At about 1200AD I noted the website revelation of a 500-turn limit, which was a bit of a blow to my (so-called) strategy of late Culture victory. Taking stock, the numbers didnt seem to add up to a 1910 victory:- I might have squeezed a couple of extra cities within my borders but it was taking ages to assemble all the necessary buildings whilst at the same time I was neglecting my military and science (this is why I normally steer away from Culture:- no real fallback strategy if an AI such as GK sets his sights on you). I was pinning my hopes on establishing Sushi asap, but unfortunately I was having no luck in popping the requisite GM from GPP. Nevertheless, I seemed well set for Liberalism (then taking Economics for a GM) but was pipped at the post from nowhere by Joao (1140 AD). I was the only Civ with banking so I still thought Econ was mine, only to again be beaten by Joao (who must have used GMs to rush it, as I still had the Banking hegemony a couple of turns previously:- didnt realise the AI was that smart!
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It was now obvious even to me that culture wasnt going to cut it by 1910. I started to build up my military and created some extra space by taking GK down a peg or two, although my clear up of the E Islands was somewhat wasted as GK and Fred repopulated with new settlers before mine arrived (I burned the original GK cities which were in daft locations). I circumnavigated (1210 AD) and eventually established a good presence in the N part of the New World:- 4 good cities. A second war with GK ended up with his capitulation. I was still very popular with the other AI and a Diplo approach seemed my best opportunity for victory. I was first to Mass Media and immediately set my Moai/IronWorks city onto the UN. To my immense frustration, Pericles nipped in at the last moment (with GE I guess) to snatch it from me. He also completed R&R, Hollywood, Broadway AND Eiffel Tower in short order. Fred then flexed his military might by annexing Joao and leaving an impressive SoD at my S border (buffered by GK). Pericles took the UN vote from Fred (who I was now just behind in the pecking order) and I was left fuming
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The game was now very tight between myself, Fred, Peter and Pericles. I needed more land and people to get myself elected to the UN or, if necessary, ensure a time victory. I decided against a large-scale assault on the New World (which was now pebble-dashed with cities including conclaves from three new colony Civs) because I needed a strong homeland military and my existing colonial costs were already considerable. This left Pericles as the obvious target, as he had juicy land and cities combined with a feeble army and was also now targeting a Culture victory of his own.. Never one for the easy option, I reasoned that I needed to take out Freds SoD before adventuring elsewhere. I DoW on Fred, allowed him to advance and capture GKs buffer cities before letting loose my assault troops. This removed Fred as an immediate military threat and I gained 6 new cities (3 from marine assaults in the NE islands and 3 (re)captured from GK lands). In the interim, Pericles completed the Manhattan Project (hhmmm, I dont have uranium) then voted through a Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (phew!). I was now ready to conquer the helpless Pericles and grab the UN, but this didnt quite go to plan. A Nuclear Civ World was new territory for me and, naively, I assumed the UN treaty banned nukes entirely (although in hindsight it is fairly obvious that it doesnt prevent you lobbing those you already have at your enemy). I DoW on Pericles, the screen shakes 1, 2 even 3 times and Ive been nuked!!
Horrified, I quickly inspect the damage but it is surprisingly light:- a few glowing squares, a border city lacking half its population and all the ten or so units Im sure were there the previous turn. Pericles lacks the military to back up this opening salvo and I quickly recover to capture his three N cities and close upon his core cities. He offers capitulation before I reach any of these
I ponder my decision, worried that he will capitulate elsewhere if I refuse. On the basis that (a) he cant get a Culture victory by 1910 and (b) I seem to have enough pop for UN election anyway, I accept him into the French camp and feel confident of final victory. The game now took another unexpected turn:- Pericles puny colonial vassal made a UDI and then apparently persuaded Peter (my bosom buddy for centuries) to take him under his wing, precipitating war between us. The screen shakes again!!
Another 3 nukes were lobbed in my general direction, but again with surprisingly limited effect. This DoW was potentially a game-breaker:- Peter had by far the largest military power (about twice mine) and the strongest colonial vassal who bordered my New World territories. I had the advantage of Advanced Flight whereas he had Robotics:- I anticipated a really meaty Modern War. As it turned out, the AI kamikaze approach of rolling vast numbers of largely unsupported tanks over my borders quickly turned into a massacre:- my jets cleared the skies, bombers softened up the targets and gunships plus cleanup tanks did the rest. Kill ratios were 52 : 3 for armour and 88 : 18 for aircraft. Peter sued for peace with a few turns left, but only a Time Victory was possible by then. I had eventually generated a GM and sowed Sushi (and Civ Jewellers) to all my cities, giving a small points cushion for an eventual Time victory. A somewhat disappointing end after such a strong start, but some very interesting new experiences (especially of the nuclear variety) along the way.
Many thanks to DS and the GOTM staff for the great map, although (like a few others) I found both the changed leaders and the various green shades a bit confusing. I have no problem with the concept of mixing leader traits, but the switching of historical leaders to different Civs gave me serious headaches. When I see GK, I expect Karakorum and Keshiks; with Peter, Moscow and Cossacks!
Ooops ! Apologies for the lengthy post; got a bit carried away with my Apocalypse stories.
goodjob: on map editing, DS!). 
- Can I just repeat that. - I won.
. I just turned everything off and went to bed. 
during golden ages is very nice. 
