I realize that outproduction is an issue. Normally I'd have written it off and moved on, like when all sorts of other bad things happen like I pop a lich from graveyards or whatever. I'm no stranger to losing - it's why I like FF and keep poking the AI trying to get it to do prettier backflips.
Its the speed and the rate she was able to pull this shenanigan off that got me talking. I probably wasn't clear about that when I posted, but I don't think she needs to be nerfed too much - I've been playing the Calabim, widely accepted as one of the strongest civs - but that her ability to do it so EARLY needs to be toned down.
When the rest of the world was building infrastructure, Dierdra was conquering other AIs. While I was going for Code of Laws, and the Balseraph player was building his third settler, Dierdra now has eight, maybe nine cities. That's a lot of industrial might, leading to the out-production - but I wasn't involved in this in any way, neither was the other player, she was just chomping up other AIs because of early super-explorers. So that when she comes knocking no, the players don't have equivalent numbers of units. I will tell you he did have both Archery and Bronze working. But the really fun thing about explorers is that they can dive on a city from 2 squares away, negating the early archer shoot the units in the face bonus. And it only takes two or three such dives to kill an archer. Normally wouldn't be an issue, but if she has three times more cities she can afford to do this.
The out production is partly an issue of the other AIs rolling over and playing dead for her. Which is due to her early strength. Which is what I want a nerf of. The surround promos are just something I've wanted in game for some time - and the super-stacks of Hunters gave me the initiative to actually do it.
Her early initiative to eat other AIs is actually the issue - this stunt would be a lot harder on human players at the start if she didn't have their lands, too. Other AIs can take lands like she does but they slow down afterwords as they build infrastructure to catch up on maintenance. Guess what she doesn't have - distance maintenance. Part of the equation. It's all a very perfect storm of random problems that suddenly end up in your face.
As to the Archos - Yeah, they can have a pretty good rush too. Mining - 300 beakers, Bronze Working - 600 beakers. No need to build Barracks. 900 beakers and you're ready. Str5 Combat I.
Cartography - 300 beakers. You're done - thats all that's needed.
So maybe you can pick up some infrastructure with your next 600 beakers while you build out heedless of distance to pick stellar spots. The 600 beakers will get you - Ancient Chants, Education - Combat II. Adapt to Aggressive. Combat III. Done. Str 4 times 60% is 2.4 - so 6.4 str Hunters. Yeah, that's right, 6.4 strength to an Archos' Brute's 5.5(combat I) at the same tech level. With better technology to expand your empire (agriciulture, education), an empire that expands in general better, your units have a two move unhindered by terrain and can found cities. Mind you, before your swapped to Aggressive you were Expansive and so are more likely to have a larger number of your own cities. Also, you're charismatic, so as your uber-explorers eat animals and barbarians they rack up more and more promotions.