Game-Start QoL Changes [Discussion]

I did a couple surveys recently and I saw at least one tendency: Many players want an easier start.

The one survey wasn't really a survey, just a google form to select between different civ bonuses to make your own "unique" civ, the other was for Random Map Scripting to see what maps/game modes semi-competitive players play and what they like or dislike about their favourite maps.

From both of these there were a wide variety of choices, but what often popped up were options like the Mayan extra vil start, Persian extra food start, Inca's Free Llama, Hun housing bonus, Chinese TC supporting 10 pop etc. (from the Civ mashup form, also unrelated but infantry-styled civ mashups were very popular too).

Most players in Ranked Random Map Mode play 1v1's but team-games are also equally popular if you factor in the practicalities of a 1v1 vs a 4v4. There's a clear desire for Strategic Variety, dislike for one-dimensional game/strategy choices (ie if your enemy towers, you're also going to be stuck in feudal building towers) and more balanced resource distribution, particularly primary Resources. Interestingly many answers were again about easier starts, like 1/4 sheep closer to the TC and/or already in your control at start, for example. A few interesting responses were to make initial resources safer and easier than they are now, but extra resources further away/more difficult to control, for example having Boars/Deer spawn within Arena Walls, but extra gold/stone and Relics spawning further away.

In my personal opinion making the primary resources safer to control and find will take a lot of the stress away for newer players, Further and more difficult to control Extra Resources on the other hand could openup more Strategic options as the game goes on and prevent civs with a starting bonus from snowballing too easily (ie they cant turtle up for too long). Balance changes would need to be made obviously (looking at you: Chinese).

Thoughts?

ps: you can look at the answers in my surveys Here (Civ Mashup) and Here (RMS Survey).