[spoilers] Alhambram crosses Rubicon yet again

[Alhambram]

Alhambram: Kongo, Rome, China
The Black Sword: Norway, Greece (Pericles), Russia
marcopolothefraud: America, Germany, Arabia
Grotsnot: Japan, Spain, Aztec
BUFFBUNNY: France, England, India
Alhazard: Egypt, Greece (Gorgo), Brazil 

Your rolled civ choices. Courtesy of civdrafter.

Well, well got two of five in my eyes toptier civs as choice. Still pending between China and Rome, both are great. Kongo is off charts for me.

[Alhambram]

Ok, did some testgames with both civs.

With China I noticed myself that I want do too much things: get many useful wonders, research as many tech and civic as possible, playing cute and few attention to military and serious expansion.
This is no problem in SP, but in multiplayer it is basically death sentence if I fool around too much and leave me too exposed towards other player's actions.

With Rome it is more straightforward: tech iron working asap for legions and get GG asap to boost legions further and crush all players. I don't need think too much, just brainlessly rush opponents with legions.
In case that it takes longer to beat others: Bath helps develop cities faster and also faster towards niter for musketman. With one or two cores of other players added thanks legion I should outtech others and do musket rush.

So my decision: I play Rome this PBEM.

[Cornflakes]

Starting screenshots:

   

[Alhambram]

Thanks for posting starting screenshot!

Settle in place, A food poor start which can be improved in future by farming wheat combined with watermill. Start on hill means extra production from start, fish can be used to boost food production a bit more.
It is a ok start location, not explosive one, start researching animal husbandry and minery to get eureka for craftsmanship with wheat tile. After that bronze working to reveal iron which if possible shall be around capital or second city for iron working boost.

1. Grotsnot - Japan
2. Alhazard - Greece (Gorgo)
3. Alhambram - Rome
4. The Black Sword - Russia
5. marcopolothefraud - Arabia
6. Chevalier - England

Japan and Gorgo means that I might have race for first GG on my hands, I plan do GG powered Legion rush at one point. At least with Russia around Japan might spam holy sites instead encampments to race for first GP.
England might be dangerous for me since I am close coast, so no coast settling for my capital to prevent capture of my capital by melee naval units, maybe 2nd or 3rd city settle at coast for sailing boost depending what I can find with scouting. Russia needs to be dealt before cossacks and Arabia before its science output becomes too big.

[Alhambram]

Turn 1:

It begins! And as mentioned before I settled in place.
   
I did debate with myself between opening with warrior, slinger or builder. Builder however likely need to be idle as long I didn't research Mining or AH, leaving it exposed to barb threat.
So warrior or slinger, I decided to go for warrior now due possible future legion upgrade and warrior can handle barbs better than slinger.

Also I decided to work with cow tile instead quartz tile, I need city growth and after finishing warrior I can produce builder quicker with two tiles assigned.
Productionwise I am ok here, so I shall get god of kings policy when Code of Laws is finished unless I do meet religious city state first already or other reason.

Which Pantheon do I plan to take, well 25% extra production for classical military sounds fun, with Agoge 75% bonus production for Legion, why not?
Also I can use that 75% with Legion chop to create more Legions fast if occupied cities got some forests inside city limits and keep pressuring opponents.

A glance of Great Persons:
   
Remarkely no good or very good Great People, just (above) average or less. A Great General is always good due strength and movement bonus but Sun Tzu has better secondary bonus for example.

[Alhambram]

Turn 2:


Further scouting through rough terrain did only reveal another sheep tile. Turning on settler lens didn't reveal anything.
   
As expected I am 1st at cultural ranking due free monument. Everyone did settle their capital at their first turn, no score of zero noted among players.

[Alhambram]

Turn 3:

My warrior pin down possible next city location:
   
Cow, Horse and Gypsum within 1st ring, not bad, however it is also spot with relative low food output. 
Maybe in 2nd ring at west some nice food tiles or I do find more at direct north and south which might warrant other settling spots.

[Alhambram]

I start get bit worried about marcopolothefraud, he did skip several of his turn time windows already.

Turn 4:
There were some jumps in ranking which mean some players found city states.
Alhazard found science city state and Chevalier found cultural city state which did negate my advantage over him in terms of culture, bah...

Turn 5:
My warrior exploring.
   
My planned spot for second city seem to get better more I do explore. Maybe God of the open Sky pantheon instead God of the forge, since I already see 6 suitable tiles for God of the open Sky.

[Alhambram]

Turn 6:

In west I found a food heavy but production poor area, need to think about city placements.
   
I initally thought that I was located at south or southeast bordering sea but I notices a tundra at north right away, need to explore more to get better picture.


Internationally Grotsnot jumped to 1st place in religious ranking, likely from encountering a religious city state.

[Alhambram]

Turn 7:

I finished Code of Laws, before applying policies I moved warrior more to west and contact!
   
Seem that Grotsnot is located not really far at west, a target for Legion rush. His faith per turn is 2 which pretty confirms him finding religious city state.
   
I put Discipline and God KIng in policy cards.
   
Next civic research Craftsmanship and I shall research it till 50% and swap to Foreign Trade. Next turn warrior completed and it shall explore NE and I start producing Builder.