Draft two:
Research : Finish Optics (5T), Start Paper (10T)
Trades: Joao - Compass for Monarchy and Farming. He doesn't seem to want to give us Archery as well. OR.. do we wait for contact with other Civs? It will be 5 turns for Optics and 2 turns for a Caravel and most likely a minimum of 3 for us to meet our first CIV. In that ten turns we can put both Farming and HR to good use. Only one comment so far against this. Anyone else?
Production: The turn estimates based on current production, to be fine tuned during play.
Fifthburg - Finish Trireme (1T), Mace (3T) Caravel (2T) Mace (3T) Mace (3T) Mace (3T) WTSays: The capitol can squeeze in a harbor. I wouldn't do so until after the Caravel.
Parma - Finish Mace (1T), then Mace (8T) or Lighthouse (7T) we need faster growth. Mace then Mace it is
Stoneopolis - Library (3T), Trireme, Lighthouse (10T), Temple (14T) or Forge (20T)
Marbles - Finish MS (19T)
Engineering - Finish HG (8T), Forge (10T)
Workers:
Stoneopolis: Mine Hill, Mine Hill, road forest 2E
Parma: Mine hill 1E or Chop/mine Hill 1NE of Fifthburg. I am leaning toward this as it will give us Hammers to produce several 2T/1T maces and Parma won't be able to work the Hill unless we get rid of our Priest. I am OK with that. It would take us longer for our GP but I don't see that as a priority (can a GP research Philo? It might save us several turns of Research)
Alternatively they chop the nearest Forest to get Hammers for more Maces ASAP. Mine Hill near Parma then Head to Fifthburg, keep the Priest
Engineering Workers: After finishing the road, build a Workshop in the only tile now clear. They could chop the Forest adjacent to the freshwater to speed up the HG by 2 to 3 turns.
City Production notes:
Instead of the GM in Engineering, have him work the freshwater for quicker research.
War: I'm thinking we go ahead and attack Shaka now. we may lose 1 Mace. Wait until Mace from Parma and Axe from engineering get there. Move the Axe from the Iron to assist the Maces.
Mace from Parma Moves to assist in the attack.
Warrior goes to Parma.
Demands: This is why I would rather trade Joao than have him demand it. Acceding to a demand gives us better relations, but if we are going to attack him soon, we won't need them. A trade should give us some of the better relations and get us techs in return.
Think about these and let me know, I'll play in anywhere from 8 to 12 hours.