Giving this one a go on Adventurer, so had that advantage. Still, though, seems I'm the only one who didn't get the Oracle. And, haven't even started a war yet! That will soon change, though.
I settled 1 NE, as it gave me 3 resources, along with the flood plains. Took my second settler S/SW and settled on the coast, with all the Furs and flood plains.
Captured a barb city to the west, with the Sheep and Wheat, just before 1 AD, to give me 7 cities. 3rd city up was E, where the Gold and Spices are, to hold off the Mongols advance, and 4th N, for the Copper and Ivory....but Cyrus planted his city just before so the two are very close. 5th city went in that nifty spot W of the capitol with many resources....6th SE for the Copper and Deer.
Cyrus will go down soon. I prefer to wait for catapults in war, especially as we are teching quite fast. Being he has copper, iron and horses, he must go down very soon. Seems Kubla didn't have copper.....he'll probably go down as well, but my goal is a space victory, with so much from Gold, Furs and cottages. Just want enough cities and don't want anyone breathing down my neck
So, Kubla may or may not go.....Hatty isn't my friend, so if I started down that road, she may have to go also.
I didn't get the Oracle because stupid barbs disconnected my Marble twice. I probably screwed that up and should have fog busted. I've made no Wonders at all, actually, building workers and settlers and now the war machine.
I'm not sure how far the machine should go....15-20 cities should suffice.