Playing my first Pangea game, chaotic shape, 8 opponents normal size, humankind. Took Phoenicia, Carthage, Ghana so far (awesome having so many harbors, oh and quite a bit of gold too).
The early game skirmishing was the best yet! I took a relatively large section that became three cities along the coast and their inland extensions. But taking so much territory (and forgetting the religion influence civic) meant I had to claim all the territories long before I could settle them. Luckily you can influence buy EQ harbors on outposts that give you gold. Some early skirmishing against the Harrapans (let’s just say it’s good the AI who rushes the Neolithic always takes them, or they’d have so many more runners!). This led to a war just as I was able to get some archers out, and I eeked out just enough victories to bring it to an end as they moved to the Celts. Immediately the tension picked up across my empire where two AI were skirmishing for space. This meant I had to leave my recently won territory undefended. The calculated risk payed off, and I soon found out that was because the Greeks invaded the Celts right after they got done with me.
Now the game has 4 strong empires that have each conquered some cities off their now smaller neighbors. We all have 0-3 stars in medieval and in in 4th about 1800 fame behind. The leader is one of my neighbors and is demanding Carthage, so I think I know what I need to do.
But seriously, I am liking chaotic Pangea so much more than default continents. It just really isn’t interesting when the the leader is devouring a continent you won’t be able to reach for two more eras. Now I’ve meaningfully interacted with 6 empires and everyone is constantly pinched between at least two rivals. My favorite grievance was “stole my soil” receiving a territory in a war that someone else also fighting that player had a claim to. Nursing resentment in the hopes that 10 turns from now you’ll be in a position to win a war is definitely exciting
