Wow, you guys got a lot of stuff done while I was hibernating, huh? I suppose you didn't see the rough draft for Kurdistan that I put into the OP in place of Scotland, but it was incomplete, anyway. We can merge the two ideas and make them work. But first, let me address the icon. I love it, COF! I also quite like the color scheme, but a few things I'd like to say: 1, I might want to include both the more unique Eagle that you've made that icon around as well as the more recognizable Kurdish Sun, ala JFD's Armenia having 2 icons included. 2, I won't be able to test it out in-game for quite a while, but if you're concerned about contrast, perhaps making the icon a bright shade of yellow as opposed to a dark shade of green would help. Either way, it's an awesome icon you did!
Now, onto the actual balance: I do love that design, but I wholly intend to include the Peshmerga as a unique unit, so something's gotta give. Either we get rid of the Carduchoi, and lose both our early-game military relevance and our synchronicity with the UA's hill bonus, or we get rid of the Citadel and lose our enhanced bonus to Mountains. I cast my vote against the Carduchoi, because we could easily give some of its bonuses to the Peshmerga instead. Also, that city list is awesome! Though I'm on the fence as to whether we should call the capital by its correct Kurdish name, Hewlêr, or by its much more recognizable English name of Erbil. (I share your sentiments about Batman, rest assured.) And that DOM is great, but it's a bit short. It's a wonderful start, however! Very good work, Scapegrace!
Now, onto the subject of music. I found some playlists of
Classical Kurdish Music, but I haven't had the time to sit down and listen to all the songs, though the first track in that video (0:00-3:56 - "
Sar Aghaz") sounds quite lovely, and might work as a peace theme if none of the others work out better. But, to put everything together into a solid working design:
Kurdistan - Mustafa Barzani
Unique Ability: No Friends But The Mountains
Defensive Terrain Bonuses on Hill Tiles are doubled. Gain +1
Culture in the
Capital for every three Mountain tiles within your borders.
Unique Unit: Peshmerga
Replaces Infantry. Moves at double speed through Hills, can cross Mountains with no attrition damage, and provides a small boost of
Tourism with all civs upon Liberating a city.
Unique Building: Hewlêr Citadel (Could use a better name on second thought, given that the Citadel is already an existing improvement. Hewlêr
Tell?)
Replaces Walls. +5
City Strength, +50 Health. Allows Mountains in this city to be worked for +1
Production and +1
Food; bonuses doubled if the City is founded on a Hill. +1
Strength per Mountain in working range.
Responses? Critiques? Suggestions? All are welcome, as there's still plenty of time before I even get started on this, let alone finish the civ.