Help me learn how to play!

[tmarcl]

- 4th city will go to the south, next to the wheat and all the hills. Shame we can't get that deer, but that'd mean losing out on the sheep. We'll still get the health after the second border pop anyway.

I forgot this part. What wheat are you seeing to the south?

The interesting thing about City IV is that it's got Crabs to the west, that can't be worked until border two. Either in my location or yours, I'll only get one extra food resource quickly.

Marc

 

[v8_mark]

Sorry, that was brainfade. Sheep, not wheat the one next to city 4.

And yes, the three southern cities would include Paris - all three of those cities would have to prioritize production.

 

[KMadCandy]

"There is a source of clams that would be within the BFC if I settled on top of the Stone."

i'm little miss paranoid about "complete seafood checks", because i've missed out on tasty snacks by not checking one more tile before hitting that build city button. i hope Stone City turns out to be a fabulous addition to the empire

"When I decided to build Stonehenge, I was nearly done with the monument in Stone City (I think it was the turn before I whipped it), so I decided to finish it. In retrospect, I should have switched production to a Granary immediately. This would have left the monument in my queue, which would have given me a bit of cash once Stonehenge was completed."

i don't know that you do get gold for that actually. you don't if you're building a monastery when sci method comes in, for example, and SH "obsoletes" the build option for monuments in the same way.

"10 axes should give justinian more than enough problems, seeing as it looks like he has just one city to your three."

justinian is imperialistic, so he gets a production bonus to settlers. i expect him to expand fairly quickly.

 

[tmarcl]

61

62 Bob finishes chopping down a tree, and moves to a hill to mine it.

63 Dora finds Constantinople to the south, and sees silly looking people with one bent stick being used to throw a skinny stick with feathers. The Archer\rs invite Dora out for a contest. They will shoot their feathered sticks at a target. If Dora can match them, they'll give her beer. Dora accepts. They shoot their feathered sticks at the target. Dora grabs a bunch of rocks and hits them with her club at the target, knocking the feather sticks down. She wins, inadvertently inventing baseball.

64-66

67 "And you can be sure to grab Stonehenge, GW and Pyramids with this stone and wood, being Industrious."-Pawelo, post 31. "The Great Wall has been built in a far a way land!"-Mysterious banner across the top of the screen, turn 67.

68

69 Stone City completes Granary. I'm going to go ahead and get started on that Settler, now. It will be done in 13 turns. However, after this next chop in Paris, Wendy can head up and start chopping for the Settler, while Bob irrigates the Floodplains. Once the Settler is done, I'll rush a Worker.

70

71 Mathematics is discovered, and Construction (19 turns) is chosen. Another possibility is Iron Working, which will be done in 11 turns. The Pyramids are built in Paris, and Bob and Wendy both are sent towards Stone City. Paris rushes a Work Boat to take advantage of Stone City's Clams. The revolution begins (for Representation)! Dora sees two Archers and a Settler in Byzantium ready to build a city on a hill.

72 Adrianople is settled by Justinian.

73 Paris completes it's Work Boat, and starts on a Library (in order to have a couple of Scientists). I'm tempted to start on the Moai Statues, which will be done in 8 turns, and increase my GP points. As it stands right now, it will take another 15 turns for there to be a Great Person, and there is a 90% chance of it being a Great Prophet, but I want that added science

74-76

78 Stone City completes it's Settler and starts work on a Worker (6 turns). Dora finds Thessalonica.

79

80 Paris completes its Library and hires a Scientist (two would cause starvation. A Barracks is started (6 turns). I could rush it now, but I want to grow a bit before I start whipping again, in order to get a second Scientist. Dora sees her first Barbarian Warrior. Metaltown is settled, and starts on a Barracks (50 turns) for now. We are now earning -3 GPT. I should be able to maintain 100% Science long enough to get Construction, but I suspect I'll need to lower it soon after that.

On the city front: We're 3/4 of the way through our initial Dotmap. The only city left is Hilltown for the three hills to the south (unless I go one more south, as was also suggested). We have real Barbarians, now, which means that I'm going to have to start cranking out some military units for Stone City and Metaltown. One in Stone City, I think should be enough, but someone is going to have to protect the Copper and Gold next to Metaltown.

On the diplomatic front, both Joe Two and Justinian are Cautious. Joe Two also has three cities, and Justinian is willing to trade Pigs for Clams. Joe Two is willing to sign Open Borders (which I should have done awhile ago), and has not yet met Justinian.

