Most commonly used game settings

[JonBrave]

In answer to the OP, I think the single most important setting is screen resolution. I use 1280 x 1024.

[sector24]

I typically play on a small random map with the maximum # of AI opponents for that age. Things get ugly pretty quickly and I quit when I take 5 capitals, or 25% of the provinces, or I just know I've won but don't want to take the time to prove it. That's usually the point in the game where you are putting up globals and making SCs anyway so it's not like the AI could compete with you at that point.