Since the start did not look promising for 20k, and since I'd like to collect a lowest scoring conquest award, I decided to go for conquest. I didn't do anything to make my score extra low. I'm just trusting in my lousy warring skills to put me there. I kept some notes from the beginning (which I'm pasting below), but as usual they taper off early on. I researched to chivalry and then to military tradition. The great library, which the Greeks built for me, got me close to railroads, so I researched the last 3 techs so I could move more speedily. The Greeks settled the one-tile island, but I got it in a peace deal. The Japanese settled the two-tile island, but left the other tile empty, so it was no problem. The Japanese settled several towns in the last few turns, all located where they were easy for me to take, but when I took their last real town, they were gone. I finished in 1540.
Early notes:
settle in place, scout to NE, start CB Build 2 warriors, then a scout
3850 hut – 25 g
3650 meet Sumeria, won't trade BW for my warrior code + 35 g
3400 2nd hut – maps
3300 3rd hut – BW
3250 Sumeria gives me 2 workers for warrior code + 1 g. I happily take advantage of them.
3150 4th hut gives 25 g, see blue borders
3100 trade Korea all my money for alphabet, give alphabet to Sumeria for 11 g
3050 see barbs
2710 meet Iroquois, up a lot of techs
2070 hut gives mysticism, trade it to Korea for a worker and 5 g
1870 hut gives 25 g, I have 3 towns
1750 hut give the wheel
1650 hut gives maps
1550 hut gives maps
1275 learn writing, start philosophy. Meet Greece
1100 Out of the blue, the Greeks declare war, kill a scout
Golden age. Learn philosophy first, but no CoL – take lit.
925 meet Germany, very backwards
