After some testing I have to say that some new improvements are great, but something is worse than previous version. For example, in TR Gold, almost all Civs agreed to open borders now almost all refuse it. This means we lose the utility of such agreement. Second, as already said, Bronze Working comes too late as Monarchy (in real world Monarchy is the most ancient form of government). If you want to be a warmonger, AI cant resist your army but your finances collapses very early. With 10-12 cities, with research set to 0 you lose 30-40 gp/turn! And this looks unrealistic in my opinion. At the same time, cottages are moved later with Architecture and this doesnt allow to get gold until late in the game, and frankly speaking, if a player cant manage some wars the game is simply boring, just clicking the end turn. Last, I dont like pandemia system, you lose every turn some population points without anything to do, even when you've built all health facilities in your towns. Latest, religion spreads very slowly, sometime it tooks forever to have a new city with state religion, even when all are connected.
I thank you a lot for your work and efforts, but I prefer TR gold, more funny to play, managing your resources you can expand and conquer the world already in ancient times, here almost not.
Opened borders are intentional. Think when was the 1st time Spanish people visited Chaina ? In BC after dicovering writing, or once tribes/kingdoms on their way have agreed not to attack their explorers ?
Architecture comes quete early in game. Its the player (you) that chooses to get it late, and you have to pay for it. My tech route is usually fishing, Toolmaking, woodworking, metal lore, stonecutting, sailing, agriculture and than going for architecture, and i never find my self low on gold both on World Map and custom maps. As for having 10-12 cities in early games you complaina bout having no cash. Persian empire and Roman were only onces that could get this big and maintain its glory for a time. Other "epire" usually collapsed before they grew. Yours is one of them.
Wargromer and AI. We allways had problems with AI. They were too weak, too stupid, than making too big stacks of units (83 on one square to attack and 44 in capitol garrison), where 3 or 4 units of that stack attacked, rest "prtected" attackers... Also large number of units made game unplatyable (long waiting time betwean turns, early MAFs). This is best we figured out.
And a thing to you. Wargromer =/= conqueror. Wargromer rather pillages and razes things and get $ for that, rather than spreads its borders.
Clicking end turn - that is big question what to do. I was asking Team to lower cost of early buildings and make their bonuses lower, but its still end turn till you finish them. On worldmap with very crowded europe there is no space to expore so you cant do it. what to do with it ? Leave it as it is, as we havent thought of anything better, nor anyone enlighted us.
Slow religion spread is intentional. Look at dates.
Zoroastrianism was founded... who knows. Cyrus has made the Persian empire arround 600 or 500 bc (cant remember the centuary doh) and its "state religion" was Zoroastrian (free religion actually). And Zoroastrianism did not existed outside Persia, sure some merchants or other faithfull left Persia looking for "better" life and were spreading it along way, but it wasnt successfull. Thats why Zoro has slow spread rate, low missionary number and high cost of them.
Judaism for 2. It was spread in Palistina, Lebanon, Assyria, Antioch and some other mid-east regions. Egypt didnt want to accept it, but it was existant there, but not by spread or missionaries, but by slaves that were Jewls.
Hinduism also hasnt left India much, or atleast in foreign lands it werent influencive enough to be considered as state religion. (in TR it spread is slow, but barable)
Buddism is 1st religion that has spread fast. Why ? Maybe becouse it was easy to accept. It had no god, so there is not "pray or die infidel". But the fact is that it has spread in India, China, Korea, Japan and even to mid-east, but that land allready belonged to Zoroastrianism and Judaism.
Christianity spreads more by Missionaries, than by it self (Jesus Christ, if not him, Christianity not only would not exist, but would not leave Jerusolem, Poland adopted Christiany thanks to Czech missionaries)
And for the end, werent you annoyed that in 1000bc half of the World was Hindu ? and once in 100bc Christianity was founded, Europe, Asia and half of Africa (other half of Africa was barbarian) was hindu ?
