As I am waiting for Thal to fix the GOTM build I started playing a practice game with Basically the same settings as this. The start I had was completely different than the GOTM start so I won't comment on the game itself, however:
First off maybe it is just the game I am playing but VEM 118 seems to make Barbarians crazy! There are tons of them everywhere, very aggressive. Attacking out of their camps regularly. Which is very cool but different from what I have been seeing lately. They seem to be upgrading to modern units more slowly however.
Not having played Darius much, it seems the goal here is going to be to find another Civ right away and just go hell bent for them as soon as you get Spears. Immortals have a very early limited lifesapn so if you want to take advantage of that, early War is the key. I think I am going to burn any city smaller than 8, and replant with a fresh settler.
Immortals have great healing abilities and they don't seem to obsolete until after Muskets. So buying/building them then upgrading to Pike or beyond will keep the extra healing ability. Armies of Muskets with double healing are awesome!
Given this I think I will be playing for a Domination Victory right from the start. Ignoring Culture for the most part due to the large number of cities I will accumulate. Concentrating on Happiness buildings Satraaps Courts and Gold. Rapid Expansion.
In the GOTM #3 I will probaly settle where I am head for Spears then Plantations. I will send my worker north then to the east to keep him out of the thick of the trees. Grab the Ruins on the hill and search for the coast.
I will most likely build Scout, Monument, Immortal, Worker, Settler. Although I may leave out the monument.
Grab the Early Free worker and Settler, Possibly the Early Culture Buildings then Honor Tree...