Instead of just revamping the game to end up as Civ3 in 2.5 3d, why not be able to go down into the playing field and see in 3d whats going on. Sounds like alot of coding but it need not be fancy, just if you possess your settler you can look at the irrigated terrain in 3d rather then a bunch of lines of blue in the sand. Might be fun if doable. MHO only.