For those that want to play the game and make it a bit more balanced and challenging, here are some options.
In advanced game setup:
1.
Move the CS slider to 0 cities.
Some may disagree, but the logic is quite undeniable - both the player and some of the AIs (Greeks, Siamese) can use CS for a huge benefit.
Also the AI civs are often distracted by CS militarily, thus not focusing on the important enemies (and focus is what they need since they are so poor at military leadership).
2.
Tick "No barbarians".
They add flavour, but only the human player is (ab-)using them to any serious extent.
That's not to say there are civs that can completely obliterate others with the benefit they get from barbarians (Germans, Songhai).
3.
Tick "No ancient ruins".
Do you really want those crossbows/pikemen/riflemen wandering around in classical era?
Again, they add flavour, but they also distract both you and AI from the important stuff.
4.
Add more AI civs to the limit.
I don't know what is the max for each map size, but for huge you can go 16->22 civs this way.
You get more opponents and less space to expand peacefully for everyone.
It will still be enough in most cases, but it will limit odd settling of cities on the other side of map as much of the land will already be taken and movement will be obstructed by other civs.
EDIT:
5. Use "regular" or "abundant" resources (not "standard")
According to information from rah, game puts the resources in an irregular fashion when set to "standard", which might prevent you from just expanding, by encouraging both you and AI to settle far away from the capital.
Not saying that resources should be put like a grid, but they should be somewhat regularly distributed over the map.
On top of this you can add some home rules, like:
- not building Trading Posts (what the heck is a "trading post" anyway and how can it cover land that's supposed to be several hundred square kilometers?! )
- not using great generals vs AI (since they don't know how to use them)
- not chopping forest/jungle
- only improving tiles that give +2 total resources or more after improvement (resources, river, lake tiles)
- etc.
Home rules, however, are likely to not be necessary if you play on immortal/deity, the game will be ok with the balance stuff already.
On lower levels it is too easy for me at least.
Feel free to comment/add.
In advanced game setup:
1.
Move the CS slider to 0 cities.
Some may disagree, but the logic is quite undeniable - both the player and some of the AIs (Greeks, Siamese) can use CS for a huge benefit.
Also the AI civs are often distracted by CS militarily, thus not focusing on the important enemies (and focus is what they need since they are so poor at military leadership).
2.
Tick "No barbarians".
They add flavour, but only the human player is (ab-)using them to any serious extent.
That's not to say there are civs that can completely obliterate others with the benefit they get from barbarians (Germans, Songhai).
3.
Tick "No ancient ruins".
Do you really want those crossbows/pikemen/riflemen wandering around in classical era?
Again, they add flavour, but they also distract both you and AI from the important stuff.
4.
Add more AI civs to the limit.
I don't know what is the max for each map size, but for huge you can go 16->22 civs this way.
You get more opponents and less space to expand peacefully for everyone.
It will still be enough in most cases, but it will limit odd settling of cities on the other side of map as much of the land will already be taken and movement will be obstructed by other civs.
EDIT:
5. Use "regular" or "abundant" resources (not "standard")
According to information from rah, game puts the resources in an irregular fashion when set to "standard", which might prevent you from just expanding, by encouraging both you and AI to settle far away from the capital.
Not saying that resources should be put like a grid, but they should be somewhat regularly distributed over the map.
On top of this you can add some home rules, like:
- not building Trading Posts (what the heck is a "trading post" anyway and how can it cover land that's supposed to be several hundred square kilometers?! )
- not using great generals vs AI (since they don't know how to use them)
- not chopping forest/jungle
- only improving tiles that give +2 total resources or more after improvement (resources, river, lake tiles)
- etc.
Home rules, however, are likely to not be necessary if you play on immortal/deity, the game will be ok with the balance stuff already.
On lower levels it is too easy for me at least.
Feel free to comment/add.
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