Add one or two new AI personalities to each civ representing different sub-factions or time frames (such as Charles V for Germans, Cesare Borgia for Italians, Yongle Emperor for Chinese, Shivaji for Indians) , with different themed decks and unit preferences.
Not kidding.
Edit: and some strange AI preferences like Napoleon’s obsession with natives could be changed or re-purposed.
Lol, implying the devs are ever going to touch the AI again
Multiple AI personalities would be generally a cool idea.
You could choose between having the enemy/ally boom, rush or turtle for example.
Many people play AoE mostly in Skirmish/Coop vs. AI, this would make the game a lot better for those people.
This isn’t really a civ split solution. Just slapping a Shivaji on India doesn’t make them any less of British Raj abomination. Even some of the stupider requests like a Ming/Qing split wouldn’t be solved by this alone. Giving China a Ming ruler doesn’t alter the fact that none of their units are Ming.
It’s also been discussed more in depth here:
For Indians I think they could reskin the British Raj units as well.
For Chinese I’d say many units (besides the very anachronistic flamethrowers) are more Ming than Qing. The armor designs of Ming and Qing are very similar. Flying crow was almost only a Ming dynasty thing. And the units do not have the queue hairstyle.
This will be so much stonks 
in India, specifically in the state of Maharashtra. (As an average Maharashtian house has, at least, 1 Potrait of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in their house)
Might attract at least a 1000+ players EZ PZ maybe more.
OR
At least penetrate into a LARGE pool of untapped players.
IMO THIS MUST BE EXPLORED and implemented in a way to attract these potential customers.
Somehow you managed to make the most middle manager post in the entire forum, that’s a huge accomplishment in and on itself.
I’m glad to join your campaign of making this forum the most neutral and unbiased just like you 
