I'd like to add a few thoughts on the map, and how it might affect the game.
I've been playing a few practice games, and also looking into WorldBuilder (though I haven't made a mock-up of anything approximating the actual start yet).
I have been assuming that ainwood hasn't modified the overall structure of the map too much from what would be generated. If I'm wrong on that one, then all bets are off of course, and my other assumptions are not going to work.
The map looks like one that would come from archipelago-archipelago rather than archipelago-tiny islands. The land is broader than normally appears on the tiny island setting, and you also scarcely ever find those small freshwater lakes except on achipelago setting.
Having assumed that, then the normal start islands are usually significantly larger than we can see here. (I know, I'm getting further off the track here, and the chances that ainwood has manually placed the civs is much higher than the chance of the land-masses having been greatly redrawn)
So, if we have a larger island, where does it go?
The south doesn't look good. As somebody pointed out, that is a tundra tile just visible to the SW. However, in many of the maps I saw the islands extended south through a tundra region to touch the polar ice. That wouldn't be nice, but I'm kind of expecting there to be some of that.
To the north, we can see coastline at the western edge, and (probably) to the north of the jungle tile, so the land evidently narrows to just 2 tiles at that point. We can see that the western of those 2 tiles continues north, but the eastern is divided by water. I think this water is where the river continues, turning east to the coast. This shape of island is not uncommon, and I would place a fair chance (maybe 60-70%) that our land broadens again to the north, allowing space for more cities. Of course, the jungle will begin about here, but that shouldn't worry a set of determined workers with ironworking.
Other things I have found from the typical maps are:
We seem to have plenty of smaller islands around to colonise if we wish, usually without competition.
The nearest AI is quite some distance away (as someone pointed out - 20 tiles or so) and I found you really have to make a concerted effort if you want to meet them early. I would guess a couple of workboats and a couple of galleys, too. Otherwise you can miss them and spend a tedious time mapping out the world wondering if you forgot to specify any AI at all!
You are almost certain not to have the resources you want on your home island. Maybe one of the hidden ones (copper, iron, horse) is all you'll get. Sometimes none. You'll often have to colonise nearby islands simply to get these resources.
I have found the AI travelling long distances to plant cities in my own backyard if there is a good resource there. This is just stupid, of course, as they just make themselves ripe for a quick and easy strike. If this happens in the real game I'll just welcome it.
As I said at the start, these could all be meaningless ramblings if the map has been manipulated unduly. Thought I'd let you know what I'd been up to, though.