Also, as a reminder, everyone is welcome to comment on this thread. While I greatly appreciate the advice that the two or three regulars are giving, more would be appreciated. Even if all you want to do is tell me I'm an idiot for doing something I shouldn't have, or if you have questions in general.

Marc

 

[tmarcl]

"There is a source of clams that would be within the BFC if I settled on top of the Stone."

i'm little miss paranoid about "complete seafood checks", because i've missed out on tasty snacks by not checking one more tile before hitting that build city button. i hope Stone City turns out to be a fabulous addition to the empire

"When I decided to build Stonehenge, I was nearly done with the monument in Stone City (I think it was the turn before I whipped it), so I decided to finish it. In retrospect, I should have switched production to a Granary immediately. This would have left the monument in my queue, which would have given me a bit of cash once Stonehenge was completed."

i don't know that you do get gold for that actually. you don't if you're building a monastery when sci method comes in, for example, and SH "obsoletes" the build option for monuments in the same way.

You may be right, Kmad. Now that I think of it, I don't recall getting gold for non-Wonders.

"10 axes should give justinian more than enough problems, seeing as it looks like he has just one city to your three."

justinian is imperialistic, so he gets a production bonus to settlers. i expect him to expand fairly quickly.

As you can see, he did.

Marc

 

[pawelo]

67 "And you can be sure to grab Stonehenge, GW and Pyramids with this stone and wood, being Industrious."-Pawelo, post 31. "The Great Wall has been built in a far a way land!"-Mysterious banner across the top of the screen, turn 67.

I still assure you that the three were doable, though it the above order
The GW would have took you 8-9 turns with a chop or two, after what you would still have enough time to get those pointy stuff that you managed this early

At least you can learn how to manage barbs in early times

Regarding the cities, I never was good at dotmapping. However, the silk spot is definitely where you want to settle your fifth city.

For the byzantines, two paths are doable :
1) let her get the shrine and spread buddhism like hell ( which she does sooner or later )
2) get 3-4 cats along with 7-8 axes and pay her a final visit

I would go for the second one - that will let you grow pretty well until the Middle-Age.

Once again, great job!
You're doing very well until now!

 

[v8_mark]

First of all:

OMGyou'vegotnounitsdefendingatallin875BCdoitquick!!!111eleven!!

(Even if they're unpromoted warriors, you need something. As it stands, a barb is likely to saunter right up to one of your cities, causing emergency whippage or death.)

Nice job on Stone City. I'm not actually sure that worker is needed, but you may as well complete him now to prep the new city site if nothing else. I'm assuming the next phase of the plan is to whip a Library, grow it back to 4, and run 2 scientists for thousands of beakers. This should get you scampering up the tech tree in next to no time.

Number one priority for Paris should be warriors for all three of your cities, IMO. In fact, that would be the only priority if it was me playing. A worker also needs to get to Metaltown in a hurry, to hook up the pigs, gold and copper (probably in that order).

Regarding the cities, I never was good at dotmapping. However, the silk spot is definitely where you want to settle your fifth city.

I kind of agree, but not yet - I think the prospective four at the moment is fine, otherwise maintenance costs will begin to skyrocket. I'd also wait until there are some workers free before attempting that site - there's jungle to clear, farming to be done and plantations to be built.

Cats and axes in the medium-term is the way to go, I think.

Nice job so far!

 

[KMadCandy]

While I greatly appreciate the advice that the two or three regulars are giving, more would be appreciated.

not advice, just a request from someone too lazy to load the saves at times ... would you pretty please show resource flags on the map in the summary screen? i know sometimes they make a mess and cover stuff up, and then you'd need two shots and might reach a limit or something, in which case i'd try to get off my lazy candybutt and exit the game i generally have going in the background and load yours .

oh, and how did you resist the urge to call Metaltown "Pig Copper"? or am i the only one that has to name every city that has pigs and iron "Pig Iron"? if i get two of them, they end up "Pig Iron North" and "Pig Iron South" or something. it just has to be for me! certainly name it what you want to, i'm just surprised that not everybody does that!

i keep editing...

