Why are the islands smaller and space tighter?

[Illusion13]

I just started playing this game, and it seems like while the original Colonization is a largely seafarring intensive game, and there will be lots of island action, but it seems like the islands we get here are ALOT smaller, and the native villages are alot tighter together making a good start build very hard...

I liked playing France for their relation with native bonuses, and I generally dont like to beat up natives for their land, but it seems so hard here... Is there something I should be changing with my settings and what not?

 

[dalgo]

You can change the Custom Game settings to vary the random map generated. A large or huge map with water levels set at medium or high will produce more islands and more ocean. You can experiment with these settings by starting a number of games then checking with Worldbuilder to see what kind of map is created.

Yes the villages do restrict your development in the early stages, but as your culture boundary grows it will gradually take over native land and even their villages so you can expand your colonies peacefully.