What is your favorite map layout, size, and why?

[Winston Hughes]

sounds interesting! do you have a link handy info about or the mod itself to spare my lazy self a search?

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=154989

You'll have to do some experimentation to get the settings right for your tastes, and you'll probably create some truly horrible maps in the meantime, but its well worth persevering. I tend to use the worldbuilder to check out the first few maps (using regens) to see if the script I've chosen is providing the kind of map I'm after, and then play a new regen once I'm sure (and write down the settings for future use). Read surt's "options" section before you start, so you know (roughly) what each of the settings does.

 

[feldmarshall]

i just played terra. It was great! we start in old world and racing for the new world.

 

[King Flevance]

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=183746

Cool thanks for the link Kristopherb. And thanks for the mod NeverMind if you're reading this.

 

[trundle]

For random maps, custom continents (random number) is probably my favorite. I like that there are civs you won't meet until late game, the religious divisions that come up, etc.

I am also pretty partial to the Earth 1000 AD scenario and Rhye's and Fall of Civilization.

 

[krzyk]

I prefer huge pangea maps with lots of civilizations, and moderate climate, mostly because I like to tech in peace

Unfortunately I am forced to play standard maps - slow computer and not enough time.

 

[Ironclad2]

Big_and_Small is my favorite, much then any else.

I play like this:
Big_and_Small
Small map size
normal speed
normal sea level
normal continents
islands mixed in
Morarch difficulty

i play with my friend 2v2v2 (we and 2 teams of AI's)

you should try something like this, its awesome. you have both continents and some archipelago here, and continents are not so far away of each other.

 

[frekk]

I've been using the Perfect World and its variant, World Piece, scripts exclusively lately. They are amazing. They use tectonics and height fields to generate terrain, even simulate comet impacts so you get these realistic-looking gulfs and archipelagos. The best part of course is that they can create a New World with no civs on it, and they will place some resources exclusively in the New World. So, it is a race for Astrology and then a race to colonize the New World.

Usually Large world, I find Huge a bit too tedious.

 

[Circuit]

I recall from civ3 playing on maps with as many AI as possible and all scattered across many continents. To me, it creates a feeling of regions--which I love!

I'd like to try the map mentioned by Winston Hughes--sounds very enjoyable. I wish my computer could handle many civs better (I HATE VISTA!!!!!!!!! if only there was a Linux Civ IV, as I am not really interested in FreeCiv).

 

[nicksauce]

... So, it is a race for Astrology and then a race to colonize the New World.

Astronomy, not Astrology. Big difference.

I usually play standard size, Hemispheres or Fractal.

 

[allunderheaven]

I play at tiny or small maps, terra or pangaea, because I can't play anything larger than standard because of my stupid computer sigh...... I find that pangaea maps are fun because of all the fighting and terra maps are interesting because of the race to the New World.

 

[Onagan]

Standard size - Fractal

keeps the game running, and Fractal is unpredictable (at least in BTS*)

* Warlords & Vanilla, give 90% a pangea map with a 1 nation island.

 

[CCRunner]

I like standard Pangaea games with three extra civs. Temperate climate.

Edit: Diety Always War OCC's with rigged starts are fun too.

 

[Skips]

I've been playing on recommendation

Big and Small
Large
Low Sea Level
Normal Sized Islands
Islands mixed in
7 or 8 AIs

Finding that I have less AI to deal with immediately but enough to deal with for now...plus you get some interesting topography.

 

[Wenla]

Huge, marathon, panagea, 3 opponents. Goal: win without war (it's not so easy...)

Wenla

 

[Da_V_Man]

My Ideal Map would not work on my computer, as I like my games huge and with many players (That's what civIII is for)

Right now I like Fractal maps as I haven't tried too much else (Fractal Makes some decent maps)
Large
7 civs
Me as Carthage
Tropical
Low Sea level

 

[Legba]

I play with Large shuffle maps, random climate, and high sea levels to make the game go a little quicker.

 

[mystikmind2005]

My favourite is inland sea.

Because you get two nice neat boarders and it is easier to manipulate where the AI will attack and they are less inclined to use sea transports. Enemy sea transports are the bane of my existance in many civ4 games, i mean c'mon, get real, my army carn't be everywhare at once now can it!!?!

 

[Copywriter]

Still new, but I like continents and normal size, so it's like the real world.

Of course, the downside is if you're just sitting around waiting on a boat to take you to another continent.

I'll be trying some of the suggestions here for sure.