Is there any interest in trying out a later-era start? I have enough on my plate with two active games, but I'll volunteer to make the map for it if there's interest.
For reference, here's the in-game changes to the various starts (in addition to having all previous tech)
Classical: 1 settler, 1 scout, 1 worker, 1 archer; Cities have no free buildings
Medieval: 2 settler, 1 explorer, 1 worker, 2 archer; Cities have free granary & lighthouse
Renaissance: 2 settler, 1 explorer, 1 worker, 2 longbow; Cites start at 2 and have free granary, lighthouse, aqueduct & forge
Industrial: 3 settler, 2 explorer, 2 worker, 3 rifles; Cites start at 3 and have free granary, lighthouse, aqueduct, forge, harbor & market
Modern: 3 settler, 2 explorer, 2 worker, 3 marines; Cites start at 4 and have free granary, lighthouse, aqueduct, forge, harbor, market, library, courthouse & jail
Future: 3 settler, 2 explorer, 3 worker, 3 mech inf; Cites start at 5 and have free granary, lighthouse, aqueduct, forge, harbor, market, library, courthouse, jail & factory; world map revealed due to Satellites
For reference, here's the in-game changes to the various starts (in addition to having all previous tech)
Classical: 1 settler, 1 scout, 1 worker, 1 archer; Cities have no free buildings
Medieval: 2 settler, 1 explorer, 1 worker, 2 archer; Cities have free granary & lighthouse
Renaissance: 2 settler, 1 explorer, 1 worker, 2 longbow; Cites start at 2 and have free granary, lighthouse, aqueduct & forge
Industrial: 3 settler, 2 explorer, 2 worker, 3 rifles; Cites start at 3 and have free granary, lighthouse, aqueduct, forge, harbor & market
Modern: 3 settler, 2 explorer, 2 worker, 3 marines; Cites start at 4 and have free granary, lighthouse, aqueduct, forge, harbor, market, library, courthouse & jail
Future: 3 settler, 2 explorer, 3 worker, 3 mech inf; Cites start at 5 and have free granary, lighthouse, aqueduct, forge, harbor, market, library, courthouse, jail & factory; world map revealed due to Satellites

In this game that's going to help us because he's going to go to the negotiating table with twitchy eyes and slightly too wide a grin and terrify the neighbors into favorable border agreements, one-sided tech deals and staggered NAPs."