"On the diplomatic front, both Joe Two and Justinian are Cautious. Joe Two also has three cities, and Justinian is willing to trade Pigs for Clams. Joe Two is willing to sign Open Borders (which I should have done awhile ago), and has not yet met Justinian."

i think Joe Two doesn't have a religion yet? if so that's good and i'd sign OB. neither will trade techs until they've met someone other than you, and if they've met only you all their spy points go to you, while yours are split. Joe Two being able to travel through your lands should help him meet Justinian quicker if he's in an exploring mood. he doesn't need OB to settle what you think of as your land that's not settled yet anyway once he gets optics (far off at this point), given his UU, so may as well earn the +OB.

but if they're different religions, you may run into worst enemy issues and "stop trading with the vile whositsfaces" demands if you have ongoing trades like OB and pigs for clams. i think you have/will have eventually both pigs and clams? even if that's true, if the political scenery makes it safe, setting up a trade while it's not connected is a good idea, to earn the +years of resources, and eventually he'll probably get something you don't have and you can swap the deal then since he'll be addicted to what you're supplying. that's what i do anyway, and trade for stuff i don't need yet so that they think of it as custom-ordered by me when i do need it . but i only rush to it when i don't know their worst enemy. if i do know the vile so-and-sos, then i think carefully about it (sometimes i still do the trade tho, depends).

 

[tmarcl]

I still assure you that the three were doable, though it the above order
The GW would have took you 8-9 turns with a chop or two, after what you would still have enough time to get those pointy stuff that you managed this early

I had thought about doing GW before Pyramids, and I probably could have gotten it, as you said. However, I wanted Pyramids and Representation more than I did Great Wall.

Regarding the cities, I never was good at dotmapping. However, the silk spot is definitely where you want to settle your fifth city.

I will add it to the dotmap. Unfortunately, when my computer crashed, we lost everything, including the err....slightly less than legal copy of Adobe Photoshop I had. I'll either have to use Microsoft Paint or the sign ability in game.

For the byzantines, two paths are doable :
1) let her get the shrine and spread buddhism like hell ( which she does sooner or later )
2) get 3-4 cats along with 7-8 axes and pay her a final visit

I would go for the second one - that will let you grow pretty well until the Middle-Age.

Justinian, for all that he appears to be wearing a dress, is a guy. I don't know how his actions compare to whoever the other Byzantine leader is, though.

First of all:

OMGyou'vegotnounitsdefendingatallin875BCdoitquick!!!111eleven!!

If you look back amidst my posts, you will see that I have not once, but twice (and possibly three times) commented on my concern for there being no military to speak of, yet. My advisors informed me, however, that I needed to build Workers, Settlers, Granaries, and Libraries. Not Warriors.

However, I will try and move Dora into Metaltown and whip a couple more Clubwielders to protect Paris and Stone City.

Nice job on Stone City. I'm not actually sure that worker is needed, but you may as well complete him now to prep the new city site if nothing else. I'm assuming the next phase of the plan is to whip a Library, grow it back to 4, and run 2 scientists for thousands of beakers. This should get you scampering up the tech tree in next to no time.

Well, I'm thinking an extra one will be worthwhile. I think there's like 1 more turn for it, anyways. A Library is in fact the next step. My two absolute wanted wonders now are the Great Library and University of Sankore.

Number one priority for Paris should be warriors for all three of your cities, IMO. In fact, that would be the only priority if it was me playing. A worker also needs to get to Metaltown in a hurry, to hook up the pigs, gold and copper (probably in that order).

I'm not sure about the order. Given the whipping, health is not my immediate concern right now. The Gold, however, will give me happiness, and (I think) more money.

not advice, just a request from someone too lazy to load the saves at times ... would you pretty please show resource flags on the map in the summary screen?

I will do my best

oh, and how did you resist the urge to call Metaltown "Pig Copper"? or am i the only one that has to name every city that has pigs and iron "Pig Iron"? if i get two of them, they end up "Pig Iron North" and "Pig Iron South" or something. it just has to be for me! certainly name it what you want to, i'm just surprised that not everybody does that!

This is actually the first game where I've renamed my cities as I've settled them. Making joke names wasn't my consideration (ironic, I know), but more a description of what they're for.

"On the diplomatic front, both Joe Two and Justinian are Cautious. Joe Two also has three cities, and Justinian is willing to trade Pigs for Clams. Joe Two is willing to sign Open Borders (which I should have done awhile ago), and has not yet met Justinian."

i think Joe Two doesn't have a religion yet? if so that's good and i'd sign OB. neither will trade techs until they've met someone other than you, and if they've met only you all their spy points go to you, while yours are split. Joe Two being able to travel through your lands should help him meet Justinian quicker if he's in an exploring mood. he doesn't need OB to settle what you think of as your land that's not settled yet anyway once he gets optics (far off at this point), given his UU, so may as well earn the +OB.

