Gryphin,
Finally downloaded and installed FQM. Certainly a lot of choices!
I ran several and I'd say I have to agree with your choice of maps. What is the difference between Dense Paradise and Standard Paradise? I couldn't see much. I thought it might populate the stars more with planets, but my test map yielded what appeared to be the same amount. (I guess I could get a better answer from Fyron...
).
As to distance from opposing teams...let me see if I can explain it without use of a map
:
Let's say the teams are looking at each other from the east and west. I wouldn't want teams to be flat against the eastern and western "walls". So, if one divided the map into 4 sections with vertical lines (3 of them making 4 sections), then placing the eastern and western empires along the easternmost (and westernmost) vertical lines would leave half the map size in the middle. I think that's a good starting point but will solicit suggestions from other players.