It would be cool if we could set our elemental affinity, instead of having it be determined by culture. IE snow barbarians that use frost magic instead of blight magic. High culture that uses lightning magic for awakening instead of spirit magic.
Basically have it affect whatever mechanics normally add an elemental component to your cultural units, as well as your cultural spellcasters, and the element of the 'orb' weapon you can choose when making your ruler.