PB37 Map and Lurker Thread [SPOILERS]

[Mardoc]

First try at starting screenshots.  Let me know if these don't show up, I'm trying Fenn's new method for using Dropbox links.

Here's what the players would see:


Here's what their 9x9 would look like:

The only part I'm committing to being sea is the area to the east of the settler with the whales and island; the other coastlines should be taken merely as the blank canvas that still needs filling in.

Questions I need answered:
Can anyone see any locations that would turn out to be better than the starting hill to build a capital?

Did I catch all the strategics, or are some missing?

What do you think of the total area so far?  Is it interesting?  Are there places to put second and third cities (ideally non-obvious)?  Do you see anything you'd like changed?

My first thoughts on things to change:

I should sprinkle in a couple mountains and deserts for interest.
Still need to invent an overall landform.  Since Commodore isn't in the game, I'm leaning toward a mostly repeating strip NW to SE, with lakes mixed in.  Not a lot I can do with toroid + everyone on the same landmass that doesn't end up looking artificial, really.  Willling to be talked out of this if someone's got a better idea for 9.

[Mr. Cairo]

Is there a specific reason why there are no agriculture resources by the cap?

[Mardoc]

Is there a specific reason why there are no agriculture resources by the cap?

No specific reason, just wanted a little variety without going nuts about it. I could see a case for replacing the pigs with rice or corn to make a greater variety of civs viable here.

[Mr. Cairo]

Is there a specific reason why there are no agriculture resources by the cap?

No specific reason, just wanted a little variety without going nuts about it.  I could see a case for replacing the pigs with rice or corn to make a greater variety of civs viable here.

That was my main thought, that having no agri resources would limit the civ choices

[Mardoc]

Alright, I'll change it to a rice. That makes three different foods (well, plains cow sorta counts) with three different techs to unlock them. Plus Oasis and floodplain if people want to trying going for Bronze first or something. I'm tempted to add in a deer as well but this is probably ridiculously lush already . Maybe fur?

[Mr. Cairo]

maybe fur in the starting 4x4, but not the caps bfc. There aren't a whole lot of nearby accessible happy resources. Although, putting the fur outside the bfc might encourage players to move, but that could be at least partially mitigated by not giving it a forest. I'm new to mapmaking however, so I'm just thinking of what I would like/complain about as a player.

[Commodore]

I'd make it a plains wheat if you're staying dry.

Beyond that...OCD tweaks are that river stitch, but looking solid. Pretty dang buff.

[Mardoc]

I'd make it a plains wheat if you're staying dry.

The ex-pigs tile is irrigated by the lake...is that what you're concerned about?

Beyond that...OCD tweaks are that river stitch, but looking solid. Pretty dang buff.

I hate drawing rivers.  Every map needs rivers and the tool is just awkward.  I'm afraid I'm not quite OCD enough to know which tiles look ugly to you...mind pointing them out and I can try to improve them?

Anyway, current plan is to make these minor tweaks then post screenshots for the snake tonight.  Anyone else, if you have an opinion (or even a diffident possibility to point out), hurry in!

I'm thinking I may use GermanJoey's tool to tessellate the 9x9 areas, but draw the connecting land by hand for some greater variety outside the vicinity of the capitals.

[Boldly Going Nowhere]

I don't see oil. Maybe throw it on the other lake at the capital?

[Mardoc]

I don't see oil. Maybe throw it on the other lake at the capital?

Thanks!  That's just the sort of thing that causes a ragequit six months from now if missed...

Oil requires extra tech to get if it's on water, so I'll actually put it somewhere on land - but I'll find a spot.  Anyone who doesn't control more than their capital by the oil era isn't going to need oil anyway.