Harald Hardrada

[Fluphen Azine]

I thought I would share this game.
I randomly rolled Harald.
I didn't find it very interesting till turn 8 and that is when I started to save it.
I started getting Loyalty Pressure on turn 26.
I was able to fight my way out and get two cities from Spain with the help of Gilgamesh.
You can see how quick I got boxed in from Spain, Gilgamesh and Greece.
I have some room but not for long.

I panicked when I was at -5 or so Loyalty Pressure and bought a Monument with 240 gold.
I did not nor do I replay or reload turns.
My tech rate and culture rate is in the cellar now.
I most likely put too many turns into Bronze Working and State Workforce.
No culture CS's nearby yet.
I suppose the next target should be Greece but I may need help.
I am not happy with the game at all but I think it will be a slow win for me at least.
I am sure others can get to victory much faster.
If you have interest I put up some save files and pictures.

Any positive or negative feedback is much appreciated.
The more advice I can read about the more it can help me in this situations that I find difficult.

Deity
All Random Civs
All Standard Settings
Pangaea Map

Spoiler Screenshots :

 

[Fluphen Azine]

A frustrating game/start.
Perhaps I just played the early game poorly.
On turn 46 I fell into a Dark Age which is most likely too difficult to overcome.
Pressure in my Capital and Barcelona.
Barcelona wouldn't grow or build anything from turn 40 no matter what I did.
I was able to rebuild the Monument but after that it was 220 turns for a worker.
Even with food it wouldn't grow.
Not sure if that was a Loyalty Issue or Bug.
I had .02+ Loyalty on the city so it was in the green.

I guess I just scouted the wrong way this time with my warrior.
If I went east instead of North West I may have found Spain earlier and been able to steal a settler, worker or both.

I may have been better off going for a Trade Route first as well instead of State Workforce.
If I don't go to war with Spain, Gilgamesh will just roll them and I think I would be in worse shape trying to rush out some settlers.

Seemed like a decent start.
Plains Hill. Salt. Quarry. Tea. Rice
Made Friends with Gilgamesh.
Joined the War against Spain.
Took a 1 charged worker.
Took 2 Cities and wiped out Spain for the +5 Era Score.
I got a free worker from a goody hut.
Perhaps scout first is something that hurt as well.