Here's the map, including the routes to get from city to city. The ones connected to only cities owned by the nation are the capitals. While a bit deceptive with the length, all battle lines between cities will be 4 and start at 2 per side on the contested. 7 can only be invaded from the territories of 5 and 6, but may launch fleets to 1, 8, and 4 as well. As I didn't want to overlap the routes, some may be a bit strange, and a couple nations wound up with a bit less than outbound than others. May have those start with a dis/advantage (2 and 3 will be at 1/4 on the 1-2 and 2-3 routes). 5's probably going to be another 'hard mode' location (not to the same degree as 8, though), so if you would rather not have such an area Taricus, you may want to change up.
For those who are wanting the name of the islands, it depends upon the culture. The English currently refer to them as the Impact Islands, while the Dutch refer to them as the Ster Botsing Islands, and the native Siamese call them the S̄ngkhrām (สงคราม) Isles. First two are due to the meteor impact, while the final is due to all the battles fought over the islands.
Also, may I suggest bumping the tech up to about 1820's level? Then carronades and (early) steam engines are about, as are percussion caps and Minne balls.
Considering how fast tech was going up in the Robert Islands's arms race game, I think you will do fine. However, if the nations wind up behind the schedule I listed, I may create a couple offers by Colonial Powers to sell off some obsolete equipment in exchange for a design action or some resources. They won't be pristine and they will have an [import] tag that adds an expense level, but you'll get some tech to make some better stuff.
Out of curiosity, are we just the design team of our side, or can we also focus where we fight, trade resources, designs and/or tech with other groups, and so on?
I'm likely going to bring back the focus phase of the Roberts Islands's arms race, as well as espionage (theft can only be of tech, not design), but trade between player nations likely won't exist. Negotiations would likely be a pain to deal with and would be likely to drag out the time between turns to the point that I don't think it is worth it.