Equal opportunities mechanics?

Are you wanting just a fair and equal opportunity mechanic, or are you wanting players to not all rush pell mell into the Middle East? Knowing nothing about your game, I'm not sure what all might fit your mold or break it.

The Middle East being rich in oil is fine, and makes for fine incentive for all players to want to go after it and control it. But, are there any down sides envisioned by you for players controlling various areas/countries?

Is it a modern setting? Post- modern? Futuristic? What age/era?

What if controlling the Middle East is a simultaneous invitation to trouble? That would make them think twice, perhaps, before rushing in to try and grab it. Perhaps it revolts a lot, being a constant drain on military resources to keep it occupied. Perhaps occupying the Middle East generates terrorism (die rolls by the other players, their choice of targets elsewhere on the map). Maybe the place needs infrastructure improved, before the oil can begin to be beneficial. I don't know how complicated or simple the overall game is, so I am merely speculating on possibilities. Is religion incorporated into the game, somehow? If so, then maybe Jihad is a possibility.

Maybe the population has to be fed, and while rich in oil, it is poor in food production.

Is oil production all that matters? Or does it have to be transported? If so, then opportunity to capture, sink, or sabotage oil tankers or pipelines is a possibility.

Maybe start the Middle East under the control of all of the players, only give each one of them a piece of it, and then let the various players do what comes natural to them - which is go to war with one another. Perhaps the Middle East is the Risk equivalent of a continent in your game, and each player starts the game with multiple provinces that collectively comprise the entire Middle East. That way, it may take several turns for any one player to gain a decisive upper hand.

I say keep the Middle East as the dominant oil producer but add disincentives/penalites or tradeoffs for controlling it. Naturally, controlling the Middle East makes that player the number one target for all players.

You may also make it militarily weak which means it may not produce military output or may have a defense penalties.

I have found that in creating great mechanics you must create a cost/benefit analsis in which the acquisition of goods/incentives/strength must be offset by equal penalties/weaknesses. This will force the player to consider his options before persuing action.

With regards to randomness in games: I enjoy random within limits. It is possible to modify roles of the dice and card play with situations and rules on the board. I highly recommend a play through of Twilight Stuggle for a proper example of balance and random done right.

If you feel the game play is "unfair" to those in certain situations then it's not on you (Game God) to make it right. If the mechanics dictate that if path A or option A is chosen, and option B trumps A, then so be it. The rock-paper-scissors can't be applied to every game. Make the best thing in the game cost the player more in the end. Player who starts first has the advantage of starting first... this applies to almost every game ever created that is turn-based. You can't change that, but what you can do is make prerequisites or gate players so that whether your first or third into the middle east, you have to have x-amount or do-something or travel to get their first. First to the boat doesn't necessarily mean first to land. I know you'll figure it out.

If it's a matter of trying to hinder people from racing into the middle east because of the dominance achieved form oil, then every other region should also have a 1up in a different aspect. There are some great suggestions from posters before me. I suggest you read them, step back, and see if you can approach this at a different angle.

I always favoured a mat/deck for each player in games like this. Little 70x70mm cards to represent bulk quantities and coloured chits to mark on the map who is where. Cuts down on clutter for sure.