Classic 34: First Spoiler (end of ancient age)

[CKS]

Do you have a screen shot (or could you be a little more specific) about where you settled Bapedi? I had a hard time trying to decide where to put my 20K city so I'm curious where you settled.

My notes here aren't very specific (I'm at work and my game is at home), but I'll get that for you. I think it is on the lake and by the fish east of the start. I don't think I did a good job of placing it, though. Overall, my games suffer from a lack of forethought.

 

[denyd]

Skydance: If you want to get a whole lot of information, check out this thread:
LINK TO TRAINING GAME

You'll find a lot of very useful information. There is a lot of reading in this one, and they haven't reached the industrial age yet.

 

[eldar]

PtW Open.

I entered the MA sometime between 250BC and 410AD, during which time I was fighting Carthage in the 'War of the Multiple Boot'. Not my fault they kept straying. Anyway, Carthage are no more.

By MA (just) I had got my third suicide galley to make contact with other Civs.

Other than that... I fancy a conquest, but I'm not much good at Continents conquests. I also have a leader waiting for me to research Invention, I rate Leo's as more important to me than more leaders right now (there's a stack of half a dozen or so Elite swords for that).

My plan is to let the other continent build Sun Tzu, and that can be my initial target over there.

1000BC doesn't look so bad, comparatively, though probably short in tech. Goody huts gave me only CB and Mysticism. And a Settler, which was nice.

Neil.

 

[Demiurge]

@Gozpel: I just can't stop myself from returning to look at your 1000 bc pic and I'm simply amazed. I don't think I've ever had that many cities at 1000 bc.

 

[horragoth]

Open

I am new to GOTM but I like the idea very much. I have tried COTM03 (in conquest class) as a test and now I hope GOTM 34 would be my first game to post.

Starting Moves
I have put scout on the hill S, worker to the grape NW to be mined, setler went 1 SW and setled. I thouht the water on the west is coast so the reason was to get more central capital position.

Research priority
Wheel, Horseback Riding

Building order
scout, barracks, 3x archer, settler, more archers

Strategy
I have found several good places for setler factory S, SE but they were too far from capital. I was not sure if they would produce enough shields as I am not good in corruption calculations.

Since I found Carthaginians quite soonthe archers went that way. Carths still missed bronze working so I hoped I manage to get there before their awesome UU. I have overrun their second city guarded by warriors and found their capital guarded by Reg. Numidian spearmen (later I finished there were 2 of them) while my forces nearby counted 2x El. Archer, 2x Vet. Archer, 1x Reg Warrior. I did manage to capture the city. They respawned once but were quickly destroyed.

Meanwhile I have discowered Egyptians and Persians. They started in much harder locations that Zulus or Carthaginians so that they were rather undeveloped. I have crippled both those to one city (not capital) and squeezed them for few techs/cash. In this war a GL was produced used for rushing pyramids.

All the time I have used the capital to build archers, horsemen, swordsmen as they become available. I have not built Impis before 1000 BC as I did not want an early GA. I have kept no/very limited defenses in cities (only warriors) and produced only offensive units. I have connected 2 luxuries soon, so there was no need for MP.

I have captured/found several settler producing cities in the south. There was great corruption even under monarchy, so I had to MM to prevent rising their size above 6.

10 AD status
Cities all over the continent with some vacancies to be settled.
All AA wonders built (except GLib.,Col.).
Estabilished contacts with other civs.
Carthaginians, Persians - Destroyed
Egyptians - will be destroyed in couple turns

Currently I am in GA (triggered by GW,Lighthouse) massively building temples/libraries/infrastructure while researching a better ways of sea transport to continue conquest.

 

[Offa]

Open

I am new to GOTM but I like the idea very much.
10 AD status
Cities all over the continent with some vacancies to be settled.
All AA wonders built (except GLib.,Col.).
Estabilished contacts with other civs.
Carthaginians, Persians - Destroyed
Egyptians - will be destroyed in couple turns

Currently I am in GA (triggered by GW,Lighthouse) massively building temples/libraries/infrastructure while researching a better ways of sea transport to continue conquest.

