If you don't go for UHV, you don't have to found Moscow on spot. Here is my thought:
1. Capital: Tambov on cow, save you some worker time, -1 food initially but you got more river tiles (18) and less overlap with Kiev. You can also found Murom on horse, but it can't fetch the wheat; Rjazan 1S from Moscow, but it cost you a grassland forest.
2. Fur city: near lakes so you can build harbor, and with 100 culture you can fetch the second fur for trade. I tried 1SW on aluminum hill but it can't fetch northeast fur.
3. Stone city: Samara is now good enough with a wheat added. If you don't insist on river, settle on iron is also favorable.
4. Helsinki: Finland is improved. You can also reach the copper at St. Peterburg, but I prefer stretch to outer land.
5. Kiev: use your force and mercenary to conquer this amazing city. Polish Krakow will eat its westernmost tiles, so chop the forests early.
6. Rome: Use horse archers to see if you can steal final blows from Franks or Spanish or Germans. In my 3000BC emperor game I succeeded and fetched Great Library, Ishtar Gate and a gold mine hill.
7. Riga: I built it after war with Poland, in medieval era. Another good Europe port, although overlap with Helsinki, but still strong. Build all workshops after guilds and you'll get a productive city for shipbuilding and coast wonders.
8. Samarkand: Raze the barbarian city with your initial unit, rebuild it 1W after Mongol flips. 1 silk and 2 cotton provides you important happiness, 3 flood plain(including 2 cotton) will disappear in 1600, but it is still good enough.
9. Krakow: if Poland doesn't vassalize to you. But I think it's better to keep them as your vassal.
This is my city planning before astronomy. In 3000 BC emperor game I achieved domination victory in 1724 AD with Murom as my capital. I think this plan will do even better.
1. Capital: Tambov on cow, save you some worker time, -1 food initially but you got more river tiles (18) and less overlap with Kiev. You can also found Murom on horse, but it can't fetch the wheat; Rjazan 1S from Moscow, but it cost you a grassland forest.
2. Fur city: near lakes so you can build harbor, and with 100 culture you can fetch the second fur for trade. I tried 1SW on aluminum hill but it can't fetch northeast fur.
3. Stone city: Samara is now good enough with a wheat added. If you don't insist on river, settle on iron is also favorable.
4. Helsinki: Finland is improved. You can also reach the copper at St. Peterburg, but I prefer stretch to outer land.
5. Kiev: use your force and mercenary to conquer this amazing city. Polish Krakow will eat its westernmost tiles, so chop the forests early.
6. Rome: Use horse archers to see if you can steal final blows from Franks or Spanish or Germans. In my 3000BC emperor game I succeeded and fetched Great Library, Ishtar Gate and a gold mine hill.
7. Riga: I built it after war with Poland, in medieval era. Another good Europe port, although overlap with Helsinki, but still strong. Build all workshops after guilds and you'll get a productive city for shipbuilding and coast wonders.
8. Samarkand: Raze the barbarian city with your initial unit, rebuild it 1W after Mongol flips. 1 silk and 2 cotton provides you important happiness, 3 flood plain(including 2 cotton) will disappear in 1600, but it is still good enough.
9. Krakow: if Poland doesn't vassalize to you. But I think it's better to keep them as your vassal.
This is my city planning before astronomy. In 3000 BC emperor game I achieved domination victory in 1724 AD with Murom as my capital. I think this plan will do even better.
