Techs: Masonry(part), AH, Writing, Sailing (Part).
1760: Masonry -> AH. I decided to get another settler out from Uruk before starting on The Pyramids. Just as well since both my stone quarry and settler would be finished in 6 turns.
1640: I meet Saladin's archers to the west. He's the hindu founder and is in WHEOOHRN. I don't know if he's preparing to invade Pacal or fighting someone else or if he's trying to capture the barb city Libyan to the west in this shot. I don't know if AIs can use WHEOOHRN to indicate war against barbs but I've heard it being suggested before.
Another excellent city site for running scientists in representation with the fish.
1560: Meet Shaka to the south. He's jewish like Pacal and are warring with Saladin.
1520: Uruk finishes settler and start on The Pyramids.
1480: I was hoping to block more land from Pacal with my settler but he arrived 3 turns to late for that.
1440: AH -> Writing. I had time to check for horses but I need Libraries next in anticipation of utilizing The Pyramids asap. There are horses both to the north, southwest and southeast. One of them in a great location.
I had already earmarked this city as my main GP farm but I was a bit concerned about the lack of production aside from whipping before getting access to workshops. With the horses this is dramatically improved making this a truly superb city spot, I decide to move my settler there to claim it.
1400: I get a demerit from Saladin when I refuse to join his war against Shaka.
1280: Confucianism FIDL.
1240: My settler found my third city.
1160: Suleiman converts to judaism, that makes it 3 vs 1 for poor Sal-ah-din.
I put Uruk at a food deficit to get The Pyramids 1 turn earlier. 18 production at stagnation at size 6 is pretty solid this early, if this city was riverside it would be truly monstrous but we will get plenty of leverage out of it still.
1120: Pyramids finsihes I switch build from the barracks once again to get another settler since the wonder has delayed my expansion a bit and it's a race to block more land.
1040: Writing -> Sailing. To hook up all of my cities faster and to get some trade going.
1000: Hinduism spreads to the GP farm Kish, well judaism I might consider down the road but Saladin is on his own. I end the session.
Eridu will stagnate at size 5 working the resources and 2 scientists as I mentioned earlier. I probably want another settler straight away from Uruk, the worker pasturing cows to the east will chop the forest 1S to speed it along a bit, then I can probably let the capital grow and start cranking out some units to capture barb cities after getting an additional worker or two.
I will switch to slavery & representation in 2 turns so I can start to whip in Kish which needs alot of production. I want 2 WBs, a library (and a granary & lighthouse once I have Sailing and Pottery). At size 9 it can work 5 scientists and the 4 resources if I switch to Caste.
I want 3 cities here (2 are marked on the pic). The fish city looks most appetizing of them though I would hate it if Pacal cuts me off at the rice. As it is he'll either need to be befriended or warred against though so perhaps it wont matter that much.
I'm thinking of going for the fish first in any case since it's clearly the superior spot in the short term.
Libyan looks like a pretty good city with rice, banana(shared with fishspot) and spices.
The frozen south.
I think I'm looking ok thus far. Archery was a little detour instead of having Pottery already but all in all I'm looking at several food-rich cities with rep-enhanced scientists besides the 2 gems so tech should be decent, there are more spots to claim and I have copper+horses for units.