Impressive debut!! I hate you already
I suppose you only started playing civ last month?

Welcome

 

[eldar]

Impressive debut!! I hate you already
I suppose you only started playing civ last month?

Welcome

That's no way to welcome a newcomer! But... Early wars take a lot of nerve, though - but with the closeness of the AIs in this game, I guess they paid off big time!

Neil.

 

[horragoth]

I suppose you only started playing civ last month?

Actually, I am playing civ-games since original civilization, and I have given at least a try to all of them (including SMAC and CTP). I am no hardcore Civer playing many civ games per month, but rather I tend to play a game per month or two . I never read any strategy guides so that I had plenty of challenge playing on monarch level, but this summer I read couple of articles in the War Academy of this site which helped me to overcome some mistakes I frequently did. I have also tried some past GOTM and found that they are more fun that ordinary random games I used to play. So, here I start.

The slight irony is that I always considered me being a strictly builder type ... and here in my first game I have to present such a warmongering spree...

 

[Offa]

That's no way to welcome a newcomer!

Why ever not?

Of course it's great to have new players, and my welcome is open hearted. Horragoth is clearly a strong addition to this little "community" and so he is doubly welcome. Good write up too. Randy's game looks very strong too...

It is heartening that new players continue to join, considering civ3 isn't exactly brand new. It is especially good when they write up their games.

So if you prefer:

 

[CKS]

Do you have a screen shot (or could you be a little more specific) about where you settled Bapedi? I had a hard time trying to decide where to put my 20K city so I'm curious where you settled.

Okay, I looked it up. I put Bapedi on the grass one tile due east of the lake visible at the start. (I put Zimbabwe 1 tile SW of the start position.) This gave me the hill, the fish, some forest, and some bonus grassland, plus fresh water. It wasn't very food rich, and I would have done better to add some workers in. Oh, well.

 

[CdB]

Open Civ 1.29f

Like in GOTM 32, I want to avoid a GA in despotism while not totally developed. I want to have full usage of my GA. I plan again for Domination using the War upgrade for first war and then the Horse path.

Opening Moves
Settled on the spot : Scout – Scout – Granary

Huts
2nd settler in 3500 BC
Nothing in 3250 BC
Mysticism in 2670 BC
Map in 2430 BC

Search
I researched nearly always at full speed as I did not want to wait for AI.
CB > Wheel >
I traded BW & Alphabet & Masonry
Then Writing > MM to produce GL & Galley
and towards Republic

A challenging starting position. I am stuck with no Iron and no Horse resource because I did not manage any settler farm so I did build a limited force of Archer and sends a settler towards the closest free iron. I need to start a war soon to grab Horse and more room.
I decide to attack Carthage. For this I have various reasons :
- They have Horse
- They are close to targeted Iron Source
- They are conveniently close and not to developed (with some towns in tundra) but good make a good second core.
Persia is in jungle (not the ideal terrain to enhance for non industrious worker / slaves ... ) plus they already have an iron source linked and difficult to reach first in order to stop Immortals. I do not want to face immortals…
Egypt is on good land (a bit restrained) but is too far away without horse to attack.

1000 BC
6 towns
2 workers / 3 Scouts
8 War / 9 Arc / 1 Cat / 2 Impis
Town by the whales dedicated to building the GL.

900 BC : After building a road towards Utica (Horse Town) it is War against Carthage. Added difficulty is I want to refrain usage of Impi to avoid unwanted GA. So my task force (7 Archers/ 1 Cat) is going forward without any proper defensive unit making counter-attack a risk. I will use my 3 scouts for scouting incoming enemy unit moving scouts carefully in order for them to covers themselves so they can not be surprised by slow units.
I declare war on this turn … not waiting for swords (that could be use as defensive units) because I have 2 tempting slaves to reach. I have 2 impis and 8 useless Warriors waiting for upgrade.
2 turns later I manage to conquer Utica the Carthaginian Horse Town. I switch my production to Chariot in order to soon build Horseman. In the meantime, I will play defensive while waiting building more powerful units. I will then attack but will not kill them until later to avoid any re-settlements. I will sue for peace for techs / towns.

