I have to report a loss on this one (my first epic) 
I built a warrior then went worker and I went to BW research-wise. My scout scouted the peninsula E first and I decided to make 2 quick cities there first.
However, I made some big mistake
And that was to not read the map settings to see that the barbs were off! So I sent my first warrior on a hill E of the capital to ... fog bust 
I computed that I would have time to get back to the capital should I see danger... My scout found another scout from a hut and one of them spotted a Toku warrior coming, but... well I still could get to my capital in time right? Turns out I was wrong, and the warriors would arrive to it in the same time. Toku went first 
The lay of the land was such that Toku had pretty much no choice but to go to my capital... Oh well, hopefully next time.
I then continued the game for a bit by reloading from a point where I would move my warrior back one turn earlier. Everything went fine, made a couple of cities E of the capital, then another one on a hill by the horses. Unfortunately after a while I lost a bit interest and started to play a bit sloppy. I was a bit upset because of that stupid mistake that missed me what looked like a good game... Well, you live you learn.
The move I was proudest of was to get a phalanx on a forested hill next to Rome's iron! It stayed there for ever and I haven't seen a single Praetorian. I made also a few more cities including one by the iron and stopped playing after taking Toku's second city. I was in a good position I thought with a city by the elephants and a decent potential to build more troops. I would have lost Toku's second city as Shaka was coming with quite a few troops, but was in a position to take it back. All in all, I feel I had a decent chance (in large part because the Romans were a non-factor!), although it seems that the game was a bit harder than expected.
I took a few screenshots and will try to post some here.
EDIT: Forgot to say I got the TGL which greatly helped the economy!
Kalin
I built a warrior then went worker and I went to BW research-wise. My scout scouted the peninsula E first and I decided to make 2 quick cities there first.
However, I made some big mistake
And that was to not read the map settings to see that the barbs were off! So I sent my first warrior on a hill E of the capital to ... fog bust I computed that I would have time to get back to the capital should I see danger... My scout found another scout from a hut and one of them spotted a Toku warrior coming, but... well I still could get to my capital in time right? Turns out I was wrong, and the warriors would arrive to it in the same time. Toku went first The lay of the land was such that Toku had pretty much no choice but to go to my capital... Oh well, hopefully next time.I then continued the game for a bit by reloading from a point where I would move my warrior back one turn earlier. Everything went fine, made a couple of cities E of the capital, then another one on a hill by the horses. Unfortunately after a while I lost a bit interest and started to play a bit sloppy. I was a bit upset because of that stupid mistake that missed me what looked like a good game... Well, you live you learn.
The move I was proudest of was to get a phalanx on a forested hill next to Rome's iron! It stayed there for ever and I haven't seen a single Praetorian. I made also a few more cities including one by the iron and stopped playing after taking Toku's second city. I was in a good position I thought with a city by the elephants and a decent potential to build more troops. I would have lost Toku's second city as Shaka was coming with quite a few troops, but was in a position to take it back. All in all, I feel I had a decent chance (in large part because the Romans were a non-factor!), although it seems that the game was a bit harder than expected.
I took a few screenshots and will try to post some here.
EDIT: Forgot to say I got the TGL which greatly helped the economy!
Kalin
