Whatever civilizations participate in the expansion, I would already be happy, as long as they include three North American civilizations (today having no representatives), one Mesoamerican, and at least one more Andean (South America).
But of course we have some preferences: I myself would very much like the Mississippians, Iroquois, Pueblos (Anasazi) or Tarascans (which I found interesting thanks to @JonOli12 ) and Mapuches to participate.
Being my preferences for Expansions:
New World (americas);
Africa (unnamed for now);
Indian Peoples (dividing Indian peoples into various civilizations).
Even then that would be too few civs, specially for a tournament.
Tupi would be very hard to justify too, since they never had any big cities, and although widespread, did not have a large recorded history, or a lot to decipher from them.
I agree with Zimbabweans. I think they would be fit better than Nubians in @JonOli12’s DLC, but both civs should be added imo. I think Nubians wouldn’t be the same as Ethiopians. Nubians would have good Cavalry
I would like to see expansions that include only the people of each region. For example the African Kingdoms Expansion. There were only three African civilizations (the Portuguese occupied the space of one) and The Conquerors only two civilizations, Mayans and Aztecs (Spaniards took the place of an American civilization). Not that the Spanish and Portuguese did not have their participation in history and that I would not include them. For Age, in due expansion they were necessary. But for the next ones (the ones that I would like to see) I would like to see specific expansions and civilizations for each region. Unless they actually did an expansion that included 3 African peoples and 3 Indian peoples in one expansion. Oh yes I would be happy.
You could do 4 from North America alone, and have them be very distinct. With India, it is not so simple.
I can very well imagine an Elephant + Infantry civ (Tamils), or an Elephant + Monk civ (Sinhalese), perhaps even an Elephant + Archer civ (Odiyas, with Masked Archer UU), but not much more before they become a copy of an existing civ.
If I was to add only 3 more American civs, then I would forget the Mapuche, and add only 3 North Am civs, since we already have 3 Eagle civs anyway.
One or the other, is the best approach. I was already thinking of making the Kongolese the “brute force” Infantry + Monk + Siege civ for Africa, but I do not know how to make Zimbabwans differ from that concept.
I actually envision them as more of a Camel + Arbalest civ (concept above, i believe) that can make Camels and Raiders like Goths make Infantry.
A true post-Imp powerhouse that overwhelms with a lot of Camels and Arbs, but lacks Plate Barding Armour and Ring Archer Armour for balance.
I actually had a Swahili Tech Tree that made them a Market + Tower + Naval civ, with a Fire Galley replacement trained from the Feudal Age, called Mtepe, that upgrade 3 times (Castle Age and Imperial Age versions).
Here it is:
Swahili
Civ Bonii:
-Coinage and Banking technologies improve Market trading rate
-Towers cost -50% Stone
-Guilds free
Team Bonus:
-Trade Carts and Trade Cogs have +2 Pierce armour.
Unique Units:
-Mtepe: Fast Feudal ship with low attack and range, but high attack speed.
-Arquebusier: cheap gunpowder footman with damage bonus vs Infantry.
Unique Techs:
-Mfanyabiashara Kijeshi: Trade Cogs get an attack.
-Bastion of Zanzibar: Stone trickle.
Tech Tree:
-Barracks: full roster
-Archery Range: no Cavalry Archer, no Parthian Tactics
-Stables: no Light Cavalry, no Cavalier, no Husbandry
-Siege Workshop: no Onager
-Docks: no Fire Galley (Mtepe does the same job better, and upgrades both in Castle and Imp Ages seprately from Galley line)
-Monastery: full roster
-Blacksmith: all upgrades
-University: no Masonry, no Architecture
you can always come up with new ideas. the konnik (unit that dies twice), keshiks (units that generate gold), kipchaks (multiple arrow bow) are all very unique concepts. all of those concepts could have even fit the indians if you ask me. you can always come up with new ideas.
urumi (whip sword), mysore rocket, masked archer, bamboo fighter(silambam), bombard elephants, flail elephant, gauntlet sword and tons of other ideas can be there. we just need to be thoughtful.