I carefully read your post, Wicc (No. 78), and concluded that you believe the most important thing is to balance the game, minimizing randomness.
I don't quite agree; I think the most important thing for a sport is its entertainment value, its intensity, and the fullness of the emotions it evokes.
In chess, there was a period when two antagonistic players, with different playing styles and different approaches to preparation and defining the main goal, repeatedly faced each other. Every time before their match, the chess world was in turmoil. Fans, specialized magazines, and textbooks multiplied like yeast. Sponsors lined up and offered $10 million in prize money, and both chess players (I won't name them :)) had the audacity to refuse: "Why so much? $4-5 million is quite enough." Then both players "got tired" of each other, and scandals and squabbles began. At the same time, they actively prevented new blood from reaching the top. As a result, the chess pyramid collapsed.
Competition is like a theatrical performance, and this is well understood in some sports. Let's work towards making it more entertaining, so that the community grows and strengthens, and players can't be dragged away from the game. For example, I find it tedious to play for 2-3 weeks without interacting with an opponent, but it's even more tedious to read posts about which version is better.
I want to see topics like: "The best strategy on the Divided Loyalties map" or "Starting hero for Stronghold. Who do you prefer?"