Is it needed to re-post my previous comments here?
I might add that some genie races were actually VERY similar to Vans as we know and love them.
Researcher commander is fine, but I would think about giving him Air as base (Early Age there probably should be less mystics and more elemental mages).
Also, scimitar is fine weapon as such, but probably useless on chaff. While for camel-riders it would be very difficult to actually use them (remember how tall the animal is?
). I would use spears & light lances for infantry & cav, respectively. And for nomade race, light cavalry at least should be cheaper than normal.
As for magic carpets... I'd say they will become cheaper at later times, with big cities, and carpet-makers and mages dwelling in them... For early era it would probably be better to restrict flying to magic beings.
Roc rider.. I can't say I'm happy with this idea, but I can't also say it revolts me.
Maybe it'd be better to reserve it to later era?
And what do you mean by weak priest? That genie nobility are costly as hell?