I think we are doing very well so far but want to make sure we stay focused on the prize rather than get lost in the details of a growing empire.

I thought this might be a good time to start planning a little further ahead. I’m not saying we need to start planning to conquer a neighbor or choose a victory condition, but lets decide on a near term goal and then confine our debate on how best to reach that goal.

These are not all or nothing choices, no matter what we must still expand and defend ourselves, but this is a good time to decide which element to focus our effort on.

1 & 2 for me, and another: generate a great prophet for the shrine.

I think I have the "completely different" part covered.

I thought expansion, conquest or infrastructure coverd the choices pretty well. If you want to do something else please elaborate, at least a little.

Something different. I'd say build a formidable military, and infrastructure. Expand as lux/res's pop up, or as our economy allows.

I started a pub! Now we can blow off some steam, get to know each other, and become a real team.

Capturing the barb city would give our troops some experience and help us expand in a direction we want to go anyway. We should also hasten to start exploring by sea, or at least by coast. The time is also growing near, or possibly even here, to begin to specialize our cities.

What are the chances that the Aloha boys will get there first? They aren't exactly being overly forthcoming with the intel on the place.

We've only seen a Alohan warrior, and they put quite a lot of effort in the Great Lighthouse, so I don't think they'll have hordes of axemen ready to strike.