[Edratman]

I am assuming that you and your friends are relatively new players.

On a 300+ province map, I would recommend you set up victory points as the victory condition. I would use 8 to 10 victory points to win, and set up the victory points as follows: 1 victory point per capital, and approximately 15 one point victory point provinces. Maybe set up 1 to 3 two victory point provinces, but no more than that. (Actually adjust the winning Victory point requirement against the number of AI opponents in the game and the number of victory point provinces. If you group consists of 3 players, the winner should have to get 1/3 of available victory points.)

This will minimize that chances that one of your group will get bored with the micromanagement and time commitment that accompanies owning 40+ provinces and want to quit before standard victory conditions are met.