Moved the settler 1NE on the PH, didn't like the spot,
Moved the settler again 2W to the coast (keeping pigs, rice & cows).
So I settled T2.
Research went : AH, Fishing (got an early workboat),
Mysticism, Meditation, Priesthood, Writing.
Could settle 2 cities in the North, by Hattie's borders during that time.
Far away early cities didn't make for a lightning fast early development.
Oracle/Writing were done by 1880 BC and choosing the Oracle's target was a tough decision.
After weighting the options for a couple of days, and once an Astronomy bulb was definitely out of the question, I took Alphabet off the Oracle.
That's not an impressive Oracle grab but it unlocked trades from Hattie and Julius. Not immediately from Bismark, though, due to an early worker steal. Cathy found me some time later and that got me another trade partner.
Trading for Iron Working unlocked swords and I tasked one of my northern cities with Hatshepsut's murder.
The lady had lost 3 archers and 4 War Chariots when her second and last city fell. Lost 2 swords and 1 axe in the process.
Troops healed, moved down,
Paris got the Great Lighthouse, islands were settled, etc.
I missed on both marble tiles, when I was initially targetting the northern one (so as to block off the peninsula). Eventually, I've got only a couple of cities, there, securing stone & spices. Julius got the dyes.
Backfilled, still have 2 spots to settle (with a settler in transition).
Headed towards CS, revolted in 75 BC, iirc.
Produced only a single GS, in Orleans. City will produce the 2nd in 3 turns. Paris is just a little behind in gpp but has mostly priest points.
Maintenance from 14 cities makes the Empire
heavy to move around.
Need courthouses to alleviate the gold drain.
The army isn't quite yet in position, I'm hoping to declare war on Bismark soonish.
He's got, hmm... archers and, hmm... archers.