Tough choice I felt on where to start in place would mean no need for an aqueduct later, but moving would free up another FP (wasnt sure if there was any effect on disease, I thought it only mattered if you were working a tile in the city radius rather than what the city was on?). In the end decided to move and settle Madrid on the desert to the SE.
Worker orders were irr / road FP, irr / road FP, road wines, mine sugar, irr / road FP. Madrid built warrior (MP), warrior (MP), warrior (explored N then W), settler (founded Barcelona to N in 2590 BC), granary, then 5 turn settlers. Barcelona primarily built warriors to explore, deal with barbs and for MP (slipped in a barracks at some point).
Researched writing at max (2510 BC), CoL (1700 BC), Phil (1500 BC, took Rep though held off on revolt felt benefits were outweighed by the loss of MP for happiness, and future need to whip).
Met French first (3000 BC) they were up BW / MAS / POT, down CB. Then met English (2510 BC) they were up BW / MAS / POT, down Writing (French had now picked up CB & Wheel). Traded with French, Writing for Wheel and BW, then with England, Writing and Wheel for IW, POT & 4g. All now level on techs.
2270 BC popped first two huts got barbs and MAS popped 3 or 4 more huts later on, got all barbs bar one useless map (lost a fair few warriors along the way I hate raging barbs).
French and English established embassies around 2000. 1325 traded CoL to English for MM & 141g, to French for WC & Myst all back level on techs.
1000 BC 8 towns (total pop 19); 2 settlers, 4 workers, 9 warriors (6 reg 3 vet), first sword due next turn; iron and wines hooked up (furs secured in territory but not connected); 1 granary, 1 barracks, 4 temples (more than normal at this point, 3 were recently whipped to expand borders in order to secure furs and iron); prebuild on way for GLH; 223g; missing AA techs Constr (due in 13 turns), Curr, Poly, HBR & Lit.
Revolted to Rep in 975 BC (had held off until I'd whipped the temples). Got currency 650 BC, traded for poly & HBR, we all entered the MA together.
Felt this was an OK start the northern border is completely secure against the French, so I have plenty of space to expand S & E in peace, and all the tiles in my territory are visible so barb uprisings should be controlled. No early disease, unlike last month, which is a big help bearing in mind all the FPs. A 5 turn factory again which feels odd (and hard work to manage!), but does work. Lack of luxes may be a bit of an issue in the future can see having to take the gems off the French fairly soon.
Most significant perhaps is the lack of horses and, given the French and English dont seem to have any either, this could become huge. Partly in view of this, and partly as the Conquistador is a terrible UU for a GA anyway, I decided to aim for a wonder GA based on the GLH (figured would be useful anyway as Im going to need to explore and find horses at some point), and Knights Templar (again useful as crusaders could be my best offensive weapon if I cant get cav). Intend to keep peacefully building & researching until the end of my GA, then attack France (probably with MI & crusaders). That's the plan anyway..........
)
