Player without countries in scenarios

I thought of the settler ("age of mythology") scenario
multiple player start with an small army and build up an state.
the first country they conquer will be their capital (if its not total-annihilation)
lets say for example eveyone starts in the bay of benegal or yellow sea on the asian map (they might be peace with evryone or stationed further away from each other so they wont kill each other in the first turn)
that was my first idea.

but with this option there is more possible. for example:
-just having small battles without countries. we could replay pearl harbour or the d-day!
-or another way to get into the game for latejoiner (starting with more men, but at specific points)

the other suggestion was the option "you will lose in turn x"
-an example on the pacific map: capture hawaii and hold it for x-turns could be played with a defender and limited the time i.e. capture hawaii and hold it for x-turns before turn 25. (in the sence of 4 vs 1)