[TwoBits]

What do you mean by backline? Is that the same as 'backfield'? OK, sure, with a wraparound map, there is no hard back-line border. And sure, if you're playing Vanheim, or some other sailing race, you might be OK (although where can you sail to? the only land you can probably reach would be your teammate across the 'polar cap').

But if we go with TheDemon's set-up, if you're one of those 4 Noob teams 'stuck' behind your teammates (yes, in a land-centric view), you have to do a lot of awkward maneuvering to reach the front via land, or somehow get into the water, and then circle 90 degrees around the map, to get at the enemy - how long is that going to take? never, if you're say, Abyssia).

My 'linear-bulge/two-crescents' set-up is the nearest thing we're going to get to the ideal 'vets in the center of a circle of noobs' set-up with this map. No noob has to sit out of the action early on (or resort to difficult, complicated, and easily thwarted 'tunneling'), and the vets still get sea access (granted, with only two nations, but they can just put their strongest water/sailing powers at either end of the line).

Hey, just my two cents, but I know I would not like to be one of the 4 noobs who has to snake his way to the front, or sit on his thumbs staring at the water until he's forged/summoned an aquatic force.