Well, let's be methodical about it and start by forgetting all we discussed about the immediate axe rush... What would you do given the present situation, knowing Toku's cap is a too tough a nut to crack with merely axes?
Of course first question is: do we still want to take out Toku asap? "Asap" meaning as soon as
reasonably possible?
Personally I'd answer yes to that question. To make it reasonably possible, we want cats (and spies). Therefore we'd need to tech to construction (and alpha). I do think now that we have a bigger window the spy thing obviously is also good for the scouting and finding other AIs (you do meet an AI if you find his land with a spy, right?!).
Of course this window also allows to settle a bit more, which will only help with producing enough units for Toku.
So roughly next on the agenda is:
- Settle PearlySwine (which we still haven't
)
- Settle marble. To me it's not clear anymore whether it's better on marble or SW which longterm is a better city, but slower to get going.
- Oracle CoL.
- Settle deercow and/or northern gold
- Start on mids
- Get barracks out in production spots and get some, but only some, axes out. For the moment more as a precaution than anything else.
- Tech masonry, PH, writing, pottery, math, construction, alpha (IW, aesth, MC).
- Get some workers out.
- Grow organically in anticipation of a spell in caste to go pop some serious GSs.
Can't say what a good stopping point for next set is, first stop Oracle sounds logical at least.