[SPOILERS] Patience is a virtue

[plako]

Deer + another hut:

What's the reasoning behind going for the early religion? I'm guessing it's because shrines can get really big in this massive games.

Normal reasonings. Shrine is one good reason, but I also need a way to pop borders and my leader/civ really likes Priesthood+Oracle so why not go there early and try to claim some 1st to come bonuses.

[plako]

Another scout. This is actually pretty decent result this early in the game. I gain quite a bit more map knowledge + maybe a hut or 2 that otherwise wouldn't have got.

[plako]

Frusratingly bad land so far. I hope there is something decent in the south.

[Mizar]

Frusratingly bad land so far. I hope there is something decent in the south.

the plus side, noone will invade you

There got to be something other than ice-reindeer in the south.

[plako]

hut luck+couple of better resources found. East seems very bad still.

[plako]

And desert in the south. Not very inspiring neighborhood.

[pindicator]

All that deer to settle? I'm just saying I bet Brick could find some spots to settle up there

[plako]

Ridiculously bad land near me

Far east looks so much better. Crossing fingers it will be mine some day. Pretty far though so might belong to someone else

I've calimed couple of huts more. I got quite nice amount of gold from them.

[Mizar]

Seems you can run max research for quite some time.
Land stinks, though.

[plako]

Huts have been kind for me. I guess bad land nearby is somehow compensated by having lots of it. Haven't found anyone yet despite of my scouts being pretty far from home. I've also been lucky with barbs. My scouts haven't fought a single battle yet. Of course I've tried my best to keep them out of trouble. Buddhism is still available so there is a very good chance I get it.