Archipelago
Archipelago is an Aegean water map added with Knights of the Mediterranean. Players begin on small resource-limited islands and must expand to neighboring islands to reach more land and resources. Two Trade Routes cross the map, and Royal Houses sit on islands around its edge, so the match combines migration, naval security and land control.
Map character
Scout the islands and sea lanes before sending Settlers away from the starting shore. Locate safe landing points, both Trade Routes, and the outer Royal Houses; then choose a route that your navy or transport access can protect. Keep track of which islands contain useful resources, because the starting island alone cannot support indefinite growth.
What to scout
A Dock and naval force can secure crossings and defend expansion, while land troops are needed to hold Trading Posts and Royal Houses after arrival. Expand in stages: establish a defensible foothold before sending more workers into exposed waters, and avoid spending on ships that do not protect a resource or objective.
A map built around repeated island footholds
Archipelago separates the opening economy from the larger resource field: the first island is only a starting position, while neighboring islands provide the room needed to continue expanding. Treat each crossing as a commitment. Before moving Settlers, identify a landing area that can be covered by ships and a nearby site worth holding, such as a Trading Post or Royal House. Establish a small foothold first, then reinforce it after confirming that the crossing remains safe. Sending a large worker group before the navy can protect the route risks losing both the expansion and the time spent transporting it.
Naval control and land objectives
The two Trade Routes create separate reasons to contest water: a player may need naval control to keep an island supply line open while also holding the land route and its Royal Houses. A fleet that only patrols the starting coast does not secure a distant Trading Post, and troops on an island cannot stop hostile ships from cutting off reinforcement. Decide which objective supports the current economy, then coordinate transport, escort and land occupation around it. In team games, divide responsibility for crossings and route segments rather than leaving one player to defend every shoreline.