I'd actually think about doing NC on the first 2 cities here. We're not in competition for the next two city spots. Get the rest of the infrastructure ready for those two cities (workers, roads, Tradition finisher) and drop in the settlers as the last piece once the NC completes. Also religion - if we delay the cities until religion is founded, they will be smaller while receiving pressure and convert more quickly.
I'm not sure if this will work well, but throwing it out there for discussion. The ideal timing would be to build one settler in Devotion and buy the other just a few turns before Faith completes the NC.
I'm not sure if this will work well, but throwing it out there for discussion. The ideal timing would be to build one settler in Devotion and buy the other just a few turns before Faith completes the NC.