GOTM 8 will most likely be an emperor game.
I thought I have read that GOTM 8 is Warlord, but I have not yet started playing it.
We try to have few games on Deity so everyone can participate in the GOTM...
Though some of us generally prefer Deity (simply to make the game a better contest for the AI), I personally feel it is in the best interest of the GOTM to maximize participation and communication by playing at the mid-levels. The more that play, the better.
And the funniest thing is that no matter what level, map, map size, starting postion, etc. is chosen, there will be some pro and some con posts about it!!
After a few hard games we might even have a Chieftain level game!
About playing on Chieftain, you can't do that because I have heard that it is not possible to disband cities on that level. And I usually disband a lot of cities that are poorly placed by the AI, LOL!!
GOTM is a great way to force people to play levels that they have never played on.
OK, I must admit, I'd never have even remotely considered playing at King, much less Warlord, had it not been for the GOTM.