[SPOILERS] - Plako Suleiman of Egypt

[plako]

Some map analysis Based on SilentConfusions formulas on PBEM8.

On victory screeen I've 0.35% of the land tiles. That means ~2860 land tiles that means a whopping 20 cities per player with minimal overlap and not taking even account the water tiles. Starting techs are (FLOOR(5.99 + 5.99)) i.e. 11 points after settling I get 28 as everyone else does. This is
1 from population (1/2719)
0 from land (0/2562)
11 from tech (2/334)
16 from Wonders (5/310)

Every population should therefore be 1.83 point and land tile 0.78.

This is very large map for being Standard size for 7 players. It might be I'm fairly secure to scout with my warrior after all. I hope I got my calculations right.

[plako]

Large map might explain the railroads also. We've so much land to grow that interaction between others would take a very long time to be established. This also means that it is almost certainly better to focus on cottages and strong long term economy instead getting short term head start from running specialists.

In these circumstances I'll try to land CoL with Oracle to get some support for large number of cities that should be peacefully available.

Tech path: Mining-BW-Mysti-Buddhism/Hindu-Priesthood-AH-Writing-Pottery

There are lot of details that might change the order of teching, but is the line I would prefer to follow e.g. If there is no Copper in sight I might take AH before Mystisicm. If Priesthood comes too early before I can build settler I might switch or, if it seems Oracle comes slowly I could research pottery before writing to get prereq. bonus.

[plako]

Latest screenshot. Scout is on a railway and it might we all have our private "Island" connected to others with railways.

[plako]

Change of plans. After sandboxing ít seems I can do without Mining and BW a bit longer so I'll go for religion and pretty much fastest possible Oracle. All this naturally assumes that I don't find anyone close by.

[plako]

I continued towards NE with my scout and ended up in a place that looks very similar wheat+Wine spot SE from my capital only wine is replaced by ivory.

I also switched research towards Mystisicm. I'm gambling here that I'm alone and can pretty much ignore military at this point.

[plako]

1st contact - I met GES scout far away in the railroads. I'm still not sure what is this map all about. Therefore I decided to play it safer and turn around towards NE with my warrior.

I don't see any food around Marble, but I probably still settle above it. It spares me immediately hammers when I'm building Oracle and the 3 hammer plant is just best that the game can offer.

3 techs has been finalized. Amelia and GES probably did go for Mining, but I wonder what Adlain did. I'm not quite sure, if he could've got Agriculture already or was it Mystisicm or Hunting.

From demographics it looks like someone is working gems. I'm not sure, if that is optimal.

[plako]

Grassland wheat! I need to reconsider what I do with my 1st settler. There is definately a very good spot collecting marble, wheat and Silver.

I didn't try to win circumnav assuming it is possible with railways, but turned around. It is quite likely my scout is on the same landmass as my capital.

[plako]

I'll probably keep the settle on top of marble plan. Without being Creative settling closer to wheat makes sense and there is alright spot SE from Wheat for my 3rd city.

[plako]

Warrior continued to North and found Deer from the mountain hill. There is probably some resource on the similar spot on my capital's BFC. I'm guessin Copper, but we'll see.

I've again a new idea concerning Oracle . I hope my obsession for Oracle isn't becoming a too annoying for you.

I could try to land Theology. City could be located a bit better. Judaism would instantly pop its borders and I would have time to improve the Marble without settling above it. I could get double holy city and open the Prophet bulb for Civil Service. Main downsides are bunch of religious techs instead of other useful stuff like Fishing and hunting. Oracle would also be delayed another 6 turns that probably is a bit too much. I could get CoL or MC on T32 (possibly 31). I need a desicion soon since I'll go through Meditation, if I try to land CoL or MC.

[plako]

Latest screenshot. I start to have quite good idea how other players are probably located.