The Semi-Isolated Contact Start

[Gooblah]

Okay- I've started playing Fractal maps on Monarch, which is nice and all, but lately the RNGs and map generator have been causing havoc. I've been forced onto a new kind of map, one I like to call:

Semi-Isolated Contact Starts

Weird name, but I'll explain it. Basically, you and an AI are on one continent. However, you are on two "sides" of the continent, or one is on a peninsula while the other is on the bulky landmass itself. Another continent is actually quite close, with multiple AIs on it. It can either be reached by Coast or separated by 1 ocean tile which can be crossed due to cultural boundaries. However, the RNG Gods place the AI next to this crossing, while you're stranded on the other side.

So, something like this:

L L C C L L
L X C C L L
L L C C L L where L is land, X is a city, and C is coast.

Anyways, an early rush to conquer the crossing is usually not an option, since the AI gets a research advantage, and a few more units. Next, you and the AI might not get along well enough for an Open Borders. What do you do? The AI inherently has a research bonus due to contact with other AIs for tech-trading, while you are dependent on your AI's tech speed for trade opportunities!

Now, this actually has a point, since I am experiencing this. I'll post some screenies to show what I mean, exactly.

So, thoughts, tips, advice, comments, anything is welcome! Please?

 

[Quotey]

I see what you mean. Yuck. But you can still trade with your continental AI. The only viable option is conquering them though.

 

[Gooblah]

Yeah... Its Marathon. The only way I found out there was a second continent (or at least another AI) was two-fold:
1) Me and Frederick (my continent's AI) were at EP equality until he suddenly began putting only 2 EPs against me. Since the min EPPT value is 4, he must have found a second AI.
2) My scout landed on a hill, which showed me most of Frederick's land, since his capital was in a Valley of sorts. There were two layers of coast nearby, indicating another landmass.

Because of the time, I have a good shot at rushing him with Swords and Cats, but I think he has Copper, since I saw his Workers mining some Grasslands...

 

[bestbrian]

So what if he has copper? Bring some shock axes and alot of cats. Frederick usually has to go by late game anyway (his UU/UB are just too nasty to have him hanging around) and at this early stage if you don't whack him you're toast. Better to die on your feet than live on your knees.

 

[Gooblah]

Fred built the Great Wall, which made him an even more lucrative target. Hooked up horses, built some chariots (around 15), lost all but 1, but managed to raze Hamburg and his 3rd city, while keeping Berlin, which is now my science city.

Turns out the other continent is HUGE! All the AIs are there. It easily occupies half the tiles on the map! On it were Hannibal, Mansa Musa, Shaka, Gandhi, and Julius Caesar. Hannibal, Mansa, and Shaka formed the Jewish bloc, while Gandhi was Buddhist and Julius was Hindu. Mansa founded Judaism and Hinduism, but Hannibal is the tech-leader. He used a GS to pop Philosophy, which is making things painful for me... My continent turned out to be shaped like the back of an elephant (i guess ) with me on the tail and Berlin smack in the rump. Once I finish settling my continent, I should be good..

 

[TheMeInTeam]

It sounds like you did the right thing to me. Having ones lifeblood depend entirely on open borders with a civ isn't ideal. Tearing an opponent to shreds, having a decent land mass, and still being able to trade is much better, though!