470 BC : I declare peace gaining a town Theveste and Horseman Technology while searching for the Republic. I have 14 Warriors / 6 Arch / 7 Chariots. I am building Horseman / Settler from now. I am building the Forbidden Palace in the South – North of Carthage to have a decent core. I hope for a GL to accelerate the development. Unfortunately – No GL so I had to hand-build until the last brick the FP.

390 BC : Egypt starts to expend to fast. I have many workers at the reach of my armies that could be nice slaves. So I declare war with only 2 Horseman, it will be a war to attack not well defended outposts of Egypt. The idea is to attack Elephantine so that Egypt will be stuck in their straight.
In the following turns my only galley will make a safe journey towards the new continent…
290 BC : Peace with Egypt for Literature & WM & 11 GP & El-Armana

70 BC : I do not continue the Peace Treaty with Carthaginian. I have now 14 Horseman / 2 Chariot / 4 Swords / 6 Archers and still 14 Warriors. All my money is spent towards research. I am still in Despotism although I have completed the GL in 610 BC and Colossus in 110 BC. I am due construction in 6 turn and the FP in 50 !!!

 

[Civgeek]

Okay, I looked it up. I put Bapedi on the grass one tile due east of the lake visible at the start. (I put Zimbabwe 1 tile SW of the start position.) This gave me the hill, the fish, some forest, and some bonus grassland, plus fresh water. It wasn't very food rich, and I would have done better to add some workers in. Oh, well.

That's about the same as my river mouth location (SE of river mouth to get two whales on expansion). Both max out at 19 shields/turn, which isn't too bad through the Middle Ages for a coastal location. I think the corruption level would be about the same for either location. I actually ended-up mining a few plains once my 20K city hit Pop 12 and I didn't need any food surplus. That got me up to 21 shields/turn.

 

[klarius]

A little bit of unsolicited advice to Civgeek and CKS.
After I submitted, I also tried a 20K on this map to see how good (in fact bad; probably about 1500 less Jason points) I would do in this.
Still I had the city (at Civgeek's location) much more productive than you two in AA.
I started to merge in workers as early I could afford it and had it at size 12 at 470BC.
The plains were never irrigated except 1, but directly mined.
This resulted in 22sh, 20 after corruption.

 

[Kuningas]

1.27 Predator

I play this GOTM 3CC AW Conquest. In AW games expansionist trait is nuisance. so I play on Predator class.

Attack is the best defence. Wars went smoothly. Early archer rush on Carthage. Meanwhile I collected gold and then mass upgraded warriors to Swords. Swords and horses took care of the Egypt. In the last stage horses overran Persians. I had high casualty rates. I lost 10-15 archers, 10-15 swords and 35-50 horses.

1250BC The Carthage one city state. Military: 6 archers, 2 warriors, 2 workers.

320AD The Egypt one city state.

800AD The Persia destroyed.

Mistakes, flaws:
-I researched near all AA techs. I had even the Great Library. Entered in the MA 920AD.
-No suicide galleys.
-I'm not sure if 3CC is winnable. 5CC is winnable, good luck Sabre.

