Starting alone on the map

[Lazonby]

I was wondering if it's possible to start all alone on certain maps like Continents, Archipelago, etc. It seems that every map I play, there is always a Civ on the same continent. I'll usually play standard or large maps sizes with 3-4 other civs. I like to play on larger maps without AI interference for a while to help learn strategies of different civs. Sure, I could kill them, but that's not the point--it's just for practice.

 

[Shadow717]

The only time I have started alone was on a small archipelago map, but my starting island only fit 2-3 cities. Even then there were other civs who started on slightly larger islands with neighbors. I'm think its possible, but more and more unlikely as the map size and number of civilizations increases. I think in advanced options there are two map choices that would give you a better chance of starting alone: "small continents" and "tiny islands"(?) I'm not sure if thats what it is called but there is an archipelago type map with smaller and more numerous islands than the normal archepilego has.

 

[Zyxpsilon]

You could always try the "Worlds Unlimited" (Beta_v2) mod By Jamie McQueen, IIRC it has some options to locate lone players on their respective continents or areas.
Dunno if it's still compatible with v1141+ versions of the core game though.

 

[Smote]

I think the best option without mods is to choose a small or tiny map size archipelago. The chance of starting with someone else is probably about 40%. If it does happen, you will know about it in the first 5 turns and be able to restart.

 

[Paul+C]

It seems fairly random, which is the way I like it.

I've played on a huge map, continents, and was all alone except for one city-state.

My current game is also a huge map, with small continents. I'm on one of the larger of the continents, and am sharing it with at least 4 other civilizations. Most of the other continents seemed to start with 1 or at most 2 civs.

In general, playing on the small continents maps might be a good option if you want to be all alone.

 

[cairnsy44]

I had a Continents start where I (Iroquois) was the only civ on the continent. Russia was also a solo civ in that game

 

[biohazard72]

Being the solo civ is really boring. There's very little to do for the first 120 or so turns, and even when you do meet everyone, you really don't interact with them in a meaningful way, because there is never a threat of attack.

 

[lolocoster]

I've had a world map on small where I was the only civ on north AND south America. Needless to say by the time I met anyone, I had more than 3 times the next closest person's land area, and the number just kept growing.