ODD MAP

I'll admit this map probably wouldn't seem all that odd for someone unfamiliar with Seven Kingdoms: Ancient Adversaries, but this map is definitely weird. For starters this map lacks any independent villages if your going up against the maximum number of AI opponents. And while maps with landmasses set to small usually have less towns than maps set to medium or large in terms of landmass. The complete lack of any independent villages is extremely unusually. Especially when you've got the box for many independent villages selected.

To make things weirder this map lacks any fryhtan lairs. These lairs are home to various monster races that are unplayable in this game. Though you can use them in the sequel. Though, I'll admit I'm not particularly a big fan of their mechanics. Regardless their should be a couple of lairs on this map since I set the campaign to include offensive fryhtans (this means the monsters will sometimes launch raids on the human kingdoms), but the main reason I would want these guys around is because I can farm them for money and scrolls of power. And I need the scrolls in order to build temples to various gods/goddesses. And these gods/goddesses can turn your people's prayers at these temples into power. And the one for the Egyptians would be especially useful on this map since Isis allows you to spend 100 prayer points for a village population boost of 5 on the village you targeted with her blessing. Of course, her inability to hold more than 400 prayer points at a time means you can only use her blessing 3 times before you need to let her rest again. Since she'll use up some prayer points just by moving to the village you've targeted, but a gain of 15 villagers would be huge on a map like this. After all, the key to success in this game is auto-taxes and you can generate a lot more money through them if your population is high.

On the plus side, this map does allow you to play a much slower campaign. Though, you'll probably want to relocate to the uninhabited island in the corner as soon as possible. And once there you'll want to develop your ballista tech to level 2, then develop cannons to level 1, and then proceed to research weapon wielding boats like the fast caravel in order to dominate the sea. And by dominate the sea I mean reign cannonballs on the harbors of every other kingdom in order to ensure that your the only one who can move units from one island to another. After all, your going to need to focus on increasing your population as quickly as possible on this map. And your villages gain new members faster if their are more people in them.