Favourite setup for realms? (traits especially!)

So, I'm still fairly new, & I've been figuring out my favourite way to play.

From looking at previous threads, the basics I've landed on are:

• Size: Medium
  • (Might see how a PS5 handles large w/ extra players sometime :p )
• Factions: 6
• AI difficulty: Hard
• World treat: Normal

This feels like it gives a fairly tight game that stays interesting from early to late game, while not lasting too long (& allowing me to autobattle the trivial fights :p )

However, I've not really tinkered with traits; things like climate, inhabitants, modifiers, etc. They seem a bit more wild around what they change.

So, my questions:

1. Are there any modifiers you really enjoy, either on their own or as combinations?
2. Is there a fun way to set up broad randomness for this that'll produce variety, but not skew things too much?

Thanks!