Each game already has a random element in it. Yeah
sure your extra +10 mage skill on an agent might not
be useful, but its there. Maybe have more than one
character get a bonus ? Even getting a extra pop
centre as a initial random ability (instead of a
character skill) might be worth it - especially if the
random pop centre isn't a camp, and its not on anyone
map
    Tell me about the random element. Fourth Age nation designed
specifically to be a naval Dwarven Combat nation with no mages and I get the
wonderful bonus of +10 Mage... It hasn't been improved at all yet and I
doubt I will ever need to either.
    Thomas Crane