I voted for "3 players maximum" in the poll above, and that assumes we are discussing the 22-player European map.
That said, 3 players is the appropriate maximum coalition size for the 22- and 25-player maps. Consistent with previous conversations, the maximum should vary with the number of players on any given map, such as:
* 10-player European map: 2-player coalition
* 22-player European map: 3-player coalition
* 25-player historical map: 3-player coalition
* 50-player Pacific map: 4-player coalition
* 50-player Americas map: 4-player coalition
* 100-player world map: 5-player coalition
Bottom line: larger coalitions are entirely appropriate for larger maps, and should be recognized as such. Furthermore, the maximum coalition sizes should only apply to the eligibility to share gold rewards, the ability to win a game by achieving the requisite number of victory points as a team, and the ability to retire a game when they are the only remaining players. Coalitions of any size ---- both formal and informal ---- should be permitted, but any coalition that exceeds the stated maximum size will not be eligible to share gold rewards, win a game as team, or automatically retire a game. If members of an over-size coalition are the only remaining players, then they will have the choice of (a) fighting it out among themselves, or (b) deciding who will volunteer to go inactive.
