Man, that's a sauna (banya), I'm still steaming. Judging by the posts of the other participants, it will be the story of a lonely warmonger.
It's 650AD, and I'm not very far behind the main group, except Asoka, who runs like hell. I've chopped 2 cities from him, including the one with 3 golds - I understand that the map should be mostly unchanged, but come on, man, COME ON! Three golds and floodplains to work them! While we get 2 jungled gems! The opponents aren't also a prise - backstabbing freak, hysterical beyatch and distant malicious brainiac.
Settled 1W. The expansion went for fast Alpha (Hunting-AH-Wri-Alpha), traded for all early techs and IW - but not Maths. My 2nd city went south, grabbing clam, corn, gems and dyes. Wanted to settle the third a bit southerner (hills, wheat, cows, silks), but it was rammed by Asoka the speedy monster plopping Calcutta to grab the copper, and Cyrus capuring the barb city. By that time I had the info on iron and settled in disgust on the land-joint, as the territory to the north was also occupied by barbs-founded Asoka city and Spaniards.
As a result I had low-hammer, low-commerce 3-city closet, of which 2 could whip on food. So my only hope was in the sword. Therefore after IW I whipped barracks and 6 praets and assaulted Asoka's Calcutta, capturing it with above average, but bearable losses. Further south - and 3-gold city is mine. By that time my assault line is reinforced by an elephant and several cats. However, despite reinforcement pouring westwards accompanied by non-stop whip-cracking, when I see the retaliation squad, I almost widdled my pajamas - a squad of over 15 units, including elephants, swords, cats and horsearchers. Luckily, the 2 cities captured weighed in my favour, so Cease Fire was signed and I had my first set of hard thoughts.
The situation was hard indeed, still, I got myself a good city and not a bad one too. However, all opponents had Feudalism by then, and Asoka was clearly unassailable (he got maces couple of turns later...). Therefore I switched from Hinduist International to Judaist (led by Asoka, which eventually turned him pleased) and turned my eyes to the cool northern plains, where they knew not any sources of metals. In my next sweep from 2nd century BC to 2nd AD I regrouped and captured 3 cities, including holy city of Hinduism and Buddhism with Kashi giving 22gpt. However, my assault on Madrid, with 50% numbers advantage + catapults failed due to unfavourable random, and the risk of wounded party's destruction loomed. Therefore I had to strike ceasefire, regroup and heal, bring more forces and get ready for the next strike. But that goes beyond this spoiler's limits.
As for techs, I was researching the techs I could get good value for, like Philo, PPress, Drama.
and liberalism a bit later.
Will anyone manage to win? Perhaps diplomatic, but how do other players handle Asoka?
, with all the jungle the NW, W, SW, S. Sure, it prevented Isa and Asoka to choke us, but it prevented early AI city grab. And the jungle on the gems prevented us the early commerce boost that is vital.
A few turns later, Ramses came up to me and GAVE me Calendar! 
Then again, maybe not 
so I can't get into all the details at this time. But, as of 500AD I control 8 towns- Alexandria E of the chokepoint was lost to France when they dowed us, then captured by our 'ally' Asoka before he vassalized Louis. We're 12 turns from Education- and have another GS waiting to finish it off- which will be one of those all-but-Asoka monopolies if things work out. Also at war with Spain, have captured one nice central town, look good to capture Cordoba and then maybe we'll move to Madrid and beyond if things work out. Spain seems to be falling off the tech pace and has such nice land and big cities, surely it'd make a nice addition to Rome... but it is all up in the air. Asoka was at war with Spain at one time too, made peace, and now seems positioned to take it all over if I draw them in again... I haven't got much past 500 yet and this thing could really go either way. Fun game Ainwood! 
