What is the "Balanced" land form?

[Kriegsspieler]

The title says it all. I have tried starting games with this option selected, but it is not clear to me what I get for it.

Does anyone have a definitive answer?

[MoonWolf]

It's supposed to make all starts sort of equal to all players. This means everybody get some resources nearby.

[Kriegsspieler]

Oh, that's interesting. I had thought it was sort of a compromise between continents and archipelegoes or something!

Thanks

[vee4473]

I think Sirian has said that it provides all military strategic resources to every civ within x tiles of their starting location.



I also asked him if the balanced type meant only pangea. He said yes, so balanced will always generate a pangea.


I'm sure he'll correct me if I am wrong.

[Kriegsspieler]

Thanks -- my next question was precisely whether the form was constant or not.

I wish it were possible to have something that would be a middling choice between "continents" and "archipelagos." I find the former to be too restricted -- even in a huge world there are rarely more than 3 large-ish land masses -- and the isalnds in an archipelago game are too small. I know this sounds like a "Goldilocks" complaint, but I would like to find something that is "just right" in between these two.

I wonder if this is moddable in any way?

[vee4473]

have you tried "custom continents" and then experiment with map size and number of continents.

That should get you close to something that is between the 2.

for example, a 9 or 10 continent standard map might give you an arch. feel, but with larger "islands"..

or a large map with 3 continents...etc...

or a huge map with however many caontinents you like.

Lately, I like making a map that has 1 more continent than it has civs (5 civs/6 cont.) so that leaves a race/fight for the empty landmass.

[Jaybe]

I would like a Terra map with AI included on the new world continent, not just barbs.

[Kriegsspieler]

Originally posted by vee4473
have you tried "custom continents" and then experiment with map size and number of continents.

That should get you close to something that is between the 2.

for example, a 9 or 10 continent standard map might give you an arch. feel, but with larger "islands"..

or a large map with 3 continents...etc...

or a huge map with however many caontinents you like.

Lately, I like making a map that has 1 more continent than it has civs (5 civs/6 cont.) so that leaves a race/fight for the empty landmass.

I like this! Thanks for the tip.

[Possibility]

There is also an "Islands" map. I believe this inbetween Continents and Arch and is probably exactly what you are looking for.

I wish you could choose the map type, and have Balanced Resouces be an option check box, so you could play Archipelago with Balanced resouces.

Possibility

[Senethro]

Originally posted by Jaybe
I would like a Terra map with AI included on the new world continent, not just barbs.

A continent map...?

[Enigma_Nova]

Originally posted by Possibility
There is also an "Islands" map. I believe this inbetween Continents and Arch and is probably exactly what you are looking for.

I wish you could choose the map type, and have Balanced Resouces be an option check box, so you could play Archipelago with Balanced resouces.

Possibility

I thought Islands was weaker than Archipelago, which in turn is weaker than Snaky Continents.

[vee4473]

weaker how?

[Urban Ranger]

Less land mass?

[Bill3000]

Barbarians wouldn't be as powerful in the New World if there were civilizations there.

[vee4473]

I'm thinking that balanced wouldn't be effective on an arch. map since the resources are land based.

edit: I did ask Sirian about an option for balanced on any map type and he said he was all for it, but was overrided.