Build orders:

Zimbabwe founded 3950BC

2x Warrior
Granary
Worker
Barracks
Archers
Temple - 1950BC
Archers
The Pyramids - 1550BC (GL)
Archers
The Oracle - 825BC
Warriors / Horses
Library - 330BC
The Great Library - 310BC (GL)
Horses
The Hanging Gardens - 440AD
Horses
Marketplace - 900AD

Ulundi founded 1725BC (settler from goody hut)

Temple
Settler
Barracks
Warriors / Horses
Temple - 350BC
Courthouse
Horses
Library - 390AD
The Great Lighthouse - 590AD
Horses
Harbor
Marketplace - 900AD

Babedi founded 1150BC

Temple - 550BC
Barracks
Warriors / Horses
Courthouse
Library - 380AD
Horses
Marketplace - 890AD

 

[Tone]

PtW Open

At the start I couldn’t see anything to encourage me to move so I settled in place.

Initial build plan was for a further two scouts a warrior for protection at home and then look to expand. I ended up not bothering with the warrior but going straight for a granary. I’m never so sure about the worth of building these in low food sites but I decided that I would need to get the settlers out faster than one every twenty turns.

Scouting: The first one went South then West, the second North then West and the third East. I met Persia and Egypt at 3500BC and Carthage at 3300BC. They were very slow to make any attempt to meet each other, which helped my tech trading. When they did try, I blocked their path, using the chokepoints North and South of the inland sea. I don’t think that Egypt met anyone else but me-even when they got MM.

Huts: the first one gave maps, the second gave us a corrupted a low food site (SW of inland sea), the third gave a warrior and the fourth HBR.

Research: I decided to go straight for Monarchy so set research for CB at max. I got this and Myst in a total of 22 turns and then researched Poly and Monarchy at 10%. (After this I researched lit but all other techs in the AA were gained by trade or peace deals.)

Target Persia: In 2390BC, I traded for IW and The Wheel. I was worried about Persia’s close source of iron and we had nothing nearby. (Egypt appeared to pose little threat as it was expanding very slowly.) I decided to grab one of the southern sources and build a warrior upgrade area there but in the meantime built archers plus a couple of warriors for protection in my core towns (once they had first built barracks). Luckily the Persians were very slow in claiming their iron and even when they did they appeared to make no attempt to road North from their capital to connect it. I didn’t give them much of a chance though sending an initial wave of 7 archers and 2 warriors to their capital as soon as their settler headed towards the iron. ( I had left a conscript warrior their for early warning and to stop a colony being built.) In 1250BC they built their iron town, I declared war 2 turns later and attacked Persepolis successfully in 1150BC. I then waited for my battered troops to heal and then marched on their second city with reinforcements from the homeland. Unfortunately the attack on Pasergardae was not so successful, only managing to weaken their spears but promoting them to elites in the process. In 1000BC with virtually all my archers dead, There were too many defenders alive to take the town but I made a final attempt to get a GL from my last elite archer. The RNG gods smiled on me and the GL Mpande rose from the ashes of this great defeat.

With most of my troops in the Persian area now dead, but with a reasonable number of warriors to upgrade in the South I decide to sue for peace, getting one of their towns in the process. I ponder for what seems like a lifetime over what to do with the GL. I consider building an army to get Heroic Epic and also consider rushing the FP in Persepolis but in the end the lure of the Pyramids is too great. It will help fill the space in the North with all that extra food in the towns. I rush the Pyramids in Persepolis and get them in 975BC.

The picture below shows the situation at 1000BC. I was still four techs short of the MA and had 22 turns to get Monarchy.

I then tried to expand peacefully but also build plenty of swords. The main core of cities was not connected to the iron in the South and the cash from minimal research provided the cash to upgrade the warriors they built in-between the settlers. Carthage managed to get a couple of settlers in the NW and Egypt build Colossus and the Oracle but otherwise expand very little. After a five-turn revolution we declare war on Egypt in 410BC and also take on Persia in 330BC before they get their iron connected. I was fishing for another GL in those wars so didn’t worry about the slow pace. I wanted to rush a FP before getting a GA so still had not built any Impis. However I wasn't so lucky this time. By 50 BC they are both down to one town and I have yet to plug all the gaps they could respawn in so I agree peace deals that give the techs (with a little subsequent trading with Carthage) that take the Zulus into the MA. I then restart research for Feudalism so that I can then take on Carthage. It built the GW in 90BC and I don’t fancy taking them on with just swords. I haven’t got a map of this time so include one from 290BC!

