[@Malphaestus]
I'll answer these to the best of my ability.
- Your character can be a god or demigod, just needs at least 1 godly parent.
- I don't think spheres of control are claimed, I figure they can just overlap each other. 
- My villain character caused a genocide several thousand years ago and was buried because of it, so maybe that helps for the crucial role thing.
- Civilizations get 1000 citizens automatically when created, so if you want your character can wait for a while before creating theirs. 

That's all I can really say, hope it helps.