Buying a house and living as a townie would've been amazing...if the game was fleshed out to actually do that. Things like taking part in city life, daily home life, working and professions, building a family and dealing with local petty politics and so on...sounds awesome. But M&B doesn't touch those topics beyond dealing with guilds, a few characters and the new street thugs system. M&B is about macro-level play.
Might wanna try out Guild 2: Renaissance for that, until another game manages to do it right.
That said, India and China were gigantic imperial civilzations in this era, so they would be really interesting as influence for two off-map civilizations who provide goods and premium mercenary soldiers to anyone who is willing to pay lots of money. They could have a trade post at the far eastern edge of the map - in Aserai and Khuzait starting territory respectively.
India-based civilization would provide war elephants and spices for trade, China-based civilization would provide early hand cannoneers and silk for trade. Both could also give out loans of gold and money to lords, and sell special Indian/Chinese arms and armour for any rich powerful player.
Maybe even make an appearance as full civs in some later M&B game. But for now, they are better off as off-map influences.
