Budapest
Budapest gives each player two Town Centers and double the usual starting Home City provisions, with the teams split across a wide Danube. Two Trade Routes follow the river, whose seasonal state changes whether and where armies can cross.
Map character
The river freezes in winter, has shallows in summer and floods in spring, removing crossings. Habsburg and Jagiellon settlements are available, while Crabat and Hajduk are listed outlaws. Scout the season and both routes before sending workers or troops across; an apparently safe crossing may close or become exposed as the map changes.
What to scout
Use the extra Town Center and provisions to build a deliberate opening, but remember that both Town Centers and the divided territory need protection. Contest one route you can reinforce instead of scattering troops across both. Time any attack over the river to a known crossing and keep workers on your side until the route is secure.
Two Town Centers and a seasonal river
Budapest gives each player two Town Centers and double the starting provisions from the Home City, split across a wide river. Two Trade Routes follow the Danube. The river changes by season: it freezes in winter, has shallows in summer and floods in spring, removing crossings. This changes when armies can reach the other bank and makes the same route safer or more exposed at different times.
Use the extra start carefully
The second Town Center and extra provisions create a strong opening, but also give opponents more targets and ground to defend. Scout seasonal crossings before sending workers or troops across, and use the parallel routes without assuming the river stays passable. Habsburg and Jagiellon settlements are available; Crabat and Hajduk are outlaws. Budapest is a Knights of the Mediterranean random map.