I was thinking something similar. Also, given my intent to declare war on Justinian in the not too distant future, I think it will help to start making nice with someone else.

My plan, so far, is to build Hilltown, as well as get a few Axemen and Catapults ready for an invasion. I wish I could promote Dora, but it looks like the funds are not there. Once I get some Scientists in Stone City and Paris, I should be able (and may have to) lower my slider a bit for more money.

After Construction, Iron Working? Dare I risk the chance that there is Iron as close to me as there is Copper? In most of my games, I'd say "Heck, No!" However, so far, this game has been weird with the abundance of resources I've got. Iron Working may just be next...

Marc

 

[tmarcl]

I've started on the next 20 turns. Either this evening or tomorrow morning, I will post the results.

Marc

 

[v8_mark]

I'm not sure about the order. Given the whipping, health is not my immediate concern right now. The Gold, however, will give me happiness, and (I think) more money.

Yeah, the hooking up of those resources is more to do with the food, hammers and commerce they give, rather than the health/happy benefits (although +1 happy for gold is a nice side-effect). When the copper is also hooked up, and you're working those three tiles, you should have nine hammers, a food surplus and ten-ish commerce - a vast improvement on the unimproved yields.

If you look back amidst my posts, you will see that I have not once, but twice (and possibly three times) commented on my concern for there being no military to speak of, yet. My advisors informed me, however, that I needed to build Workers, Settlers, Granaries, and Libraries. Not Warriors.

Haha, yes. I thought perhaps you had maybe one city undefended, or just a token warrior - but you have nothing at all apart from Dora, which I hadn't realized.

My two absolute wanted wonders now are the Great Library and University of Sankore.

Yeah, the Great Library would be a big help. University of Sankore....I guess it remains to be seen how prevalent religion is going to be in your empire. It's not so huge if you're not spamming religious buildings (and definitely not worth it if you plan to go Free Religion at some point).

After Construction, Iron Working? Dare I risk the chance that there is Iron as close to me as there is Copper? In most of my games, I'd say "Heck, No!" However, so far, this game has been weird with the abundance of resources I've got. Iron Working may just be next...

Yeah, Iron Working for me. As much for the ability to get to Metal Casting as any other benefit. It also means you can chop some of that jungle if you decide to put a city up north.

 

[tmarcl]

Here it is, folks. France's Centennial turn (plus one, by mistake). I apologize for the delay.

81 Paris, concerned about reports of Barbarian invaders to the North, ignores training, and begins handing out clubs to defend the outer cities. Dora is recalled from her reconaissance to Protect the newely founded Metaltown. Stone City, fearing the loss of all of it's knowledge, stops building it's Worker and switches to a Library (45 turns). While returning, Dora engages a fierce Barbarian Warrior, but manages to survive. She heads off towards Metaltown as ordered. Bob starts a road towards Metaltown, while Wendy goes on ahead to start mining the Gold.

82 Paris completes it's two Warrior units and returns to building it's Barracks, hoping to create better trained units for the Barbarian threat.

83 A Buddhist Monk arrives in Stone City, bringing the Byzantine philosophy of Budweiser to France. He receives a following, and the people clamor for the entire State to accept Buddhism. For now, DeGaulle refuses, believing the faith to be nothing more than the ravings of a drunken loon.

84 Enrico Fermi is born in Paris. He offers to share his breakthrough scientific revelation of the Alphabet (putting names to the pretty squiggles on bark). Others wish to build a Great Academy, to further inspire future generations. Alternately, he will join the goverment, helping to research new breakthroughs.

Basically, it's like this: Discovering the tech will give me Alphabet *now* as opposed to whenever I get around to researching it. However, using the specialist, I will get +9 science as well as +1 production. The Academy will give me 50% more science. Paris (my biggest science producer right now) is producing 26 beakers on it's own (with my science slider at 100 and my two scientists). Adding the Library gives me 32.50 beakers. If I add my specialist, I get 41.5, while the Academy will give me 48.75 beakers. I think I'll go with the Academy for now.


85 Stone City completes work on Library and starts on a Lighthouse

86 Construction is complete, Iron Working is next in 3 turns.

87-88

89 Iron Working is discovered, Alphabet is next, 5 turns. Amazingly enough, we have a source of Iron within the French Empire! Once I finish the Gold and Pigs at Metaltown, one Worker will go for the Copper, one for the Iron.