 

[Drazek]

-I'm not sure if 3CC is winnable. 5CC is winnable, good luck Sabre.

IIRC, Zwingli did 2-city conquest in Monarch GOTM18 which was large pangaia with an island.

 

[LeSphinx]

Here is the beginning of my game for the Zulu GOTM34:

OPEN

-4000BC Zinmbabwe founded in the starting location
Scout Exploring NE
Alphabet at 100%
Production set to Scout
Worker mining wines in N
-3900BC Scout -> GH in N -> Ulundi founded
Production in Ulundi set to scout
-3750BC Scout #2 created. Scout in production
-3650BC Scout #3 created
-3600BC Scout #2 : GH West -> Ceremonial Burial
-3450BC Contact with Persia
Trade Pottery for 10 Gold
-3400BC Contact with Carthage
Trade Ceremonial Burial and Pottery for Masonry and 10 Gold
Trade with Carthage Warrior Code for Alphabet
Trade with Persia Alphabet for Bronze Working
Researching Iron Working at 100%
-3150BC Scout -> GH -> Mysticism
-2670BC Scout -> GH -> The Wheel
-2630BC Contact with Egypt
Trade Pottery for 10 Gold
-2590BC Bapedi founded
-1790BC 1st War with Carthage : they declare war against us
-1750BC Hlobane founded
-1725BC Isamdhlwane founded
Trade with Persia The Wheel for Writing
-1700BC 1st Carthaginians city destroyed
-1650BC War with Carthage ended. Peace establish and Carthage gave us the city of Utica in order to stop the war
-1575BC Trade with Carthage Mysticism for a worker
Polyteism discovered ; Researching monarchy at 9/1/0
-1475BC Intombe founded
-1450BC Mpondo founded
-1300BC Swazi founded
-1150BC Trade with Persia Contact with Carthaginians and Polyteism for MapMaking, World Map and 3 Gold
Trade with Egypt Polyteism for World Map and 3 gold

-1000BC QSC Status :
CITIES : 10 cities
ARMY : 11 Workers
3 scouts
15 Warriors
CITIES IMPROVEMENTS : 7 Barracks
2 Granarys
1 Temple

LeSphinx

 

[Kuningas]

IIRC, Zwingli did 2-city conquest in Monarch GOTM18 which was large pangaia with an island.

sure, but I play Allways war.

 

[Hergrom]

PTW 1.21f Open

The Beginning

As stated in the pre-game thread, I am going for my first 20k victory. Between moving my scout, worker and settler, I determined the best spot in the immediate area was the tile directly W of the small lake (1 NE of the starting position). After the borders expand, this city will have two wine tiles (not useful until after depotism), 3 BG to the NNE, and a hill to go along with the many plains tiles. Based upon this I decided to found Zimbabwe 2 tiles SW of the starting position.

Zimbabwe produced scout, scout, impi, settler. This settler will found Bapedi, my 20k city. Zimbabwe then started a granary. Bapidi was founded on 2590 BC.

Scouting

For once, the expansionist trait was somewhat useful. My first scout popped an early hut to get me Bronze Working. My second scout popped another early hut to get me a town! Ulundi was coverted to my cause in 3550 BC. The spacing wasn't bad either at 4 tiles SW of Zimbabwe. Later I got The Wheel from another hut. I did pop several more huts, but got empty, maps, or gold.

