I'd rather give them a trireme...force them to research Sailing to settle the new islands/amphib invade. However, this also affects the race to circumnavigation, which I'm unsure about. It's probably "safer" to not give them anything special, but alot more interesting to give them the boat. OTOH, giving them a galley makes it possible for the second city to be placed on an island, instead of for resources...
Could always replace the warrior/scout with a trireme...
Good catch on the water resources inside, they should be redistributed.
Very much disagree with the strat resource though. Making iron hard to get screws over Rome, and placing copper/horses in either direction means that everyone has to go for copper first; if 1 player goes for copper and his adjacent plants in close proximity for horses, an axe rush is the way to play it. Never design or balance a map where there is only 1 correct way to play it.
Could always replace the warrior/scout with a trireme...
Good catch on the water resources inside, they should be redistributed.
Very much disagree with the strat resource though. Making iron hard to get screws over Rome, and placing copper/horses in either direction means that everyone has to go for copper first; if 1 player goes for copper and his adjacent plants in close proximity for horses, an axe rush is the way to play it. Never design or balance a map where there is only 1 correct way to play it.