The "Shuffle" map option.

[Starwars]

So, quick question... when I choose shuffle, does it just randomly choose one of the other map types so you can just get whatever? Or is shuffle an actual map script in itself?

 

[Ondolindë]

This is what it says in the manual.

 

[OmegaDestroyer]

I am often surprised in my huge world to discover AI opponents who spawn 8 hexes away from me.

 

[Alexadamz]

Last Shuffle Map I played I got an awesome start with lots of Marble and Stone for my first and second city and my first city was beside a huge lake with 6 tiles, where I beelined Huey Tleocali for lots of Ammenities, and bonus food and production on both cities (second city had a 4 tile lake). It was the only time I really found useful buying that Wonder. Besides, my capital was close to desert (with 3 hills with silver resource) and I built Petra too and it was awesome.

 

[steveg700]

To answer the OP, I use the shuffle most of the time, and it appears to select one of the other map types randomly. So, you might get pangea or you might get archipelago.