diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/TileInfo.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/TileInfo.kt
index f10d6d77dc..0d6df69081 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/TileInfo.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/TileInfo.kt
@@ -793,7 +793,7 @@ open class TileInfo {
         // Uninitialized tilemap - when you're displaying a tile in the civilopedia or map editor
         if (::tileMap.isInitialized) convertHillToTerrainFeature()
         if (!ruleset.terrains.containsKey(baseTerrain))
-            throw Exception()
+            throw Exception("Terrain $baseTerrain does not exist in ruleset!")
         baseTerrainObject = ruleset.terrains[baseTerrain]!!
         isWater = getBaseTerrain().type == TerrainType.Water
         isLand = getBaseTerrain().type == TerrainType.Land
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/TileMap.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/TileMap.kt
index ea9337f461..2c8ead8dcd 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/TileMap.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/TileMap.kt
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import com.unciv.logic.civilization.CivilizationInfo
 import com.unciv.models.metadata.Player
 import com.unciv.models.ruleset.Nation
 import com.unciv.models.ruleset.Ruleset
+import com.unciv.models.ruleset.tile.TerrainType
 import com.unciv.models.ruleset.unique.UniqueType
 import kotlin.math.abs
 
@@ -94,8 +95,10 @@ class TileMap {
     /** creates a hexagonal map of given radius (filled with grassland) */
     constructor(radius: Int, ruleset: Ruleset, worldWrap: Boolean = false) {
         startingLocations.clear()
+        val firstAvailableLandTerrain = ruleset.terrains.values.firstOrNull { it.type==TerrainType.Land }
+            ?: throw Exception("Cannot create map - no land terrains found!")
         for (vector in HexMath.getVectorsInDistance(Vector2.Zero, radius, worldWrap))
-            tileList.add(TileInfo().apply { position = vector; baseTerrain = Constants.grassland })
+            tileList.add(TileInfo().apply { position = vector; baseTerrain = firstAvailableLandTerrain.name })
         setTransients(ruleset)
     }
 
@@ -205,8 +208,11 @@ class TileMap {
     /** @return all tiles within [rectangle], respecting world edges and wrap.
      *  If using even Q coordinates the rectangle will be "straight" ie parallel with rectangular map edges. */
     fun getTilesInRectangle(rectangle: Rectangle, evenQ: Boolean = false): Sequence<TileInfo> =
-            if (rectangle.width <= 0 || rectangle.height <= 0)
-                sequenceOf(get(rectangle.x.toInt(), rectangle.y.toInt()))
+            if (rectangle.width <= 0 || rectangle.height <= 0) {
+                val tile = getIfTileExistsOrNull(rectangle.x.toInt(), rectangle.y.toInt())
+                if (tile == null) sequenceOf()
+                else sequenceOf(tile)
+            }
             else
                 sequence {
                     for (x in 0 until rectangle.width.toInt()) {
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/mapgenerator/MapGenerator.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/mapgenerator/MapGenerator.kt
index 0b202f84ea..9d2cbbbfee 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/mapgenerator/MapGenerator.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/mapgenerator/MapGenerator.kt
@@ -400,15 +400,16 @@ class MapGenerator(val ruleset: Ruleset) {
 
             // Old, static map generation rules - necessary for existing base ruleset mods to continue to function
             if (noTerrainUniques) {
-                tile.baseTerrain = when {
-                    temperature < -0.4 -> if (humidity < 0.5) Constants.snow   else Constants.tundra
-                    temperature < 0.8  -> if (humidity < 0.5) Constants.plains else Constants.grassland
+                val autoTerrain = when {
+                    temperature < -0.4 -> if (humidity < 0.5) Constants.snow else Constants.tundra
+                    temperature < 0.8 -> if (humidity < 0.5) Constants.plains else Constants.grassland
                     temperature <= 1.0 -> if (humidity < 0.7) Constants.desert else Constants.plains
                     else -> {
                         println("applyHumidityAndTemperature: Invalid temperature $temperature")
                         Constants.grassland
                     }
                 }
+                if (ruleset.terrains.containsKey(autoTerrain)) tile.baseTerrain = autoTerrain
                 tile.setTerrainTransients()
                 continue
             }
@@ -432,7 +433,7 @@ class MapGenerator(val ruleset: Ruleset) {
      */
     private fun spawnVegetation(tileMap: TileMap) {
         val vegetationSeed = randomness.RNG.nextInt().toDouble()
-        val candidateTerrains = Constants.vegetation.flatMap{ ruleset.terrains[it]!!.occursOn }
+        val candidateTerrains = Constants.vegetation.mapNotNull { ruleset.terrains[it] }.flatMap{ it.occursOn }
         //Checking it.baseTerrain in candidateTerrains to make sure forest does not spawn on desert hill
         for (tile in tileMap.values.asSequence().filter { it.baseTerrain in candidateTerrains
                 && it.getLastTerrain().name in candidateTerrains }) {
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/mapgenerator/MapRegions.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/mapgenerator/MapRegions.kt
index eaf276ac0f..0c6a904921 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/mapgenerator/MapRegions.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/mapgenerator/MapRegions.kt
@@ -154,8 +154,11 @@ class MapRegions (val ruleset: Ruleset){
         var bestSplitPoint = 1 // will be the size of the split-off region
         var closestFertility = 0
         var cumulativeFertility = 0
-        val pointsToTry = if (widerThanTall) 1..regionToSplit.rect.width.toInt()
-        else 1..regionToSplit.rect.height.toInt()
+
+        val highestPointToTry = if (widerThanTall) regionToSplit.rect.width.toInt()
+        else regionToSplit.rect.height.toInt()
+        val pointsToTry = 1..highestPointToTry
+        val halfwayPoint = highestPointToTry/2
 
