Yep, Italy is for AoS experts and France is for AoS beginners.
Start newbies on France, play all the other maps (US Rust Belt, England, Scandinavia, Germany, Western US, Ireland, Korea, I suggest that order) and, if they survive those, play Italy. Bring a bodyguard to watch your back.

France is both egalitarian and forgiving. You can't go bankrupt, the people bail you out for your contribution to the republic. Italy is both ancient and cutthroat. There is no automatic income reduction, you must act in your own interests.

By the end of that cycle, the Austria, Switzerland and Netherlands maps should be generally available. Then folks can play with only two people (Austria) using those big 25 counters included in the base game, (yes, that is why they were included) and they can also play with 7 people (The Netherlands), even 8 if they use both pennies and dimes as markers.

If you need even more maps, the Bay Area, Reunion Island and Moon maps are a lot of fun! Ted, Ludo and Alban did a lot of work on these babies.

For Geeks willing to print out their own maps, fellonmyhead has a good free map on the geek. See the Age of Steam game page. And enjoy yourself!


John
Pittsburgh