maps!
For me, Fractal is the only way to go.
I was playing Continents before I discovered Fractal again. The maps generated were great, nothing like big, blocky land masses. But still... it bothered me only having contact with half the civs for a majority of the game. Then when I DID sail over to the other side, most times one monster civ just took over most of the continent anyway and the other civs are left as worthless contacts. That, and the AI fails at naval invasions/combat right now.
I switched to Pangea to give that a whirl. It's great contacting most of the civs in the game right away and all the battles. Lots of drama between all of them, lol. But now, the navy seems neglected and not really needed on these maps.
I like the full experience, and I feel Fractal really delivers. You get connected land masses and early contact with most civs, but they're a bit snaky and winding which still makes a navy useful and worthwhile to build. It also creates choke points which in this game are really interesting and useful now!
I'm also very pleased at how all the map scripts have been genereating the terrain. I keep getting very interesting, nicely shaped land masses each time. They did a great job on this end.
When I first picked up the game, I was disappointed that it wasn't there since that's all I played in Civ 4.I don't know how I missed it since I knew of the advanced setup and thought that I looked at all the options. I think I just assumed that the available maps in the advanced view were the same as the available maps in the pretty, default view. Wow, was I wrong.
If anybody else didn't realize it, go to the advanced setup screen and not only do you have a bunch of additional options, but you also have a ton of additional maps!
For me, Fractal is the only way to go.
I was playing Continents before I discovered Fractal again. The maps generated were great, nothing like big, blocky land masses. But still... it bothered me only having contact with half the civs for a majority of the game. Then when I DID sail over to the other side, most times one monster civ just took over most of the continent anyway and the other civs are left as worthless contacts. That, and the AI fails at naval invasions/combat right now.
I switched to Pangea to give that a whirl. It's great contacting most of the civs in the game right away and all the battles. Lots of drama between all of them, lol. But now, the navy seems neglected and not really needed on these maps.
I like the full experience, and I feel Fractal really delivers. You get connected land masses and early contact with most civs, but they're a bit snaky and winding which still makes a navy useful and worthwhile to build. It also creates choke points which in this game are really interesting and useful now!
I'm also very pleased at how all the map scripts have been genereating the terrain. I keep getting very interesting, nicely shaped land masses each time. They did a great job on this end.
