Sounds like a fairly epic game. Yea, I gave Arabia easy access to horse, but they will need to settle the southern part of the Arabian penninsula to get their Iron... might make an adjustment for them.
I think that's the problem, their second city was in Mesopotamia, so they obviously never settled the bottom portion of the Arabian Peninsula for the Iron. Or, again, I was just lucky that they decided to skip Iron Working like I did.
India has been problematic in play testing. They never seem to build a second city despite having one of the best starting locations, by the time they do persia and siam already have cities in the indian subcontinent
Well, there is an open portion in India that could be settled. I seriously think they lost a war to them, and Persia told them to stop settling near them, which Gandhi agreed to follow.
I'll consider making the city states harder to make friends with, I thought it was too easy in the standard game also. I know everybody wants Greece, and I might add them, but it will be some work considering how small that area is. If I don't add them I'll at least add Athens as per your suggestions.
Add a 4 horse and a 6 iron in Macedon, and problem solved. You really don't even need the iron as Greece, the Hoplite/Companion is the best ancient army in the entire world, the Hoplite can hold its ground against every unit in its era bar Legions (Which is why Rome conquered Greece, BTW), and the Companion is a great rusher. I wouldn't be surprised if Europe or the Middle East becomes Hellenized.
Also what would you think if I moved Madrid 1 hex east and added a Lisboa city state? I'll probably be adding more city states to both Africa and the new world in the future as well.
I think that would make Spain a powerhouse. Beeline Archery, attack Lisbon from a range, and you get a second city before you can build a freaking road to connect them. I like the moving of Madrid so they can build a second city, but adding an easy picking of a target is too much.
Whom would lead them, BTW? UU, UA, and (possibly) UB, please? I'd imagine, for the legacy of the civ, the Conquistador will be back, which would replace a Lancer (With a bonus against units of the previous eras? Increased GG spawn?).
sounds like a pretty fun game. I always play on epic speed, i haven't made it that far yet cause it takes so long, but am looking forward to it.
Edit: also did you observe how Germany did? Were they dead or weak?
Well, this was on Standard, not Epic. I simply don't have the time for an epic game. We already have cIV epic-level research times on standard as is, I'd hate to see CiV's Marathon times.
As said before, Germany lost Berlin, but according to the diploscreen, they still exist, or
le bleu blob would be destroyed, and them liberated so I could have an extra vote in the UN.
EDIT: If you're going to add Athens as a city state, please make them Cultured. We already have enough Militaristic City States as is, especailly in the area (Madrid, Carthage, and I think Sidon, not sure on the later). I want some varirty, and besides, saying the Greeks aren't cultured is like saying Cheese isn't dairy.