NikNaks, I think pretty much everyone will have issues with this. So why don't you explain openly the reasons for you to choose a complete map redesign over cutting 3-5 civs?
The way it is handled now will seriously damage the advance of the map:
1) Throwing away work already done in favor of new work to be done.
2) The way it is handled ("whatever the votes say...") won't help much to keep the team together let alone attract new modders. If this now is the way desicions are made and made decisions are knocked over then I'm not up to resume my work with this mod.
Seconded. Explanation please, because all i'm hearing at the moment is 'balance', despite the fact that:
1) We spent ages on the current map and haven't decided which civs to take off it.
2) We haven't allcoated units, promotions etc yet.
3) Haven't allocated relations, treaties etc
4) Haven't allocated corporations either...
I could go on, but in my experience of GEM, promotions and corporations play a massive role in 'balance', as do all the above and more.
If you know something that we don't then please do tell, but at the moment it's not coming across very well to say the least.
EDIT: Here's my quick plan to cut civs. I don't think this 'unbalances beyond belief':
1) Belarus ----> Russia
2) Sudan -----> Failed States
3) Angola (DR Congo)-----> Minor States OR Mongolia -----> Minor States
This isn't difficult, solves our problem and avoids 'throwing the baby out with the bathwater', which is otherwise EXACTLY what is happening. There is no way anyone can seriously argue that the addition of 2 cities in Belarus to Russia is going to unbalance the game or that Sudan or Angola are going to make much difference in failed and minor states either to the game or makeup of Africa. (The aim in Africa was to break it up, and we're still left with 11 civs there so it's still fractured)
Problem solved, merge GEM with revolutions civ dll (50 civ), which has already been done and shown to work twice by GEM modders...
EDIT: @Ianinsane, either is fine. I'm sure we can find either 3 or 5 civs to get rid of without any trouble. One more and we'd have a 48 civ dll solution