Seeing the map and the resources, I assumed China in the short term (with all that wheat) and Praetaria in the longer term would dominate.
Although I had expansion room to the west, most of it was jungle and I discounted it, because of its quality and the time needed to establish it.
I sort of assumed China and Praetaria would reach some accommodation - or go to war.
Praetaria would just expand, and China sweep south.
Although given my perception of the game, perhaps China with the apparent initial advantage should take out Praetaria first - and secure the game - but perhaps difficult with neighbours so close to the south.
I didn't really have a strategy.
The free city seemed an illusion, because it was completely corrupt and unproductive, although by the end of the game it had fed a very slow stream of mainly warriors to be upgraded, and a few workers.
So, it was entirely opportunistic.
Arabia suddenly put an unarmed settler next to my returning warrior.
I thought, two workers could build a road to my iron, let's go for it.
The stuff about the warrior going south was a pretext, although I had genuinely thought that the previous pinkish scout was Arabian.
(This should be clear from examining my posts well before the capture).
So, beginner's luck....
