To be clear, I just meant I would have no / remove all AI bonuses default on the pure PvP maps. I wasn't talking about the maps having also an AI component (either AI Challenges or hybrid PvP+AI, like "Age of Tribes : Primeval" or "Total Ancient War").
Of course, the maps meant to be played with AI should have bonuses, but, especially considering that you can never be sure what the developers will do with the engine, maybe it might be the wisest to, either:
1- Just do a balanced map in that case too, and just be sure to tell the gamers that they are supposed to give bonuses to all or some AI players.
2- Not relying on standard Income bonuses at all, but do it with triggers, giving units / income / etc., as that would be the safest, and would allow to, then, use the bonuses on top on it, from default values.
3- Relying on no bonuses at all, but just on a purposely unbalanced starting setup.
But the cases 2 and 3 are still challenging. Simple example: You make a very challenging / closely balanced "AI Challenge" map, then a developer improves the AI a lot, and that map becomes just unwinnable.
Ideally, if the AI would be about as good as the best players, perfectly supporting whatever features, the conceptual difference between what is a "PvP" and what is an "AI Challenge" map would just disappear, but, of course, noone is expecting that.
Just a bunch of general opinions.
