One chnage of the patch that seems to be overlooked by many is the changed map size for Archipelago, Islands, Migration, Team Islands, Pacific Islands, and Sandbank, Fortress and Budapest. These maps now have the dimensions of the next map size, so the small map size instead of tiny for a 1v1.
Quote from the Patchnotes (https://www.ageofempires.com/news/age-of-empires-ii-definitive-edition-update-81058/):
- Archipelago, Islands, Migration, Team Islands, Fortress maps are now enlarged on all map sizes except Ludicrous instead of only on Giant. On the map sizes smaller than Giant these maps now have the dimensions of the next map size (for example Tiny map size on these maps will have the dimensions of Small map size). The same enlargement now applies to Budapest, Pacific Islands, and Sandbank maps as well.
This has probably an meaningful effect for water maps. Bigger Islands, more land ressources, more fish, more space to maneuver in the water, more time until you reach the opponent, no possibility of blocking the water with a single Dock on Islands, cannon galleons can reach less etc. Overall probably a good change, but I’m not sure about al the effects.
And I don’t see an explanation by the devs why these maps specifically were changed. For example why Fortress but not Hill Forts? Bigger maps are an interessting idea, but I would like to know the background behind the idea.
What are your opinions about this change?