Carpathians
Carpathians is a Random Map themed around the Carpathian mountain range which crosses Central Europe, mainly in the Balkans. Its in-game starts and resource placements are generated for each match.
Map character
Locate the central mountain range, plateau Gold Mines and lower-elevation resource pockets before picking an attack route. In team games, check which of the two exposed Trade Routes is near the team’s position. In free-for-all, players start on a large plateau and there is no Trade Route, so scout for mines and crossings instead.
What to scout
Contest a team Trade Route only if allies can reinforce the station after the first engagement; the plateau exposes both routes. In free-for-all, focus on plateau resources and safe approaches rather than planning around a nonexistent route. Use the mountain passes to narrow an attack, but account for the time needed to move reinforcements across them.
A mountain range with exposed routes
Carpathians places teams on opposite sides of a central mountain range. Some Gold Mines sit on the plateau, while other resources are more abundant at lower elevations. Team games provide a Trade Route on each side of the plateau, but both routes are exposed to the opposing team. Capturing a station can build long-term value, but it is difficult to keep safe after armies meet.
Use terrain before crossing it
Jagiellon, Phanar and Wettin settlements offer alliance choices; Cossack Daredevil and Hajduk are the named outlaws. The map description notes extra Citizens from the Home City at team starts. Scout the lower resource areas and plateau before deciding whether to hold a nearby route or attack through the mountain approaches. In free-for-all games, players start on a large plateau and Trade Routes do not appear, so route-control plans for teams do not apply.