Most Difficult Map Types?

[mercury529]

To this point, I have almost exclusively played Pangea maps. I currently play at emperor level and feel relatively comfortable in my capabilities. I'd like to take on another map type so I cannot just neglect naval aspects. I had a few questions before I wanted to start though.

For Standard Settings (Speed/Map Size/# of civs, etc) on Emperor difficulty level, which maps do you consider most easy and difficult and why? Where does Pangea rank in the mix, and which map type would pose a good challenge for someone new to developing a navy? Thank you for your input.

 

[Silence101]

I don't play Emperor difficulty, so take this for what it's worth - I'd venture to guess though that some of the most difficult maps would be crowded with civs... (where you don't do an early rush). If you want to include the naval aspect, how about trying Hemispheres (2-3 continents) / standard map / 18 civs / no user war declarations until roughly 1000 bc ish... On Emperor, I'd bet most people would pull their hair out on these settings.

 

[Mesousa]

I'd say which map types you'll find difficult depends on which (if any) civs/leaders you prefer (or usually do best with) and which victory types you prefer to pursue. Pangea usually lends itself to conquest or domination with a dominating UU, so if you're used to that anything that requires naval assaults should notch things up a bit for you. Spaceship or culture victories can benefit from relative isolation, so playing on any type of continents map might even make things easier for you.

Just try several different types - continents/fractal/hemipsheres, archipelago/islands, but also pangea-like types with special features, like highlands or great plains, where you'll have to deal with the terrain being unusual and/or certain resources being scarce.

If you want something radically different from a pangea game and challenging, try archipelago with high sea level and a civ that's not suited to watery maps (i.e. not financial, no water/coast-related UU or UB).

 

[Johan^^]

Continents or something simmilar makes for more diffucult games i think. Its much harder to win by force(Con/Dom) and you have no way to influence the other continent for a great part of the game. It is also more difficult to deal with cultural victory if the AI is on the other continent.

 

[Andvare]

Depends on several things. How you play, which civ you play, which leader you play and so on.

A crowded map is actually easier if you are a warmonger, as the AI often fails to expand properly into other Civs territory if they are crowded. Quite a bit harder as a builder though.

Portugal on Pangea is also harder than Portugal on Archipelago. While Rome on Pangea is far easier than Rome on Archipelago.

Continents with many continents is often a good choice for a navy game. Not too hard for the AI (as Archipelago often is), and with plenty of water to force you into seafaring. Terra is probably also fun that way.