Sir Eric, you can also play regent. No problem here
I'd suggest:
continents (we both start on different ones, so I can't rush you)
standard or small map...depends on what you want.
You could be a great civ, like Persia, Ottomans, Egypt, Japan, China.
I could be Korea, England (not too great as civs)
We could ask the mapmakers to either have a balanced start or have me on a mediocre spot and you on a good one...