Hey guys, so I'm relatively new to the game and to strategy games in general. I have been playing and struggling on difficulty 4 (prince I think) after having no issue with earlier difficulties. I was wondering what map size and type would be easiest for me to learn the game in earnest on. Thanks in advance.
New to game...which size?
- Thread starter redninja
- Start date
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King
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2012
- Messages
- 956
Standard map and either Pangaea or Continents would be best to learn. That's because you'll be able to ask for advice here and most of us play on standard map sizes.
Map size affects difficulty to some extent: larger maps will allow more space for the AI to spam cities, at that will help it get better science. But as mentioned above: most people play standard. Having more neighbors will help getting some needed cash
About map types: on archipelago (or any island based map) you'll have a more peaceful time. On Continents, you may have to deal with a runaway on the other continent, while Pangea will offer everyone on one plate (it will be easier to deal with a potential runaway).
I wouldn't recommend a map smaller than standard, or small. It becomes less about the AI, but if you like it, you get a nice sandbox to test your own ways.
About map types: on archipelago (or any island based map) you'll have a more peaceful time. On Continents, you may have to deal with a runaway on the other continent, while Pangea will offer everyone on one plate (it will be easier to deal with a potential runaway).
I wouldn't recommend a map smaller than standard, or small. It becomes less about the AI, but if you like it, you get a nice sandbox to test your own ways.
Securion
Civ Veteran
Large Continents and everything else on default is my advice.
Catan_Settler
Prince
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2008
- Messages
- 448
The smaller the map, the easier the game. So if you're just starting, Tiny is a good way to get your head around things. Small is a good size for practicing rush tactics, and once you know what you're doing you will want to start beating Standard and Larger maps.
I just did a game with the map on huge. One major thing, there are the same number of resource tiles, but now they are much more spread out. So, you will never find two luxuries within the boundaries of one city, which makes keeping the population happy much harder. In fact, unless you want your cities ridiculously strung out, which makes the costs of linking them with roads prohibitive, most of your cities will have no luxuries at all.
OTOH, you find a lot more river/floodplain tiles, simply because the river/grassy plain areas are so much larger.
The upshot of all this, is that i had a bad start to the game, forced to stop growth because of happiness issues. Tech rush buildings that give happiness, not resource harvesting techs. I'd turned off barbarians and was playing on Prince, otherwise i probably would not have made it. Finally, i got some coliseums and culture up, and started to grow fast. But up to that point i was flat out last in just about every demographic. I'd been under attack from Julius Caesar and Napoleon for a couple thousand years, since they thought me so weak.
OTOH, you find a lot more river/floodplain tiles, simply because the river/grassy plain areas are so much larger.
The upshot of all this, is that i had a bad start to the game, forced to stop growth because of happiness issues. Tech rush buildings that give happiness, not resource harvesting techs. I'd turned off barbarians and was playing on Prince, otherwise i probably would not have made it. Finally, i got some coliseums and culture up, and started to grow fast. But up to that point i was flat out last in just about every demographic. I'd been under attack from Julius Caesar and Napoleon for a couple thousand years, since they thought me so weak.
