Map Size and Nations Opinion

[h0sti1e17]

I am playing my first game (first full game, started a few times to get a feel for everything) and am around 1650 AD. I am playing on Large, Epic (I think the second longest time) and with 12 nations (I added 2). The problem I have is there is still a lot of open terrain. Most of it is taken, but there are still large areas on my starting continent that are open. I can fit 3 or more cities on my area along, plus other areas are a little more sparse than mine. I am worried that there will many open areas even into the 1800s and beyond. I can see islands and what not, but the area where most civs started should be occupied. I see 2 possible solutions, either go to standard map with 12 civs, but I am worried it will be too small, and I like going across oceans to be somewhat epic, not 3 or 4 hexes. Or going with 14 or 16 civs on large, but I am worried about slowdown late game. My machine isn't bad, but not amazing. Just some opinions on what people have found from playing.


One more question, is there anyway to reveal and entire map? Two reasons, I want to download mods and don't want to find out on turn 500 I don't like the map style and I want to see how the different options effect the maps (world age, water level, ect).

Thanks in advance

 

[Blackfang]

I'm currently playing 12 civs on standard, small continents, low sea level. I rather like how it turned out, and think 12 civs is just right for standard. It's certainly not small, and there is a noticeable distance between continents.
Only thing, the small continents map type certainly doesn't live up to it's name and description. I started on a rather big continent (0.4+ of all land), with 7 other civs...

 

[m0pac]

The only way to see if you like a map type is to play it through honestly. This is the same throughout most of the Civ games. It's all about personal preference, but I also agree with Blackfang nonetheless.

 

[h0sti1e17]

There is no way to just expose the map? I am not so much concerned with how it plays, but more how it looks.

Thanks for the info.

 

[The Leviathan]

I usually just increase the number of civilizations and city states as if I was playing the map size higher than what I'm currently playing. (For example 10 civs and 20 city states for a standard size map)

that takes care of my problem with the world being too empty and lonely. Remember that increasing civilizations alone will not do the job of filling up the map because city states take up a lot of room themselves.

 

[The Leviathan]

There is no way to just expose the map? I am not so much concerned with how it plays, but more how it looks.

Thanks for the info.

there is a way... it's called scouting

 

[sarah_aus]

Ur right about being worried about slowdown. I have a good but not great pc and I was up to turn 350 and it was taking a good minute between turns as others were fighting too. I couldn't move any of my men, but yet my enemy was having all their turns. It was soo frustrating!!!

 

[Becephalus]

You might get lose slowdown popping the turns in strategic view? I get little slowdown on small and standard maps in strategic view with my horrible PC.

As for the maps I have been adding +50% to civs and city states from the default. That gives me the density I like (most civs have 2-4 cities before the map is fairly full).