This should probably be in the unique cities post, but for achievements ala demigod... I would much rather if achievements earned in game could allow you to play with a 'gimped' character against even harder enemies. If you've earned many victories the game can't be too hard and require you getting a large bonus, although you should be able to capture the bonuses or half the benefit should be to you. Picture this:
Normal mode unlocked through playing tutorial
Hard unlocked from a victory in normal
etc.
Wipe out all enemies without a single loss
Underdog toggle 1: AI start with a random artifact power 1000
End the game with the lowest level sov
Underdog toggle 2: AI start with a barracks in their first city and 2 additional scouts
End the game with the smallest army
Underdog toggle 3: AI sov start with 1 extra level and 2 minor equips
End the game with the largest army and highest level sov
Underdog toggle 4: You started cursed by a witch, everything is hard to do for you and your empire. +50% troop training time, -25% production, -15% research, sov. stats significantly reduced. Find the witch to remove the curse. Let her live and the curse is removed and maybe she will be generous, kill her and perhaps you could gain something of hers (powerful spell, spell of cursing, artifact)
Win a game using only fire spells
Fire Toggle: Fire spells have gone wild, requirements for casting reduced, cost reduced. Enemy starts with a fire shard.
Etc for each element.
Create 1,000 undead in your journey.
Rival Necromancer: Another lusts for power and starts with a necromancy artifact set and a strong desire to bring undeath to the world. They also see you as a thorn in their side, escallating negative relations with every undead unit you create or destroy. (reduced to neutral not positive with increased living unit kills and sacrifices)
Create 1,000 beings of light (angels etc.)
Pure goodness: A being of pure angelic light and love has risen, with respect for life and the land. Also with an army of angels and a suit of holy armour. You start with "stained soul" and gain negative relations for every living unit killed and every resource you plunder. Expect raids of angels to destroy your mines if you continue. Holy wrath if you fight back.
10 Victories
All characters recieve additional points at civ creation. (2 for you, 4 for AI)
5 losses
You recieve 2 extra points at civ creation
Deal 100,000 points damage with your troops
AI start with armour techs
Deal 10x the enemy damage by game end.
Your race gains "without weapons" and becomes a race of monks, able to fight with fists, extra dodge and defence but no ranged attacks and unable to equip bladed or metal weapons. Gain several defensive spells and a temple. You'll need them if you are to succeed on your holy/unholy quest.
Live through 100,000 points of damage
AI gain an alchemists and begin with magic swords and a few techs, try to withstand that offensive.
Withstand 9/10 of all damage done in a single game.
Start with "barbarian" you are unable to equip armour, but gain a bonus to offense of 2 and speed of 1. Start at negative relations with all races.
Combine "barbarian" and "without weapons" to gain "warrior monks" Increased health, damage and speed. But start at war with all, unable to equip weapons and armour. All races gain guardians at capitals and are "on alert" +50% troop production and a random weapon tech. Tech fast for healing master warrior monks or go for troop buffs, you'll need them.
You could go on for hours, but I'm just picturing a game where you've won 50 times and now you play as a heavily weakened sov against hordes of enhanced enemies. But you can now become significantly stronger in the early game or endgame, capture the enemy buildings and artifacts and you can crush the remaining enemies. Play with a rival and it's almost like playing with a 'boss' race in play. I'd like token items too, something for visuals and just to say I'm playing against or have beaten the necromancer. Say a black cape if you've beaten the necromancer, glowing wings if you've beaten the angelic hordes... etc.
