The food start was the only one allowing settling an island with 2 cities and release a vassal. I found out it is possible too late. Still I released the Americans (Hah! USA a vassal of Sitting Bull! I like it
) very late (too late) granting him a bunch of strong techs (I made a colony around 25 AD so Roosevelt had been given Astronomy for example.
+1 happiness and trading partner would be sooo powerful in food start.
Anyway. Food continent definitely was the best, giving possibilities of:
- extreme great people farm in Kyoto (and with National Park using tundra forest - even more extreme). Resourceless dog soldier vs Toku warriors: cruueeeel!
- very strong production site (1W from horses)
- enough forest to chop chosen wonder (I went GLH, but Mids would probably be better - with the happines bonus from representation)\
- the only start allowing granting independence after getting rid of rivals.
- the only start allowing BC Astronomy because of max food
The downside was lack of clear beauro capitol, but to be sincere - none of start would allow it (other continents had even worst sites for beauro)
Production continent allowed nearly domination (and visit Toku when he is in stone age).
But the rivals are really far away, so economy will suffer. At least some trading partners, but we would be limited to 4 city sites because of the jungle.
Nice to have Mansa for trading, but this start forced to kill him very early, otherwise the player will stagnant with nearly no food.
Commerce start was a trap for greedy players
Not a single good tile to settle. The only rescue was to warrior rush China. But even after taking Beijing the land is weak.
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I went food and got BC Astro. My mistake was not releasing early vassal, but still managed to get early Astro. Later I settled other continents:
1) gems+gold (no food)
2) directly on Ivory on the other side of that island
3) 2 cities on production continent
Meantime I rexed on home continent using GLH trade roiutes.
I had a very nasty plan on China, to settle 1 tile island and burn GArtist there - so I could have furs, claims and not paying colony expanses - but the turn I unloaded settler + artist, Chinese borders popped
Finished pretty late diplomatic (1660) with 34 cities + 5 of vassals (3 Roosevelt, 2 Mansa). Pacal and Mao voted for me sharing religion. Wars: Toku, MM, Justinian (3 cities taken), Sury (1 city taken last turn).
The most funny ws fighting triremes with privateers. I dont know how it was possible, that a civ with so few coastal cities can spam triremes soo much all the time :]
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I definitely could do better if:
- release a vassal very very early
- go Mids instead of GLH
- go caste instead of staying in slavery for nearly the whole game.
- construct Forbidden Palace earlier
- attack Mansa pre-feudalism
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I am extremely curious if anyone went for gold+gems and how the game finished