I took the Immortal save and at 1AD I've met everyone although I don't know where Sauron or Galadriel are because I haven't done much exploring. Went as far as possible by boat but hobbits' fear of barbs (though few in number) and the general hammer shortage reduced my enthusiasm for building a scout. A chariot would have been handy, but of course hobbits don't ride horses (unless they're as big as Bullroarer Took) so I guess that's why the Shire doesn't have any.
I have lots of trade routes, though, so good enough for now.
Everyone seems to hate poor Galadriel and even I joined a war when asked as I'm trying to build good relations with as many AI as possible. Killed an Elven chariot and warrior that came wandering by. I kind of think she deserves it: as I explained in the announcement thread, Galadriel should be the elfin-looking Catherine, not some pasty-faced stiff like Liz. Perhaps DH was confusing things with some other fantasy series, like Twilight?
All but one of my cities are Jewish through no efforts of my own, but I haven't adopted any religion. The Jewish AP was recently built so I'll be building temples and monasteries--very handy in this hammer-poor land. My one city with good hammers, NW with the copper, tried to build the Hanging Gardens and Colossus but both were sniped by a few turns. I'm now trying to build the Great Lighthouse but it may be too late--really would have liked the Colossus on this map. I built Stonehenge in the capital, though, and settled the Great Prophet. I'm gradually whipping hammers into the Moai in a fishy city to the west, which will also be my Nat'l Epic/GP farm.
I have 6 cities and 33 pop and am about to capture a 4-pop barb city. The 1-tile island will be next to settle. Lots of cottages coming along nicely and I'm doing pretty well in tech. Theoden is ahead by a couple techs, I'm about even with three and well ahead of the remaining three. I have 27 techs including Lit, Construction, Currency, and Music (didn't get the Gt Artist, though). Score is 559 (7th of 8, with 859 the highest) and I'm making 115 bpt at 75%. My defenses are very thin but an AI softened up that barb city for me and the barbs will soon be banished from all the land that I can see.
In keeping with the Map Maker's Challenge I'm taking a mostly peaceful approach--maybe a Religious win? Sauron must be dealt with first, of course--can hardly wait to see his lair. Saruman has a fair number of Wonders that would better serve the Free People so I'll probably go after him at some point. Thanks for the fun game and generous map, DH!
I always knew Angmar was an evil place, no real Dúnedain would make it his capital. It seems Theoden took Isengard and pushed Saruman closer just for him to kill me. At least Sauron is like the real one. Shame I will not get to kill him.
