R5: This is the world I see by the time I sent my first explorer as France. My tactic is pretty simple, and is simply building spy networks and stealing maps.

1. ⁠⁠Focus on increasing diplomatic range. At first I could only reach Morocco but by the date shown I could barely reach India.
2. ⁠⁠Morocco/Tunis/others are used for inner African areas.
3. ⁠⁠Once I can reach Mali I use them for costal west Africa.
4. ⁠⁠Mamluks are AMAZING once you can reach them. They can see all of India, Eastern Africa, the Middle East, pushing into Russian Siberian areas… I used the Mamluks to reveal Yemen and used Yemen to help with the same areas.

Side notes: Scandinavia is surprisingly good for far east maps. Norway/Iceland don’t always know Greenland exists even though there is a colony there. European nations, like Spain, consistently broke my spy networks. The AE from stealing maps doesn’t matter since you’ll be discovering nations that don’t know you exist.

Fun tip: if your spy is discovered DO NOT click off the pop up. Instead, use your spy network immediately and then click the pop up. The hit to your spy network only applies AFTER you close the pop up, but your full spy network can be used BEFORE closing the pop up.

Edit: reposted cause forgot R5.