Part of what I wrote came as to point out those rules aren't "standard". They work fine as rules if you wish to have them, but getting overzealous with applying "fair rules" doesn't work so well, as pretty much everyone applies some sort of exploit on Sid. Drazek's screenshot perhaps gives a good example as how even a game played without most exploitative tactics, still uses at least one.
I'd actually prefer to see a Sid pangea game, and almost always think those "better", though by no means would I think them "easier". Sid pangea, I'd suspect, also more forces you into a predetermined military type of style, while on archipelago Sid you have more options. Templar_X have you beaten Sid pangea with anyone besides the Celts? VMXA who have you beaten Sid pangea with?
I'd definitely advise no barbarians, as unless you play as expansionist you'll get nothing but barbs from huts, and they won't come as easy to fight. Also, I believe that workers cost 126-128 gold with max aggressiveness on. I believe they cost 116 gold with normal aggressiveness on. I know they cost 100 gold with least aggressiveness on. The going rate for gold with least aggressiveness is 18 gold for 1 gpt, while I think it goes down to 14 gold for 1 gpt with other aggressiveness levels. So, I'd definitely suggest playing with least aggressiveness on, and generally the AI still has so many units that they have a significant probability of declaring war.
I'd actually prefer to see a Sid pangea game, and almost always think those "better", though by no means would I think them "easier". Sid pangea, I'd suspect, also more forces you into a predetermined military type of style, while on archipelago Sid you have more options. Templar_X have you beaten Sid pangea with anyone besides the Celts? VMXA who have you beaten Sid pangea with?
I'd definitely advise no barbarians, as unless you play as expansionist you'll get nothing but barbs from huts, and they won't come as easy to fight. Also, I believe that workers cost 126-128 gold with max aggressiveness on. I believe they cost 116 gold with normal aggressiveness on. I know they cost 100 gold with least aggressiveness on. The going rate for gold with least aggressiveness is 18 gold for 1 gpt, while I think it goes down to 14 gold for 1 gpt with other aggressiveness levels. So, I'd definitely suggest playing with least aggressiveness on, and generally the AI still has so many units that they have a significant probability of declaring war.