I am not trying to turn this thread into an AAR, but thought I would share the general feel that this map imparts. The large grouping of swampland and wastes has created some interesting choices in strategy and unit training from the way that I normally play.
Several turns later, I have held my defensive position with some loss of ground, but my gem income is very respectable (and this is on difficult research and low magic site frequency). After repelling a large attack from Machaka in the north, my armies there are now on the offensive. In the south, my swamp force is on the move for a trial run. It consists of bogbeasts and hydra's led by beefed up hydra tamers. Everybody is poison immune and feeling very gassy.
Here is a screen:
