What is so different between Fractal and Shuffle maps?

[Leathaface]

Both create unusual maps with unset patterns, so why are they different?

 

[Rosty K]

As far as I know, shuffle is just a random pick from continents, island plates, pangaea and something else, possibly even fractal itself. Fractal is a distinctive map type which is supposed to look weird.

 

[Leyrann]

Shuffle picks from Continents, Island Plates, Pangaea and Fractal indeed.

The difference is that a Pangaea map is "forced" to make one landmass, a Continents map is "forced" to make at least two, Island Plates is "forced" to make many, while Fractal isn't forced to do anything. It has no restrictions on how to create landmasses at all.