- What did you think about before starting the game, what was your approach to this game?
Never played as Venice. Initial thoughts, wasn't sure if I should rush optics for the GM, or even puppet a CS at all; would a puppeted city be worth having, given that they tend to slow your science and culture down as opposed to increasing them? Can I grow the capital enough on OCC to forgo feeding myself trade route(s)? Ultimately decided to puppet Antwerp to the north as it looks like a nicer CS than Ife, who hasn't even grown to their luxury tile yet. It had all its tiles already improved, all buildings built besides walls and barracks, and provided me with two comp bows, a horseman, and a worker. Immediately gold purchased a cargo ship there to feed my capital. Time will tell if that was a good choice, I suppose, but I'm feeling happy enough about it so far.
I also wasn't sure going in if I'd want to try to delay my culture and rush Renaissance for fast Rati, or if I could finish the game quickly enough going Aesthetics in lieu of trying to tech for hotels, airports, etc in the late game. I ended up getting an early culture ruin and Oracle, and I'm not even close to Renaissance yet, so I'm already into Aesthetics, but with three civs still unmet, I'm thinking this will be a longer game requiring Rati and some choice tourism techs anyway.
- Where did you settle and what did you build first?
SIP, prototypical scout>scout>shrine>granary Trad build.
- How did the terrain and map settings affect your early decisions?
I thought it was going to be Pangaea based on the OP, but looks like it's Fractal? I need to prio Astronomy at some point and go 'splorin with caravels, as I've land scouted my entire continent, and have triremes halfway around either side, with no sign of the remaining three civs. I played the very early game as if it was Pangaea, and didn't really need to secure any expansion locations, so very bog standard and simple opening.
- What were your initial priorities?
Stealing workers from Ife, which I think was a poor choice, as they have crappy tiles and tons of fish, leading to them not putting out workers quickly and opting for work boats/defensive units instead. I figured I'd only need two workers with the OCC and could save the time in my build order, but man did they take a long time to pop out a second one, and even longer to get Trapping so they'd stand it on the bison where I could snatch it. Antwerp would have been better (can I puppet a city state thats angry at me after making peace? IDK).
Exploring and meeting everyone asap so my tourism kicks in. Just squeezed out my first great work from a writer and only have five of the seven civs met to influence with it.
- What tech path did you follow and why?
Pottery first, pretty standard
Mining, for the salt
Writing, for a quick library (didn't attempt GL)
Philosophy, for quick NC (turn 60 ish)
Masonry, for the marble
Sailing + Optics for trade route + lighthouse
Civil Service for river farms
Education currently in progress for quick uni
- What Social Policies did you choose?
Full Trad for growth, seems like the only choice for OCC
Aesthetics has been opened, will likely pivot to Rati when that becomes available and finish of Aesthetics later
- What Wonders did you try to get and did you get them?
Tried Temple of Artemis, didn't have any buildings available in the queue at the time. Lost that about halfway through, switched to Stonehenge which became available during that time, and got that. Got Oracle after NC finished. Attempted a six turn Parthenon which I thought I got, but just noticed I didn't now that I'm looking, followed by a four turn, very late Mausoleum, figuring I'd be popping lots of great people for great works and have a marble tile, also missed that by one turn.
- Did you get a religion? What religious beliefs did you pick?
Yes, between Earth Mother and Stonehenge, I got the third (I think?) religion. Took Tithe and Mosques (Cathedrals weren't available with the GA slot), came back for Hermitage tourism as well as Itinerant Preaches on the enhance. Not sure if Mosques over follower production was a good play. Thinking the culture and faith would be more helpful in the long term, but now I'm second guessing myself.
