Thanks, Thufir, this is exactly the kind of feedback I love to get.
Thing is, the smaller (if you can call a 324-prov map small) is already done, Iäll just get it uploaded this week, and an updated targa with the province locations marked in the graphic for the original one, as well as updated (and significantly improved, especially on start balance) map files (also to be uploaded), so there will be twice as much Faerun goodness to go around.
I'll see about the brightness thing, but I'm not sure I'll actually do anything, I can leave it up to people to modify t if they find it necessary. So far, I haven't, but good point there.
Edi