Lotsa gold. I love raging barbs, many quests fulfilled, returned some workers, kept a barb/Ethiopian worker. Pissed that I didn't get a religion - Korea nabbed DofAurora first. I took Goddess of Hunt, which has been very helpful, bummed I will lose it.
Wandered a bit, and settled river hill to the W. I probably should have expo'd Mt Kailash first - but I didn't want to lose the W ivory cluster with gold in range. Then settled near RoG which has been a cash machine but no production - there were still barbs everywhere at that point, and I was not keen on further forward settling Mongolia and Zulu with no intention of Domination. 4th city will have decent food, I had planned to settle SE near river, near silver, but wanted to block Ethiopia. Had DOF offered from Khan and Shaka, no thanks. Bribed one war, looked like nothing happened. Considered bribing Khan to take Florence - 9 horses might fuel him enough to take down Shaka. Shaka hit Medieval a while ago, I can't believe he hasn't DOW'd anyone, and won't take bribes, wtf? He even has a religion, which seems rare. Still haven't met 8th civ.
Got lots of goodies, popped a pop hut when I settled (nice), AH, map, culture, 95g. Opened Trad, then opened Honor, filling Trad. Tech-wise not so good, haven't even started NC yet. BO - Scout x2, Shrine, Granary, Archer x3, Worker, Settler x2, Archer, etc.
t164 - Game has gotten wacky - Khan built Machu with only 2 cities, Shaka is pledging protection to CS's and has gone 5 Liberty and 3 Aesthetics??? Alex had OB with Helie, and marched about 5-6 units down to my border, so I bribed him v Heile, and he took 2 cities. I retook them easily with my small force, was gonna liberate, but Harar has several lux, so kept both. Still sending a settler down SE for silver, and for cargo food to Helsinki.
Shaka is not liked, he DOW'd Khan and his expo flipped a lot but finally stayed Zulu. Karakorum was beaten down to 1/3, but is finally trying to rebound - he has a nice mtn in the way. Khan has DOF with Alex, I am considering trying to take his cap from behind. Either that or maybe liberate his expo. Shaka is not in beast mode with no Honor. USA finally DOW'd Shaka, but so far away. Korea expo'd x2 way SE of his cap on other side of mtns, no roads, so vulnerable, I can't believe Shaka didn't take them first.
My plan has just been to fill my space and probably go Diplo, which would be easier if Alex got crushed. SV should be easy, I don't relish trying for late DomV with all the bad terrain. Losing my food from camps has been a big setback, but at least Heile's religion has Mosques.
I proposed WF, should maybe have done Arts Funding for more GP, but keeping Korea happy for now, long-time DOF with him and USA. Will likely go Order to have a better shot at late game DOFs. Heile is down to one city, but I think he'll keep it.
