One thing I want to see more than anything else is the ability to set other game modes in setup besides the normal kill-em-all mode, as well as other options.
Game mode: Teams (presumably it will be a polytheistic religion they'll make)
Assassination (NO praying back your pretender... once you're dead you lose; no immortal pretenders such as VQ allowed; twiceborn should be ok)
Capture the Flag... or Holy Artifact (the source of a pretender's power must be carried in a character's misc slot at all times. if an enemy captures it and brings it back to their capital, you lose)
No Wishing Allowed
Diplomacy... an oft-requested option such as above.
Or at least a simple in-game mechanism for establishing NAPs, and an announcement to all if a player breaks it so they know who not to trust
Customizable Units (design your own guys with the equipment available to your empire with the corresponding resource costs)