Research

My initial reasearch started with Ceremonial Burial. Seemed a no-brainer to me. Also, I researched at max throughout the Ancient Age. Progression as follows:

Bronze Working - hut
Ceremonial Burial
Masonry - Persia
Alphabet - Carthage
Mysticism
The Wheel - hut
Writing
Iron Working - Persia
Literature
Polytheism
Map Making - Persia
Horseback Riding - Persia
Monarchy
Code of Laws - Egypt
Philosophy - Egypt
Republic
Construction
Currency (90 AD)

20k City Development

2590 BC - Bapedi founded - start temple
1725 BC - build temple - start Oracle
1550 BC - Add worker
1200 BC - Add worker (size 7)
800 BC - build Oracle - start Great Library
490 BC - Add worker (size 9)
190 BC - Build Great Library - start library
150 BC - Build library (rushed) - start Hanging Gardens
90 BC - Build Hanging Gardens - start marketplace

Other Nations - Relations

Met both Carthage and Persia in 3150 BC. Met Egypt in 2630 BC. I pretty much traded freely with the AI in the Ancient Age, with the notable exception of Literature. I held onto it until the turn before Bapedi built the GL. I was amazed how fast all three of my neihbors expanded towards me. This is Regent, right? In no time at all, they had me penned in with, of course, no access to horses or iron. Sigh. I wasn't paying attention to any of that kind of stuff because I was so intent on my 20k city. In 1000BC I had only 6 cities.

My first suicide galley never even made it out until the Medieval Age.

Naturally, Ainwood just HAD to put three early UU's next to us. So, I decided my first victim would be Egypt. I had no desire to face Numidians or Immortals with archers and Impis, so around 450 BC I declared war on Egypt and invaded at the choke point. I was easily able to take that city, which gained me iron for swordsmen. I entered my Golden Age in 270 BC. I slowly but surely advanced through Egypt. I paused many times to heal elites; leader farming you know. I was attacked by one war chariot, and won, so Egypt never entered a GA. I entered the Medieval Age in 90 BC, still at war with Egypt, and no Great Leaders in sight.

General Stuff

Lost Wonders: I missed out on the Pyramids (Carthage 730 BC), Lighthouse (Egypt 270 BC) and Colossus (xxxxxx 250 BC). But in reality, I could not build the Lighthouse or Colossus anyway, so I only missed the Pyramids.

Barbarians: I seem to have missed the "no barbarians" setting, so I prepared for barbs as usual, and wasted some resources.

RCP: I did not use RCP in this game. I made sure Bapedi was the closest city to Zimbabwe (for lowest rank corruption), and placed all other cities based primarily upon geography.

Governemnt: I revolted to Monarchy as soon as I discovered it in 670 BC. I got a lucky 3 turn anarchy. The nice thing about this is that my GA was not in despotism. The reason I chose Monarchy rather than waiting for Republic was that I planned on being at war constantly for the rest of the game. And I really did not fear falling behind in tech to the AI on Regent.

Hindsight:

1. I'm wodering if it would be worth it to whip a granary early in a 20k city... I don't feel like doing the math. Anybody ever done this?

2. I would like to have added more workers sooner, but it was a struggle to make enough workers to work the land and to add to Bapedi. The low food start was a hindrance.

3. Go to war earlier. It seems an early leader or two would be a huge difference maker in a 20k game. But, see #2 above. It was hard enough to make workers and settlers, let alone enough troops to fight a war.


Stay tuned for the Medieval Age write up. Will I succeed?

Hergrom

 

[SirPleb]

1.27

I'm going for 100k culture in this game.

The lack of the expansionist trait adds an interesting challenge to the predator game. At first I thought it might have been a very large handicap because I saw no "cookie crumb trail" and decided to settle on the spot. I wondered if starting with a scout would have allowed me to find a better location for Zimbabwe. But later on when I'd explored a bit I realized it had made no difference in this regard - there were no nearby bonuses.

I think that the largest differences for predator class were:
1) Due to delayed exploration, a lower chance of claiming iron and/or horses without going to war.
2) Lower quality goody huts. I popped only three in my game. One gave a useless tech (Ceremonial Burial, easy enough to get in trade) and the other two gave angry barbarians.

