I've been playing a medium map with multiple continents.  Some observations:

(1) My starting location is always the same.  While it was stated that the "random" map feature was using a small number of hand-crafted maps with some randomized components, I would have thought that the starting location of each faction would be random.  Is this a bug?

(2) The location that I start at has no metal or shards anywhere near me.  Not even "moderately far away."  Is is possible to transmute things from one form to another, like crystals to shards at some exchange rate using some spell or technology?  I suppose I could trade with other players assuming I had the appropriate tech, but my starting position has no neighbors and I appear to be on a continent by myself.  It might be nice to have access to "Alchemy" in a pinch just so I could build a swordsman or two, or have a fire shard in reserve in case I needed to cast a fire spell.

Interesting game so far!