Granger wrote:
Given the distribution of resources you described the first faction that successfully settles the north will (given that they can detect new settlements there quickly enough) win easily as reaching the north = access to quality metal and animals = access to advanced armor and weapons = huge combat advantage against people not yet having built the northern industry. Should they return to the south => slaughter everything that moves as they have the gear and the ones in the south dosn't. So it basically would make the world harder for more casual groups (and remove access to a fair part of the game from hermits) while the hoops to jump through for factions would just be mere annoyances.
With the right balance, I don't really think factions in the north would have an inherent advantage over the south (in this particular scenario described by OP). I see a few possible situations here:
1 - North city tries to attack southern settlement in the early game, assuming no/little trade is present due to it being too early for merchant factions to arise -> North is at a disadvantage, as it hasn't been long enough for the quality difference on each side to matter much, but southern faction can more easily gain FEP's (due to increased crop/animal growth rate) and LP (better curios). On the other hand, Southern faction has little reason to raid the north, as the metal quality available there hasn't grown enough for it to be worth it.
2 - North city tries to attack southern settlement in the mid/late game, assuming no trade is present (for some reason) -> With the right balancing, there is no inherent advantage. While North has better quality armor and weapons (as you mentioned), South has over time gained a huge advantage in FEP/LP gains.
3 - North city tries to attack southern settlement in the mid/late game, with trade being present and easily available -> North has access to decent food/curios, by selling metal/armor/weapons/whatever they have. South has access to metal/armor/weapons by selling decent food/curios. Neither side has any inherent advantage.
Sorry if this is poorly written.
Of course, if such a thing were to be implemented, the first iteration would be horribly balanced, but over time I believe it would even out.
