Effects of a Small Map?

[StrategeryBush]

I play on a small map because my computer bogs down ridiculously later in the game on anything larger. I play, Epic, Monarch, though I'm not winning consistently yet, Fractal, and lately I've been starting with 7 civs instead of the normal 5, so that diplomacy is more interesting.

My main observation on the difference between a small map and the standard+ sizes is that city specialization is harder. First, there are fewer sites to choose from, so you may have a harder time finding a site which is suitable for a certain specialization. In addition, you have a much more limited number of cities. A four-city empire can't have a Science City, a GP farm, a wonder producer, a military city, a commerce city, and a couple of others to put out the oddball things you need like missionaries, defensive units, or galleys.

Cultural is a strong trait on a small map. Every border pop grabs a larger percentage of the available land and helps to block off neighbors from thd more limited number of good sites. Also, knowing that you will have fewer total cities, it is costlier to site a city on a sub-optimal tile just because you need to have that precious resource in your small square instead of your BFC (Big Fat Cross). Cultural usually allows you to choose the better long-term site, instead.

What changes in strategy or tactics do people make when playing on a small map?

 

[TheMeInTeam]

I just look really hard to get a production city early, so that I can war. Especially with extra civs like you play with, that would probably be necessary. It sounds like the kind of setting where it's easy to get boxed in.

 

[BalbanesBeoulve]

Well research costs are lower to compensate for the less cities you can place. You also need to build less buildings to open up the national wonders.

 

[GenMarshall]

Conquest and Domination is much easyer on a smaller map, especialy if someone does not have the paitence to do the same on a larger map .

 

[kazapp]

I too play mostly small maps. Game simply drags on too long on bigger maps.

Do note that different map scripts create different-sized maps. So some small maps are bigger than others - for some of the "smaller" map scripts, I find that the 'standard' size works okay.

 

[StrategeryBush]

Conquest and Domination is much easyer on a smaller map, especialy if someone does not have the paitence to do the same on a larger map .

The patience issue is another reason I play smaller maps.