Interesting. It shows that different tactics can produce good results
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As for the 5th expo, I didn't rush-bye any buildings. I went Monument, Granary, Library and University (to start oxford in time for Radio). After that, or if I can fit it in sooner, I build food buildings. 2 workers helped out. Plan after that was to build anything with specialist slots rly, to fill after plastics.
I guess early RA:s are too expensive if you used much gold on CS:s to get those numbers at t100. But I do agree it sounds lika a viable tactic to focus on Patronage and CS. CS:s just gives you so much bonuses in different fields.
Also, you were much faster than me to Astronomy and Rationalism. I can't see why, but I researched Engineering before Astronomy. At t100, I researched Astronomy-6 turns to finish. I had Unis in all cities except 5th city where I just finished Library and only 169 science (160 from cities and 9 from trade routes). Pop was 18,11,11,8,5. I think it would have been better to go for an early Astronomy but I still reached schools at t134 and after that Plastics 162 without a bulb. So, my investment in a 5th city payed of in the second half of the game.