@ghug I think the vanilla Diplomacy and Ancient Med is balanced, Modern Dip is alright, but in Empire4 BC and Cuba are incredibly weak, the latter even more so.

Classic and Ancient Med are both more balanced then Empire4.

I haven't played Modern, but it doesn't look especially balanced. World is clearly not balanced. Unless you have top players or serious skill disparities between players, Classic and Ancient Med also have some powers that do significantly better.

The problem I see is that FotAE is that all of the nations are too big. One nation only has to worry about 2 neighbors at a time, while in classic you could be hindered or attacked more nations in one turn. Each time I play it it seams that after the first two turns I dont even have to talk to anyone because everything is so obvious on who they are wanting to attack. The only question is where exactly they are going to move them.

To fix FotAE:

Cuba all fleets
Saskatchewan is SC
Update win condition to 50%+1

@MelodicMethods Cuba has to deal with three neighbors, and if NY is doing well it's possible for NY to move its fleet down into the Bermuda Triangle and harass Cuba as well. Cuba can't sustain an alliance with Peru as Peru's winning SCs run right through Cuba, and while Cuba can negotiate something with Florida and Mexico, both have plenty of potential for a stab while Cuba is unable to do anything. Texas can be a problem as well in a few occasions.

BC does have two neighbors but they have wide sea spaces which Quebec or CA can potentially move into with ease and only one free SC while it has to contest others while most other nations can get two guaranteed builds and a contested SC.

Heartland is surrounded by six nations, but isn't in as much of a disadvantage as Cuba or BC, as it has diplomatic potential and can set up many different alliances.

@Jeff Kuta I agree with all but the first; I think Cuba should start with four SCs. Either it can be Haiti (and DR is removed as a SC), or it can remain DR but the fleet in Kingston is replaced by an army and the army in Holguin by a fleet.

I have not figured out how to play Cuba successfully... I agree they seem boxed in. I am not saying it couldn't be done, I just haven't seen anyone do it yet.

With 3 starting fleets, Cuba can take Nicaragua and Dominican Republic uncontested, and can defend against Florida. I think 5 SCs at turn 2 should be sufficient for them to diplomatically handle most immediate threats.

i think game fairly balanced but not an expert on this variant by any means

cuba has lots of neat options .. i haven't played cuba before though

all comes down to dipolomacy... every game i've been in the cuba player doesn't communicate anywhere as much as he/she should

That's because Cuba players know they are doomed from the start.. ;)

haha - maybe true

i haven't played bc either - looks to also be a tough country but also not many natural enemies and if peace with cali can do well

Cut the map removing the SA power, make Cuba a corner; adjust SCs accordingly to not strenghten Mex (corner powers must be controled).

it does. @CCR is right

Is there a process to go about modifying mod maps?

I have played Cuba in a few games recently, and I have found much success. Maybe you just aren't playing right :)

Games with multiple CDs by neighbors don't really enhance your advocacy for Cuba being strong. ;)

The only CD near me was Peru and that was when he had one SC left, so nothing really disproved.

Florida also CD 3rd or 4th turn.

Well hang on...not CD...but several NMRs. I misspoke, but all it takes is 1 or 2 NMRs to change a game dramatically.

Eh. He wasn't really going for me anyway. But fair point.

Eliminating Peru from game would definitely change dynamics!