[Gandalf Parker]

I thought I was the #1 example in this forum (altho the SEIV forum on Shrapnel has its own).

But just to prove it...
the math mentioned above loses me but I dont think odd shaped provinces mixes in. It might be worthy to note that Dom3 doesnt seem to recognize boundaries as much as pixel location. Each province on the map has a single white (255,255,255) pixel which you dont see while you are playing. The game reads from bottom left to upper right scanning pixel line by pixel line. Its why many people feel the numbering of provinces is random because they cant see that on provinces 1 2 3 that 2 is a single pixel line higher so it comes much later in the pattern.

Also to note that on many maps the single pixel can appear way to the edge of the province. The pixels mark the base of the flags if that helps. Anyway I think that any math on province spread must either be based on neighbors as listed in the .map file, or by pixels distance between those province pixels.

I suppose that could be tested by setting the battlesim map to have neighbors way across the map from each other and see which one affects dom spread.