Yeah tracker was having issues but the admin has sorted them now. I know what you mean about GoTM but the start ups are rather interesting and I needed something to play where I am currently as my internet doesn't allow me to play online.
However I definitely do need to slow down to get the most out of my civ - used to the 'blazing timer is not quick enough' type of games! Although reaching industrial/modern in a couple of hours is pretty good going.
I don't really play mods, I rather like standard BtS and am more interested in balance rather than historical accuracy. Although tbf there are always issues like egypt with a horse cap or byzentines on medieval starts, overall the main game is pretty well done, save map generation.
Rhyes is one of the few mods I have tried, but I have found it to be quite buggy, especially if you have a DoW as you spawn, whether you recieve the extra units or just your workers. I often have to use worldbuilder when on my 6th turn they haven't arrived.
The main team games I was talking about were the 3v3 inland affairs which are thoroughly good fun, having two 'front' players warring and a 'back' player providing economic, wonder and then unit support. The 3 of you give a good range of tactics open and does speed up teching as they are very unit heavy games.
I have now joined a couple of games and hoped that would give me more info about them however it hasn't. Do I need to try and find them in the forums or email them? What is the convention? I have also set up a duel game to gets things rolling.