From what I gather (being a new player and all) only mountains and forests are used for resource generation right now. This makes other tiles ingame more or less useless. I have few ideas to remedy that:
- add 'farming' for peasants in clear tiles, it would bring gold at a double rate of unemployed citizens
- add 'fishing' for naval tiles, would give 1 gold in coastal areas (fishing boats could be built in workshop) [makes naval cities more interesting and powerful]
- add 'trading' on roads, would bring 2.5 (or 3 if 2.5 is not possible) gold or randomly 1 wood and 1 stone (20-30% each 'turn')

And then how about pillaging tiles? If enemy units enter tiles occupied by your pesants those peasants are killed (respawn slowly), at the same time tiles cant be worked in the tiles bordering the invaded one. Would make 'sieging' possible.

That sounds too much like Civilization.

Terra Bellica is all about strategy and war tactics. But that requres some decent quiet time building and buying troops.
However, an interesting idea, on what to do before the time comes.

I know its all about tactics, but as it is now some tiles are not worth settling near and I find it ridiculous that swamps are worth more than plains or roads.

If you settle near a road, you can move fast and make long distance attacks with your troops. If you settle near ocean cells, you can build navy. Send your ships to kill Krakens, thats same as "fishing boats". Instead of pillaging near-city cells you can pillage the cities by attacking them. That yields a lot more profit.

It would be great if we could invade those Cities with some special trained unit who costs an awefull lot of money or soo! From my opinion it would give a bit salt with pepper to the game, because by just destroying the fellow players town its no fun, and as for destroying you could make it like the old school style with cattapults and wall breakers Or atleast make it like "if you want to destroy the citadel you need catapults". Because I destroyed a fellow players town in an awefull short time - i wanted to let him live as a farm...

And for the "Dark king" you could make it like the dark Hordes are making their own random willages, who are not counted in the 5x5 city building range. So we - the players could destroy the dark willages and make the game a little bit more exciting for us - because as for me, now i need like 1 week to get to the closest player.

Anyways the best thing in here is the limited ammound of units by 1 hero - cookie for that

I like the idea of adding more Resources and Management to the serfs and city. Correct me if I'm wrong, didn't I read that I can choose to be a trader/politician instead of just war and tactic. Yeah I can wage war and I might will, but is that everything about the game? I am more into progressing my empire and defending it than just tactic + war mindlessly.

Adding options would just encourage more people of different taste to play (better for hostile players, more sheep to feed on!). I think adding more strategy resources/management would only benefit the game!

Making use of Plains is good, but making them add gold doesn't make sense. Maybe if we intorduce the "Food" factor which is required as an upkeep to your Serfs and/or units or Heroes only (instead of Karma). I know it might require a change to some foundations but I think variety will help those who like City Management too!

I like the idea of orc villages spawning. It would be cool if orcs could move. Maybe a single space a day.
Problems: If a player went on vacation, they might come back to discover that their towns and cities are all destroyed. But there is surely a way to solve that.