someone recommended rolling twenty maps and sharing them among lurkers. Nothing against rolling that many, but I don't want to take 5+ screenshots for each starting location per map. If there's an ergonomic way to get all the important details for a map in one quick screenshot then I might do that later, but I figured it's better err on the side of more balance rather than less.
So far I messed around with B&S to get settings I liked for 5 players. Normal continents and islands mixed in on small seemed to be best (Tectonics, global highlands, and Totestra would work better with 7-8 players, not so much here I think). When I found a shape I liked I then looked at each start and did some light balancing. Every start should have two at least directions to settle in early on with available food and some grass tiles, with horses placed to ideally be less convenient early on than the copper. All strategic resources should be available.
Things I did not do: add ivory to every start, add plains hills.
Start A:
The most significant changes were here. Originally the landmass with the silks was an island, and there was no land connection to the southwest either. I added land bridges to not force the player to rush galleys just to put down cities early on, made the land to the south a little more hospitable with a bit more seafood + less desert, and added strategics.
Start B:
Removed some jungle to the north, added strategics, added a bit of grass on the desert to the west. This could potentially use a bit more sprucing up if lurkers agree, as it is rather food sparse and has a lot of jungle in the way.
Start C:
Greened up the southeast a little, added strategics, trimmed a bit of jungle.
Start D:
Mostly added strategics here. There is a lot of jungle, might also need a bit of extra food.
Start E:
Added strategics and a bit of food to the west.
Full zoomed out shot of the map:
So far I messed around with B&S to get settings I liked for 5 players. Normal continents and islands mixed in on small seemed to be best (Tectonics, global highlands, and Totestra would work better with 7-8 players, not so much here I think). When I found a shape I liked I then looked at each start and did some light balancing. Every start should have two at least directions to settle in early on with available food and some grass tiles, with horses placed to ideally be less convenient early on than the copper. All strategic resources should be available.
Things I did not do: add ivory to every start, add plains hills.
Start A:
The most significant changes were here. Originally the landmass with the silks was an island, and there was no land connection to the southwest either. I added land bridges to not force the player to rush galleys just to put down cities early on, made the land to the south a little more hospitable with a bit more seafood + less desert, and added strategics.
Start B:
Removed some jungle to the north, added strategics, added a bit of grass on the desert to the west. This could potentially use a bit more sprucing up if lurkers agree, as it is rather food sparse and has a lot of jungle in the way.
Start C:
Greened up the southeast a little, added strategics, trimmed a bit of jungle.
Start D:
Mostly added strategics here. There is a lot of jungle, might also need a bit of extra food.
Start E:
Added strategics and a bit of food to the west.
Full zoomed out shot of the map:
