There are alot of problems and complaints about not having a fair set of resources. I suggest those people play around with the map editor. This is really the best part of the game. You can set up exactly what resources you want at each starting location. Then you can randomoze the starts or pick a specific place for any faction (including the ones you made yourself). You can control the number and distance of monsters from start by strategically setting the forest and swamp tiles at a distance of your choosing. You can decide how much questing and looting you want and can even set the level or specific quest if you choose to make your own. I have yet to face a single problem that is mentioned on the forums about economy and such as I am still using a map I made in the Beta.

Those of you quick to point out that you shouldn't have to make the game you paid to have made for you, there are already dozens of maps available for download on this very site. "Prirod" is the best.