90-93

94 We discover the secret of Alphabet! Next up is Metal Casing (7), for the Forges.

95-96

97 Stone City completes a Lighthouse, and now starts on a Settler for Hilltown. Someone builds the Temple of Artemis. Joe Two wants the secret of Mysticism in exchange for Hunting. I will give it to him.

98-100

101 I accidentally went to turn 101. So far, Metal Casing has been discovered. I'm planning on Machinery next. Iron has been hooked up, as has Copper. Now working on the Sheep down where Hilltown will go. Big decision time. 1) Lower science slider to 0 in order to upgrade my Warriors (who, I realize, I haven't given Cute Names to (they are now Hercules (Paris) and Iolas (pron. "Yolas) (Stone City) to Axemen and/or Spearmen. 2) Now that I've begun working on Catapults (Paris built one), do I add Swordsmen or Axemen? Justinian has Iron Working, meaning he probably has Swordsmen. Swordsmen have a strength of 6, +10% to City Attack (along with the Catapults to soften the defenses) and cost 40 hammers. Axemen, on the other hand, are cheaper (35 hammers), only have a strength of 5, but have a +50% attack vs. Melee units (which I'm sure Justinian has. A quick look at the power graph says that Justinian is slightly more powerful than I am (Joe Two has us both beat)

Also, Joe Two will trade Archery for Alphabet, while Justinian wants Writing instead. Both are still Cautious towards me and Pleased towards one another.

Marc

 

[v8_mark]

Cool

It's coming along OK - there's a couple of things that I can see that are slowing your progress down on a purely resource-based level:

- The pigs in the capital's fat cross. Still not improved! That's 3 free food you're missing out on every turn, which is pretty much the ability to work an extra low-food tile, with another food left over. Improving that tile would effectively let you grow at a rate of knots while working those plains/hills, for extra hammers. There's another unimproved tile you're working in the city radius - more valuable resources that you're missing out on. I'd even be tempted to cottage those river tiles, for long-term research, but that's just me. Whether farm or cottage, it's certainly a much higher priority than the road to the new city.
- Metaltown should (IMO) be working the gold, rather than the unimproved grassland/forest. Aside from the obvious economic benefits, it gives you two extra hammers for the cost of two food. I'd farm some of the rest of the grassland squares (as well as chopping a couple of the forests) for growth, rather than relying on fairly resource-poor squares. Purely a style thing, though, I just think the short-term commerce gain (in this case) outweighs the long-term production.

As far as the military is concerned, I see you have a catapult - I'd concentrate on axemen first, for their ability to deal with barbarians. Having even a single axeman within easy reach of all your cities effectively leaves you invulnerable to barbarian warriors - cats are slightly less effective, and they don't kill units any more in BtS.

With the new city coming along, production (which is the priority) should be going nicely - Paris will have three hills which you'll be able to work (total of approx 11 hammers/turn) - Metaltown will have two, plus your copper for a similar total. The new city has a food resource which you'll be able to improve now so that it's working it from the get-go - it might struggle in the short-term, but medium-term it'll be fine. Long-term you'll be able to get an extra food out of those grassland river tiles, which should give you enough food to work several mines.

Academy was a good move, research is now singing. Good move going for Machinery; that's something I wouldn't have considered (I don't normally look that far ahead in the tech tree, LOL) - a couple of crossbowmen and you should really have a formidable force. The only problem you'd have with an army of axes/swords are other axes (as Justin doesn't have horses) and crossbowmen eat them for breakfast.

I'll leave the diplomatic bit to our resident permanoob expert, as it's my big weakness.

As usual, it's all just my opinion. Nice job so far though

 

[tmarcl]

Hey guys. I'm hoping to play the next set this evening after I do my homework. I had been hoping that some other people would weigh in in the meantime...

Marc

 

[tmarcl]

I apologize only for the dryness of the reports this evening. This set was concerned primarily with building up my military, defending against Barbarians and getting enough money to upgrade my Warriors. I currently have 10 Axemen and am working towards my Catapults. I am currently more powerful than Joe and Justin.

I have decided to stop apologizing for not stopping at 20 turns exactly. Since this is not a succession game, it's not as important. This set stopped at 122.

