My feedback on this game which was also my first FOG game.
 
At the start of the game I found myself surrounded by only sea.
I set my priority to exploration over exploitation for the first 2 years. Wherever my rafts touched the coast line I decided I might anchor my fleet there however I wouldn't go inland before I knew the water surrounding me much better. At that time I had no idea whether the world was mostly sea or land. I knew that my Freighter base was at the edge of the world, which left me vulnerable in only 3 directions. The one opposite the edge of my world I considered less of a threat than the ones stretching out to the sides (later designated as east/west). I have attached the Fall maps of the areas I had explored for the first 4 years (2004 - 2007) to give you more insight.
 
From very early on in the game I worked with Jorge. He was the first to share a lot of information with me which created a bond. Others didn't, which was to their disadvantage. Like Fredrik, who didn't share much until it was too late for me to stop his demise. The alliance with Jorge felt strong because he seemed to be willing to sacrifice something for the greater good (i.e. our mutual benefit). As Steve has mentioned, that helped Jorge in transferring the Key from his units in the east, across my territory, to his units in the far west. Too bad that it got lost again in the sea battle. I couldn't suppress a chuckle when I read Trout's response.
 
When I encountered Mike I thought we might agree on an alliance, too. Mike was clear that his empire started beyond my outpost GOLF. To avoid threatening him I would march around the east of his territory and sail around its west, as all of his SCs were land-based. And with Jorge we would take on Fredrik and Matthew. Seemed perfect. But one year after we met Mike took my GOLF terrain from me. That hurt me so much - Golf was my most precious SC since it was my retreat and I was planning on hosting events for other teams - that I decided I would make it my goal to take back Golf and, if the opportunity arose, destroy him. But it took much longer than anticipated: Mike had gained a strong supporter in Drew. Together they countered - by clever play and sometimes by sheer luck - many of my attacks. Earlier Matthew had joined Jorge and me to fight back Mike (and whatever was left from Fredrik) but soon Matthew decided to go after Jorge's and my SCs. And to the far northwest - on the seas - Drew had found another ally in Trout and together they kept several of my fleet stuck in defending the southwest corner of the map.
In Spring 2014 I finally managed to force the disband of Mike's last unit. But problems had started to the east with Matthew forcing his way south into my and Dharma's territory. Had this game continued who knows what would have happened. But like Jorge and I were sure to repeat to Drew and Trout: we would make sure that all spoils would go to Matthew, and none for them.
 
Timeline: 
- Fredrik / Widmore: first encounter in Fall 2006. In Fall 2013 the last Widmore unit was disbanded.
- Jorge / Dharma: first encounter in Spring 2007. Alliance since Fall 2007. Best ally one could wish for.
- Mike / Fuselage: first encounter Spring 2007. We exchanged many messages. Stabbed me (forced me out of Golf) in Spring 2008.
- Drew: first encounter Winter 2007: he had taken STATUE from me. Messages seemed distorted (or rather its sender?). Could not talk any sense with him. He was openly hostile to me.

- Matthew: first encounter Summer 2009. Friendly at first; later hostile with gentlemen touch (he apologized for stabbing us).
- Trout: first encounter Spring 2012. Hostile and grumpy from the start.
 
Lessons learnt: 
- sharing information: I gave away too much of my explored world too early to other players, especially too much information on the location of my SCs. Later in the game I felt that as a disadvantage because the others would know exactly where to find my SCs. I once tried to make errors in a map on purpose but didn't use it: I sensed it was all too likely that I would make inconsistent future maps and the truth would come out.
- maps: using GIMP and its overlays I combined the maps I had from earlier explorations, or were given to me by other players, into one large map of my known world. I shared these with my allies (mostly Jorge). Initially I used this only to keep track of the map and SCs; later also to keep track of other players' units. The latter was getting harder with time passing, as after 2-3 major seasons the units could have moved to so many spaces. My largest map is attached (showing Summer 2013).
 





- map: loved discovering more and more of the map. Enjoyed the texture used to create it although it created a puzzle for me to combine areas on the map without leaving too much of a trace.
Strategically I felt being at the edge gives some defensive advantages. No one will attack from that direction. It would be more balanced if the map wraps around (North-South and East-West, even if only at one or 2 points along those perimeters).
Also starting with all sea-based Home SCs is an advantage when landing a zodiac (raft) allows one to turn it into a landing party, whereas the other way around takes an additional turn to create a raft. Perhaps some rafts could be lying around in future games (randomly?) to balance this a bit more.
 
- rules: nice to discover more and more of the rules. Almost like a game inside a game. Same for the special SCs: the radio link, the monitors, the Key, etcetera.
 
- Steve, our GM: it must have been a huge job - after the initial years - to present a complete and consistent map for every player. All praise for you.  And the stories: I just loved reading them and was eagerly waiting for the next. Like this one:
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The Zodiac makes quick time through the water and you wonder if this is indeed the direction to the island or whether the compass bearings are still playing up. At last, as if fate is forcing you to choose you spy two places of interest but in two different directions. To the south east, deep underwater you can see a cable leading to somekind of underground station. There was notes on such a place nicknamed 'The Looking glass'.  If you moved to this space, you could easily dive down and take control of the looking glass without losing your boat. The north west floats the remains of a man-made raft. You are sure from this distance that the raft is unoccupied and uncontrolled. Still no sign of land.
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- all players: thanks for playing, whether you were with or against me. You made it a lot of fun.
 
Will definitely join another FOG game like this.
Thanks for all these hours of fun.
Frank