Game Pace & Map Size Options

Learn how to fine-tune game pace and map size in Humankind. Discover strategies to balance your empire's growth and conquer the world effectively.

Hey there! So, you're diving into Humankind and wondering about how to tweak the game's speed and the size of the world you're playing on? These settings can really change how your game feels, from a quick sprint to a long, epic journey. Let's break down how you can set things up to get the experience you're looking for.

When you're setting up a new game, you'll see options for Game Pace and Map Size. Think of these as your main levers for controlling how the game unfolds.

Game Pace: How Fast Do You Want to Roll?

The Game Pace setting affects how quickly you progress through the eras and how much time you have to achieve objectives within each era. It's basically the speed limit for your empire's development.

• Fast Pace: This is for when you want to see history fly by. Eras tick by quickly, and you'll need to make decisions faster. It's great if you're short on time or just want to get to the endgame scenarios sooner. You'll have less room for error, so planning is key!
• Standard Pace: This is your balanced option. It gives you a good amount of time to explore, expand, and develop your empire without feeling rushed. Most players find this pace comfortable for learning the game and enjoying the journey.
• Epic Pace: Want to really sink your teeth into a game? Epic pace stretches out each era, giving you tons of time to build up massive empires, conduct detailed diplomacy, and wage protracted wars. This is for the long haul, where every decision has time to ripple through centuries.
• Onslaught Pace: This is a bit of a wildcard, often associated with specific scenarios or challenges. It usually means a faster pace with more aggressive AI or unique objectives, pushing you to adapt quickly.

Choosing the right pace depends on how much time you have and what kind of experience you want. A faster pace means quicker games but less room to breathe, while a slower pace lets you savor every moment and plan meticulously.

Map Size: How Big is Your World?

The Map Size determines how much territory there is to explore, settle, and fight over. It directly impacts the number of players (AI or human) that can fit comfortably and the distances between civilizations.

• Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, Huge: These are your standard options. A tiny map means a crowded world where you'll likely meet your neighbors very early on. A huge map offers vast expanses, allowing for more exploration and potentially longer periods of peace before major conflicts erupt.

Pro Tip: The map size and the number of players you choose should go hand-in-hand. If you pick a huge map but only put two players on it, you'll spend a lot of time just… walking. Conversely, cramming too many players onto a small map can lead to constant conflict right from the start. For a balanced experience, try to match the map size to the player count.

Putting It Together: Your Ideal Game

So, how do you combine these? Here are a few ideas:

• Quick Skirmish: Fast Pace + Small Map. Get in, conquer, get out. Great for a few quick games when you don't have all day.
• Classic Empire Building: Standard Pace + Medium/Large Map. This is your go-to for a traditional Civ-like experience, allowing for growth, exploration, and meaningful interactions.
• Epic Saga: Epic Pace + Large/Huge Map. For those marathon sessions where you want to build a world-spanning empire over many, many turns.
• Chaotic Rush: Fast Pace + Medium/Large Map with many players. Expect early wars and a frantic scramble for resources and territory.

Experiment with these settings! The beauty of Humankind is its flexibility. What feels