Txurce
Deity
Scientists, engineers, and artists were each nerfed by 50%, equivalent to raising Merchants from 3 to 6.
This is usually because the AI does not escort their settlers with military units. I provide AIs with a 60% bonus vs barbarians to try and help them settle cities, but it has unpredictable success.
Yes, it's unfortunate, but early on if I find a camp or two with settlers in them, I know the game has been radically redirected. I choose to look at it as "history," but of course it makes the game less competitive.