The Aztecs have shown that cultures with stone tool technology can fit seamlessly into AoM’s mechanic, so I’ve been thinking about what other stone tool-using civs could be added that could share the flint weapons-jade weapons-obsidian weapons line.
Polynesians: I can see these guys having some really interesting and unique mechanics. The primary basis would be the Māori because they have the most interesting environment and a well-developed warrior tradition complete with fortifications. Imagine a map with huntable moas and giant eagles as predators. Major gods would be Tangaroa, Rangi and Papa. Minor gods could include Māui, Ulupoka, Hina, Te Tunaroa and Pele.
Chumash: I admittedly don’t know much about this mythology other than that Shnilemun (sky coyote) is a major deity. What really draws me to this one is the environment. The Chumash are the people of La Brea where they have lived since prehistory. That means Chumash maps could include such animals as ground sloths, dire wolves, Columbian mammoths, mastodons, and sabre-toothed cats alongside modern bison, pumas and pronghorns. Imagine maps inhabited by these animals with tar pits that your enemies can get stuck in. Turkeys could be reused as herdables.
Australians: the Aborigines traditionally make use of some pretty grisly weapons like death spears, bladed boomerangs and wooden swords that can split a man’s head open. They also have a lot of great potential myth units like the bunyip, rainbow serpent, yarri (Queensland tiger), gunni (a horned wombat), yowie (Australian bigfoot), burronjor (dinosaur cryptid), and beowa (a friendly orca). If you really want to get whimsical, you could even throw in the drop bear (a modern hoax described as a killer koala). What’s more is aboriginal culture is even older than the Chumash, so their maps could also be populated by prehistoric animals like diprotodon, thylacoleo, megalania, wonambi and thylacine in addition to familiar modern animals like emus, kangaroos and cassowaries. I can see emus being a herdable.
Inuit: a fascinating culture with historical beef with the Norse. The game already has a good roster of polar animals that can be seen on the Norse maps, so half the work is already done. All that’s left is huntable muskoxen which could replace the aurochsen on the tundra map. Myth units could include akhlut (amphibious wolf-orca hybrid), amarok (sort of like the Fenris wolf), inukpak (every civ needs a giant), adlet (sort of a polar anubite), tizheruk (sea monster), and qiqern (a dog spirit that gives people seizures).
Salish: I’m particularly biased toward this one because I live in the Pacific Northwest. The Coast Salish people have some really beautiful architecture with longhouses, totem poles and wooden fortresses. Myth units could include the thunderbird, otter man, dzunukwa, and of course, the sasquatch. PNW is already well-represented in the game, so their maps would be easy to make.