The good news: I beat Wang to Music!
Unfortunately I've kinda strayed into middle-finger diplomacy here, or at least middle-finger trading. Felt like I had little choice. Gave Metal Casting to Gilgamesh for Construction. Traded several times with Mansa too, and sold Literature for a decent chunk of gold. Did end up self-teching Masonry+Mono as advertised, but never had time to go OR as I planned for whips. Did go Buro+Slavery, however, and have whipped out some courthouses and a forge. A bit overflow into Paya, and it's half-built in Rostov. Loads of people with Theo now, so who knows where the AP will end up.
The bad news: Mansa got Paper!! I've traded it with him now, after investing a turn and tossing Music his way. If he goes for Education.....
It's now turn 113, or 50BC. I whipped some things, and went back to Caste. Hired 12 scientists. Then it dawned on me that I have that Great Artist, and perhaps ought to launch a Golden Age. Then those whips were rather unfortunate, but on the other hand, the two Great Scientists needed will get out faster. Probably faster than I can half-tech Education to be honest. The Great Merchant is on the way towards Artemis in Wonsan, but it's a long journey. Sadly it doesn't look like Wang has roaded through the jungle yet, despite founding a city on the other side (he got the FPs).
So in short, should I launch a GAge at this point to help boost GS production, or am I better off to wait with that until later? It always feels a little sad to 'only' get Nationalism with Lib, but I may not get anything more expensive here, at least if Mansa goes straight for Edu. Wang is bound to get Paper from Mansa soon too, so then both mammoths will be close. And I don't have tech view on them.
This is the tech screen currently. Rather more advanced lot than in BiC's game. Probably partly my fault for numerous trades, but nothing I can do about the Mansa/Wang bromanship. At least the war holds Mansa back a bit.
Hard priorities now on cottages vs scientists... 5 scientists in St. Petersburg, which will birth a GS in 6 turns. 5 turns after that, Heliopolis will get another one (500 points). Naturally that will be cut down a fair bit if I launch a golden age.