I was annoyed with GalCiv2 when playing against just one AI on an immense map and it would start close by me. Why not start on the other side of the map? Why so close?
It's even worse when you're playing against multiple AI's and you are all put together in a corner of the map which basicly cuts you off from the rest of the map.
When playing a skirmish game I want to be able to arrange where each race starts. I don't expect exact control but a few standard options would be nice.