"Snaky Continents"...

[slightlymarxist]

Lately, because of the new big stupid patch-imposed hunks of landmasses on Continents introduced with 1.61, I've been starting a couple of games on Archipelago/Snaky continents maps instead of plain Continents.

It's a blast! You're not as isolated (usually) as when you play "straight" Archipelago, but you often get to make lots of interesting military-strategical choices based on geography. Boats get used, but not too much. Coastlines are much longer and provide natural borders. There are islands as well as big continents. Diplomacy and building is important, but not too important. All in all I've found Snaky maps to provide interesting, balanced games with many odd surprises.

Anyone else tried Snaky? Agree? Disagree? It's rapidly becoming my favourite map type.

 

[Eternalsteelfan]

You mean fractal?

 

[slightlymarxist]

You mean fractal?

Hmm? Er, I guess. I mean, when choosing map type, choose "Archipelago" and then "Snaky Continents". Sure, I suppose the end result is more fractal than the blobbier Continents maps.

 

[Older than Dirt]

"Fractal" ain't even in my college dictionary. (I just look up this word on the Internet and still am not sure what it means. The maps generated in Civ 4 don't look to me to be "fractal", but I could be wrong, it happened a couple of times in the last century.) I think "snakey" is not even severe enough. It produces maps like Greece only stretched out more on the east to west. These maps seem to be more aptly described as "Tortuous Pangea". The fractal map in my present game does not seem to have any of the symetry that it appears to me that "fractal" requires. This word was made up in the 70's, so what are the odds that the guy was on a trip when he made it up?

 

[drkodos]

I will give it a try!


I like the Archipelago games. Always a unique set of challenges.


Currently, I am still working the North America map and have a great position leading at 1600 AD. As soon as I beat this one, I will go "snakey."

 

[Armorydave]

I liked Archipelago maps when I am first moving up to a new difficulty level. Of those maps snaky continents is my favorite. It almost assures you can circumnavigate the world very early if you are willing to violate a few borders or sign some open border agreements.

 

[cairo140]

"Fractal" ain't even in my college dictionary.

That doesn't sound so good. Perhaps you should look into getting a new dictionary. Fractals are a simple mathematical concept of repeating geometric figures getting smaller and smaller, making it possible to create a figure with perimeter infinity, a height, and a base, but area zero.

Anyways, the fractal option puzzled me greatly. I don't see how CIV can generate a fractal, but sometimes, I guess games can amaze you.

 

[Englor]

Lately, because of the new big stupid patch-imposed hunks of landmasses on Continents introduced with 1.61, I've been starting a couple of games on Archipelago/Snaky continents maps instead of plain Continents.

It's a blast! You're not as isolated (usually) as when you play "straight" Archipelago, but you often get to make lots of interesting military-strategical choices based on geography. Boats get used, but not too much. Coastlines are much longer and provide natural borders. There are islands as well as big continents. Diplomacy and building is important, but not too important. All in all I've found Snaky maps to provide interesting, balanced games with many odd surprises.

Anyone else tried Snaky? Agree? Disagree? It's rapidly becoming my favourite map type.

No not yet, I need a home a computer and the game still yet, though now you got me hooked and waiting.

 

[Tee Kay]

It's a blast! You're not as isolated (usually) as when you play "straight" Archipelago, but you often get to make lots of interesting military-strategical choices based on geography. Boats get used, but not too much. Coastlines are much longer and provide natural borders. There are islands as well as big continents. Diplomacy and building is important, but not too important. All in all I've found Snaky maps to provide interesting, balanced games with many odd surprises.

Haven't tried it but willing to in my next game (they should made it an official map type in expansion or something)

 

[einherjar_LC]

Some of my favorite games have been on Archi maps.

I have found myself rather fond of the inland sea maps lately though.

 

[jimbob27]

I played a game on a snakey continents once, and I thought it was alright, but my main problem was with the AI. It's really not adapted to play on maps with a lot of water. They can't build a proper invasion fleet to save their lives. They'll send transports 1 or 2 at a time often with no defending ships. They attack the same place every time, even though can take their pick of sites due to all the water inside my borders.

If the AI could play these maps properly, then they'd be a lot more fun, at the moment I generally stick to pangea or terra, just because the AI can fight better over land.

 

[alexmatusiak]

I tried playing snaky continents a few times, and have never been impressed. The maps look interesting and all, but I've run in to odd civ groupings per land mass (major islands with a single civ, and smaller thin ones with multiples on them).

I recently started playing Fractal maps and I haven't gone back to any other since.

As it stands, my favorite games are on Small sized, Fractal maps with Low sea level and 8 opponents. I've found the small size more user-friendly for movement of troops, as well as putting civs a lot tighter. The low sea level with 8 opponents I just found to be about right for space. I much prefer games of Civ that put emphasis on cities, and not overall empire size, and thus require more city attention (but with less cities, this doesn't become daunting).

I've found that on all large maps, I end up just making whatever is recommended in cities and end up 'end turn' spamming, bored and waiting for something to happen. On smaller maps, you need to be much more proactive.

So if you're looking for a new map style, I highly suggest giving that a go

Sorry for veering off the specifc topic.

-Alex-

EDIT: Also, even with low water, fractal maps require plenty of ship movement form my experiences (except the odd map you'll get that is, in fact, a very interestingly shaped Pangea) and as the map is small, what you do with your ships is much more important (ie, blocking waterways). I also wanted to add Marathon speed to my preference list, but that doesn't really matter for map type.

 

[Acceptable_Loss]

Some of my favorite games have taken place on snakey continents maps. I like the balance of small islands and larger continents that the map type brings, and I think there is a good balance on land and sea military conflict. If you've never tried that type of map before you should give it a try.

 

[Older than Dirt]

Thanks for the explanation cairo140, now I am "totally" awash in confusion. I think I'll stick to easier concepts like: e(Pie x i (I have no idea how to write this as an exponential on this machine or how to write pie) ) + 1 = 0.

The pictures which I have seen that are supposed to be fractals look nothing at all to me like the tortured snakey pangea-like thingy that the computer generates. Why even have a dictionary? Shakespear didn't need no dictionary. He even used, gasp, double negatives. Without dictionaries we'd no longer have to fear the spelling Nazi's. And, words would mean exactly what we want them to mean.

 

[The Keeper]

When I need a rush, I play highlands with raging barbs.

 

[3 EMS]

Older than Dirt,
Try this: x^n

 

[Ranjrdanjr]

Snakes on a plain maps would be teh roxxor.

 

[drkodos]

Snakes on a plain maps would be teh roxxor.

Did you mean rOxXoR?


Get hip, not blip.

 

[Ranjrdanjr]

Did you mean rOxXoR?


Get hip, not blip.

Of course not. That would be juvenile.

 

[vilemerchant]

I'm trying it now and it's okay, only problem on a large map with the PLAY NOW option there's not enough civs, but in the custom menu I can't find snakey. Anyone know how to start a snakey map thru the custom game menu?