About the World map

[Freddz]

I don't know about you guys/girls but I just love playing the earth map as it gives me that extra feeling of history. But I have a big concern: It can't be ultra-realistic in that some civs get HUGE starting place advantages against others, then you lose the fun of trying all civs on the earth map. Admittingly, some will probably be a bit better off than others and we can't do nothing about that but...
So... anyone know if it will be somewhat balanced on the cost of not being superexact on the tiles? I mean as the Arabians it would be nice with a couple of extra fish/oasis tiles just to give them a better chance.
And as English you'd like at least a reasonable chance of founding a few cities on your island, alternately a bit extra good city tiles so you have the chance of expanding a bit later after you get ships. I think it was a bit less desert in and around africa around 3000-4000 BC.

Observe though, I don't want it to go nuts with the balancing and lose much of the realistic feel. But some tinkering is a must.

[AeonOfTime]

I think we won't know until we actually have the game in our hands, I haven't seen anything intelligible on the included earth map

But I agree on the tinkering if it can make the map enjoyable for all civs - however, some starting locations were really not so good in reality either... I am curious about the earth map size(s) in Civ4, though: it's the size that really defines the level of detail and accuracy of the map.

[Freddz]

Yes, I agree. I hope they have two sizes of the earth map. But if I have to choose, it would be a large earth map compared to medium size, just for the detail and accuracy.
Fortunately I know Firaxis are watching the forums a bit, so maybe there is a chance that they'll polish it a little a bit if they haven't done it. In CIV 1 I played the earth map over and over again and hardly ever played random maps.

[AeonOfTime]

One thing is certain: even if the Civ4 earth map should suck, the earth map aficionados here at poly will work their magic . They probably even will regardless anyway.

It's only a shame that Marla isn't around anymore... she did a hell of a job with her earth maps.

[Freddz]

Mmmm Is it certain that the starting locations will be fixed though? It will be a terrible heart-ache for me if I have to start somewhere else other than in Germany with the germans and so on. I will probably not play the earth maps at all if that is the case. I never did in Civ 3 when locations wasn't fixed.

I was thinking, the island nations should probably have a little more concentration of resources and a bit better starting city tiles (as well as the desert nations) so they get a jump start. Japan and England would be too isolated unless they have a small advantage, and arabians too difficult to play. Did I say all this before? well, I just wanted to be clear and include Japan with them. I know Egyptians and Persians will have a lot of Floodplains so they will be all right (I hope). And in Nubia(close to Egypt) there's gold I think. Arabia should have stone so they could build some of the wonders more easily and later a lot of oil of course, but it's the early part that could be too difficult, if they survive that long. And the coast tiles could have some green as they probably had more of in the ancient ages(but i'm not sure about that).

[MarkG]

i dont think all starting locations should have the same opportunities. what would be the point if the arabs had plenty of resources like the native americans? you would just be playing the native americans on a different location.
if i'd play the arabs part of the fun would be succeeding despite lack of resources, like they real ones did

[Freddz]

LOL. You didn't read my posts for its right content, MarkG. My point was, repeated, that it needs a bit adjustment so it gets a bit more balanced, that's all.
Not the SAME opportunities.
But I guess our opinions vary on this subject anyway.

[Freddz]

Besides, it would be fun if the Arabic etc could make some opposition - at least at times - when played by the computer. So it's not only from a player perspective, Mark. They will be quickly squashed otherwise - almost every time. The earth map will lose some flavour if it is that unblanced that some civs are predetermined to fail.

[MarkG]

perhaps you should leave the arabs to better players

[Sava]

I'll be staying away from the Earth map until there are xpacks with more civs

[Freddz]

MarkG,

Take off that apolyton clown suit. You're the owner for godssakes! Get hold of yourself!

Seriously, if you haven't heard what you're about to answer, why answer, because then it's not really answers, just attempted cheap shots. And as they are recognized as such, they aren't really effective either. You follow?

[Freddz]

Anyone know for sure the civs will have fixed locatios on the earth map?

[General Ludd]

An earth map that is "balanced" so the starting positions are equal loses it's entire point.

Balance.

[Freddz]

Balanced is wrong, I agree.

[MarkG]

General Ludd