Contact with other Civs was also delayed for predators but I think that made little difference. Regent AIs are so slow to research that meeting them a bit sooner vs. later doesn't matter much.

Initial Development

I didn't see any reason to suggest that moving in a particular direction would lead to a better position. I moved the worker north to explore a few more tiles. That didn't reveal anything useful so I settled Zimbabwe at the start location.

Since barbarians are sedentary, and Regent level AIs won't soon become a big threat, and the start location was fairly shield rich, and I wanted to learn Bronze Working before building any units, I decided I'd build a granary right away. It wouldn't delay my first settler by much but would effectively double the start location's food supply.

My worker mined the northern wines, then moved to the northwest wines to mine them, and then roaded them.

After completing my granary in 3100BC I decided to delay production of my first settler a bit. I still didn't see any bonus food, nor any other reason to prefer a particular direction for the second town. So I produced two Impis next and sent them exploring before I built a settler.

After that I focused on expansion for a while. Since I didn't see any bonus food I decided I'd see what happened with an extreme approach of how I'd begun. (I didn't see the freshwater fish till later and I'm not sure they would have changed my approach - not enough shields near them to make grabbing them early a clearly good choice.) Zimbabwe built four settlers before anything else and then a second worker. Each of my next four towns built a granary before doing anything else. I built those towns in ring 3 and in each case I was able to complete the granary before growing to size 3. (In one case I delayed the growth to size 3 by a turn to get the granary first.) This made for an unusual start. I had just one worker up to the time I produced the fourth settler. After that I started producing workers. In 1675BC when I founded my fourth ring 3 town my world looked like this:

Research

I researched at 100%.

First I researched Bronze Working so that I could build Impis, learning it in 3300BC.

Next I researched Alphabet. When I met Carthage in 2710BC I was still working on Alphabet but was able to trade for it instead of finishing.

Next I researched Writing (1990BC), Philosophy (1700BC), Code Of Laws (1375BC), and Republic (750BC.)

By that time I'd popped Ceremonial Burial from a hut and traded for Masonry, Iron Working, Mysticism, and Map Making.

Immediately upon learning Republic I revolted, getting a four turn anarchy.

After that I researched Literature, then turned off research for a while to rush some construction.

Next I learned Mathematics, Currency, and Construction, and traded for Horseback Riding and Polytheism.

And that brought me to the Middle Ages at 210BC.

Strategic Resources

Iron was my first problem. When I traded for Iron Working in 2150BC the only iron I saw was so near Carthage that she'd definitely get it first. In subsequent exploration I found the iron near the chokepoint to Egypt. I sent a settler to claim it. Egypt settled there first at a location which put the iron in her city's second ring. I settled north of the iron to claim it and then rushed a temple as soon as I could in that town.

That took care of the iron problem and I could build swordsmen.

I could probably invade Egypt and Persia easily with swordsmen. But I'd probably trigger their Golden Ages and it might take a bit of fighting to defeat them. Carthage was geographically more appealing. But swordsmen against her Numidian Mercenaries would suffer a high casualty rate. I considered supplementing an attack force with catapults but that didn't seem very appealing. It would take a lot of catapults and they are slow moving.

I decided that if I could claim horses I'd prefer to wait for Knights, building infrastructure in the meantime, and then blasting through opponents quickly.

In 1000BC I traded for Map Making and maps and was able to see all resources. I decided my best shot at getting horses were some of the northern ones. I sent a galley with a couple of settlers to claim the coastal horses north of Persia and the dyes near them. The galley then shuttled some Impi and a worker to the area and then began a suicide run because its local tasks were complete.

After building some roads and a harbor I had the horses connected. I started building horsmen late in the Middle Ages to prepare for the time I learned Chivalry.

My world when I entered the Middle Ages at 210BC:

QSC Status

At 1000BC I had:
11 towns
1 settler
5 granaries
1 barracks
10 native workers
4 impis

Click here if you'd like to download a copy of my QSC timeline.