IMO, the problem here is not the covered map, but less than optimal resource generation. This happens way too often, when there's only 1 prime spot available and the rest are subpar at best. It doesn't really matter who gets there first or who is more advantageous when it comes to debt. This just shouldn't happen period. And it does in both duels and FFA's where one player gets a chance to run away from the very start. The solution, IMO, would be better resource balance. Reveal map is just a band-aid. 

That being said, I am all for reveal map as default for QM or MP in general.  

thanks Soren! I'll leave OTC in the background searching for B6 QMs on the next branch and hope someone else does too.

Edit: after a while now and after talking with a few friends, I can't find the unlock code for the next branch which apparantly is still required and lots of people dont seem to have it.

Similar to Cubit's example here's one from 2 nights ago. I still agree with InSync that reveal map doesn't fix this. Day 1 and the game is already over. I founded first and not in the canyon because it's barely big enough to contain a colony without crushing all the resources. Only 1 spot to make a triangle and carbon is already occupying that spot. 

Despite the fact that he can't get an adjacent triangle going the game is over. There's only 1 low carbon nearby and another low one all the way across the map. No possible chance of me to expand first. No dry ice. Reveal map doesn't fix this scenario and I've seen it several times.  

*Edit- sorry i meant to type nukes aren't an option because it's a no win proposition. There are in fact nukes on the BM. I still think if there was even 1 medium carbon anywhere else on the map it could've been ok. Certainly not easy but at least playable. Most likely he expands first and takes both the other remaining carbon (I certainly would). This was an instant forfeit.

"Reveal map"-mode is clearly superior to the scanning game. But I do wonder if it needs a lot better onboarding. Is there anything in the single player game that prepares new players for reveal map?

This is anecdotal, but I played a lot of quickmatches this weekend (45 according to the game, though surely that can't be right...). A huge percentage of them had the opponent founding with a D bond rating. Usually it'd be somebody playing their first or second multiplayer game, and being completely confused about why they were crushed with debt. So I'd explain how the reveal map mode worked, the game would be over in 5 minutes, and then the next game they'd do exactly the same thing. And only on the third time did they actually understand and actually wait a bit.

(I thought I read somewhere that the plan was to change quickgame to be 4p FFA in beta 7. That's going to be an absolute disaster if the tutorials don't teach new players about the game as it is normally played. As things are, it seems like there's always going to be a free early buyout for someone that'll completely distort the game).