diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/WidgetUtils.cs b/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/WidgetUtils.cs
index 1cfbefb13f..63f49a0955 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/WidgetUtils.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/WidgetUtils.cs
@@ -229,7 +229,31 @@ namespace OpenRA.Widgets
 		{
 			var availableMaps = Game.modData.AvailableMaps;
 			if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(map) || !availableMaps.ContainsKey(map))
-				return availableMaps.First(m => m.Value.Selectable).Key;
+			{
+				Func<Map, bool> isIdealMap = m =>
+				{
+					if (!m.Selectable)
+						return false;
+
+					// Other map types may have confusing settings or gameplay
+					if (m.Type != "Conquest")
+						return false;
+
+					// Maps with bots disabled confuse new players
+					if (m.Players.Any(s => !s.Value.AllowBots))
+						return false;
+
+					// Large maps expose unfortunate performance problems
+					if (m.MapSize.X > 128 || m.MapSize.Y > 128)
+						return false;
+
+					return true;
+				};
+
+				var selected = availableMaps.Values.Where(m => isIdealMap(m)).RandomOrDefault(Game.CosmeticRandom) ??
+				               availableMaps.Values.First(m => m.Selectable);
+				return selected.Uid;
+			}
 
 			return map;
 		}
diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.Cnc/Widgets/Logic/CncMenuLogic.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.Cnc/Widgets/Logic/CncMenuLogic.cs
index c87ec96f06..a8e5bf046c 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Mods.Cnc/Widgets/Logic/CncMenuLogic.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.Cnc/Widgets/Logic/CncMenuLogic.cs
@@ -139,6 +139,8 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Cnc.Widgets.Logic
 		void StartSkirmishGame()
 		{
 			var map = WidgetUtils.ChooseInitialMap(Game.Settings.Server.Map);
+			Game.Settings.Server.Map = map;
+			Game.Settings.Save();
 
 			ConnectionLogic.Connect(IPAddress.Loopback.ToString(),
 				Game.CreateLocalServer(map),