101
102 Tinky Winky born
103 Dora kills another Barbarian Warrior. Dipsy is born
104 Stone City completes Lala/settler combo and begins work on aqueduct. Po is born
105
106 Elmo is born, and defeats his first set of Barbarians.
107
108 Xi Ling shi (Great Scientist) is born, and is sent to Stone City to build another Academy
109 Elmo defeats another set of Barbarians
110 Hilltown is founded, and starts work on a Forge. Grover is born
111 Tully is born
112
113
114 Great Lighthouse has been born in a faraway land. We give Joe Two Writing in exchange for Archery.
115 Harry is born.
116
117
118 Buddhism spreads in Hilltown
119
120 Metal Casing is done, headed towards Feudalism

Marc

 

[tmarcl]

C'mon guys. I admit that my report was kinda spartan, but I'd still appreciate your input. Anyone?

Marc

 

[xanadux]

1st, what is your plan? That is the biggest part of becoming a decent player, having a plan and effectively implementing it.

Other comments: You should always try to have some surplus gold saved in BTS. By the time you are building forges, this should be 100+. As the game goes on, you need more and more. The reason for this is random events (unles you have them turned off). A flood could happen and wipe out a forge, but if you have 40 or 50 gold, you can rebuild it immediately rather than having to invest all the hammers. A relatively small amount of surplus gold will yield great advantages over the alternatives.

Also, don't upgrade warriors unless it's an emergency. It's not worth the expense. Keep teching, or put the money into espionage.

 

[v8_mark]

Hey Marc.

Looks like the production of units wasn't quite quick enough for the rush on Justin. Just had a look through the saves to see what could've been done differently.

I played from Turn 40, but did several things differently - for instance, the second city was the one next to the copper, and the third was stone. So production was the first priority, wonders the second priority - you can't really afford to spend as much as you did on wonders early on when you're looking to rush, IMO.

There was a much higher emphasis on getting two cities that could produce as quickly as possible. In this case it was Paris and the copper city. This had the nice side effect of teching just as quickly as you were able to by having the stone city as the cottage city, and running a couple of Rep-scientists to boot. Other efforts were focused on production, and you can see that I've been able to produce more units more quickly.

There was also a much higher emphasis on getting the maximum number of resources overall, especially hammers. Mining hills and the copper was made a high priority, rather than simply focusing on the economy.

Attached are the Turns 80 and 100 saves. Turn 80 I'm just starting to produce axemen, Turn 100 I have a reasonable stack. I might play further on and play the attack through when I have a moment.

 

[Hackapell]

I guess a few questions:
Have you converted to buddhism yet? Doing so would increase favor with justinian and your hapy cap, and if you have Mono, your production speed of all buildings.
Second, why haven't you rushed him yet to get the lucrative shrine(assuming he built it)?
Do you know where Joao is?
How are you getting beakers and why aren't you stockpiling GP for the lib race? It sounds like you've had two; keeping at least one would have been beneficial for the beaker-heavy Philo.
Some thoughts.

 

[MrFelony]

he doesnt need to save GP for the liberalsm race. I've only ever had to use a GS to get liberalism once on emperor so I dont think he would have to save a GP when he's on prince (if i'm not mistaken). What they're saying about building wonders impeding an early rush is true. What you could try next time is to build warriors or something else until you get the stone hooked up. If you dont want to build the GW that's fine, but it does get you GSpy points and many other benefits . I only quickly read the thread, but I think getting your resources maximized for your capital was priority, and then the road up to stone city and hooking that up.

Something you may want to work on is how you prioritize your citizens in your cities. I would suggest going into your city views and playing aroudn with the placement of the citizens and watch how it effects things from research to produciton. sometimes if you're hurting to try and beat the AI to liberalism, or just anything, you can tweak your cities so that you can win the race (of course this could involve purposefully starving them so you get a GP faster or so you can work low food tiles).

as for converting to buddhism, i wouldnt recommend it unless you aren't about to declare war on him. you could use that turn to start the war that much sooner .

also why are you going for fuedalism? I'm not sure if it's just me, but i almost never get this tech through non trade unless i'm desperate. I would say dont go for this tech cause you dont really need vassalage or anything from it right away. If you havent gotten literature yet, i would say that's your next goal. get the Great Library

as for settling the 2nd GS as an academy, i personally dont like that move because i'm more for the "fortress" of settling all your GP in one town. and when you calculate how much it would give you, remmebr that the library affects the beakers you get from the GS as well so you would have been getting 35+.25(35) which is 43.75. and GS also give you 1 hammer as well, which eventually add up to a lot.

EDIT: Is Hanging gardens really the best thing your stone city could be building? just curious