onedreamer
Dragon
Now, are we talking about the sun mana that gives 7 hammers? Because it takes a l0ng time to see iron. I do not see how 7 hammers starting on turn 1 is the same thing as 7 hammers starting on turn 60-90. I would geusstimate the difference to be about 4 hammers per turn x 60 turns = 240hammers = 1 wonder or 3 defended cities or a nice platoon better. At turn 60, I would say that the iron is worth nothing when my sun mirror army comes knocking on your door.
Perhaps you had not catched the fact that I was speaking of the STRATEGIC bonus of having Iron, not of the yeld bonus. +7 production hammers in your whole civ is not such an incredible advantage as you picture, like I said no bigger than if you had iron and I had neither iron nor copper. If you don't see that it's the same thing it doesn't mean that it's not, maybe you just don't see it or don't want to see it because you assume too much stuff...
Luck should not be a factor in pvp. I like to play strategy games. If I wanted games of luck, I would buy a lottery ticket; however, my understanding of odds and probability impairs my ability to enjoy slot machines.
It's not necessarily PvP since the AI can be involved in multiplayer, anyways the game (not even the mod) is based on luck, like any other game I can think of, if you don't like it then just don't play games.