1. Genoa and Venice remain weak. While I think there were steps made to strengthen them, the steps were clearly not enough. Perhaps they could get an additional home SC at each colony?
2. North Africa, in every game with press, and even in some without, remain consistently strong because they are much more likely and more effective than any other group of country at coordinating a cross-Med invasion of Europe, building almost only fleets, which can overwhelm even determined resistance. With time maybe people adjust their strategies for this, but given the growing perception of North African invincibility, at least at the start of the game, it could create all kinds of perverse incentives, especially for Southern Mediterranean nations, who have no option but to either put all of their effort into disrupting this alliance (which is unlikely to be broken before substantial gains are made), or by helping them, thereby increasing the initial potency of the North African Alliance. Of course, later than the likelihood of a civil war is very high, but the initial invasion wave means playing Portugal, Castille, Aragon, Naples, Genoa and Papal States become very difficult, especially since there are no other nation they can look to with the potential naval resources to assist them. I expect that in future "choose your country" options for this game, those 6 countries will be avoided. Perhaps oasis SC located unevenly could be added in the Sahara to increase competition and early focus on land?
3. France seems to die a high number of times for some reason.
4. Nations that mostly rely on fleets seem to have a general advantage against mostly land based nations. But there's no good alternative to sealanes.
Anyone else have any other thoughts?