I'v heard EB members say that the provinces in the northern steppe are simply too important for factions like the sarmatians for them to leave out.

Personally, I like having the Sahara in, in fact frankly, the bigger the map the better. It doesnt seem that the desert areas bring in any money really, so I'm happy for factions like the carthaginians to control them.

Anyway, the maps is fantastic, with loads of detail that really brings it alive, such as high plateaus being snowy in winter while lowland river areas dont get snow.

Res Gestai is another map that seems to be using the tilted map, however, and it looks fantastic. Maybe when Prometheus releases it someone will port his map onto EB or something and you'll be able to play EB without the Saharan provinces. I don't know.

Anyhow, EB's map is for me the best map I'v ever seen, so I'm happy.