         for (splitPoint in pointsToTry) {
             val nextRect = if (widerThanTall)
@@ -175,7 +178,11 @@ class MapRegions (val ruleset: Ruleset){
                 nextRect.sumOf { if (it.getContinent() == splitOffRegion.continentID) it.getTileFertility(true) else 0 }
 
             // Better than last try?
-            if (abs(cumulativeFertility - targetFertility) <= abs(closestFertility - targetFertility)) {
+            val bestSplitPointFertilityDeltaFromTarget = abs(closestFertility - targetFertility)
+            val currentSplitPointFertilityDeltaFromTarget = abs(cumulativeFertility - targetFertility)
+            if (currentSplitPointFertilityDeltaFromTarget < bestSplitPointFertilityDeltaFromTarget
+                || (currentSplitPointFertilityDeltaFromTarget == bestSplitPointFertilityDeltaFromTarget // same fertility split but better 'amount of tiles' split
+                        && abs(halfwayPoint- splitPoint) < abs(halfwayPoint- bestSplitPoint) )) { // current split point is closer to the halfway point
                 bestSplitPoint = splitPoint
                 closestFertility = cumulativeFertility
             }
@@ -1137,7 +1144,7 @@ class MapRegions (val ruleset: Ruleset){
                 targetLuxuries++
             }
 
-            val luxuryToPlace = ruleset.tileResources[region.luxury]!!
+            val luxuryToPlace = ruleset.tileResources[region.luxury] ?: continue
             // First check 2 inner rings
             val firstPass = tileMap[region.startPosition!!].getTilesInDistanceRange(1..2)
                     .shuffled().sortedBy { it.getTileFertility(false) } // Check bad tiles first
@@ -1184,7 +1191,7 @@ class MapRegions (val ruleset: Ruleset){
         }
         regionTargetNumber = max(1, regionTargetNumber)
         for (region in regions) {
-            val resource = ruleset.tileResources[region.luxury]!!
+            val resource = ruleset.tileResources[region.luxury] ?: continue
             if (isWaterOnlyResource(resource))
                 tryAddingResourceToTiles(resource, regionTargetNumber,
                         tileMap.getTilesInRectangle(region.rect).filter { it.isWater && it.neighbors.any { neighbor -> neighbor.getContinent() == region.continentID } }.shuffled(),
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/mapgenerator/RiverGenerator.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/mapgenerator/RiverGenerator.kt
index 79f22bff60..f9c9fabc1c 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/mapgenerator/RiverGenerator.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/mapgenerator/RiverGenerator.kt
@@ -16,17 +16,21 @@ class RiverGenerator(
     }
 
     fun spawnRivers() {
+        if (tileMap.values.none { it.isWater }) return
         val numberOfRivers = tileMap.values.count { it.isLand } / MAP_TILES_PER_RIVER
 
         var optionalTiles = tileMap.values.asSequence()
-                .filter { it.baseTerrain == Constants.mountain && it.isFarEnoughFromWater() }.toMutableList()
+            .filter { it.baseTerrain == Constants.mountain && it.isFarEnoughFromWater() }
+            .toMutableList()
         if (optionalTiles.size < numberOfRivers)
             optionalTiles.addAll(tileMap.values.filter { it.isHill() && it.isFarEnoughFromWater() })
         if (optionalTiles.size < numberOfRivers)
-            optionalTiles = tileMap.values.filter { it.isLand && it.isFarEnoughFromWater() }.toMutableList()
+            optionalTiles =
+                tileMap.values.filter { it.isLand && it.isFarEnoughFromWater() }.toMutableList()
 
         val mapRadius = tileMap.mapParameters.mapSize.radius
-        val riverStarts = randomness.chooseSpreadOutLocations(numberOfRivers, optionalTiles, mapRadius)
+        val riverStarts =
+            randomness.chooseSpreadOutLocations(numberOfRivers, optionalTiles, mapRadius)
         for (tile in riverStarts) spawnRiver(tile)
 
         for (tile in tileMap.values) {