proximity of sides in big maps (std game)

[Andrew Cooksy]

Hi, and hope this isn't a faq.  I've been playing the standard game
and like the exploration end a lot, so have been using big maps.
The distribution of sides in the big maps doesn't seem to be entirely
random, however; the enemy and I are always within 40 cells or so of
each other, even if the maps are 300x300.  So I run into them sooner 
than I'd like.  Is there a way to change this easily with the menu or
by editing the code?  Is this an intended feature?  Many thanks.

Arthur