version: MGE

4000	
Settler1 moves W, Settler2 S :-) did anybody play otherwise?

3950
Which settler will move first? Settler1 moves first: SW (there may be a special, I want to know its type first).
To explore or to build? There are rich squares around, I wouldn't find anything better (three good squares for a city is enough in the beginning). To go for huts? A lucky hut (horsemen) would give me 20 shields, but one turn of delay is about 5 resources*2cities=10 resources.
(1 "resource" = 1shield=1food=2trade. Later, when monarchy will be closer, I will evaluate trade/beakers higher, but now, I can rushbuild only. 
I will use the term "resource" more times in this log).

So, I want to settle this turn. I don't want to build on a shielded grassland and so there is only way where to build.

A sidenote:
This is first time that I thourougly speculated about the use of granary: 
One granary-yes or not? 
Cons-I guess it will slow me down 5 turns (settler production delayed 20 turns; that settler would represent 1/4 of economy of my empire; 20/4=5), and I won't be able make partial rushbuilds to 20 shields (Pottery as the 1st tech). 
Pros- 10 saved food for every settler built (the city with granary will be specialized to settlers production) and/or the 5-sized city in 80 turns: then I can use the famine trick (better to say cheat), but 80 turns is a little bit late for monarchy helping.
Unfortunately, deity is extremely unbalanced, the shields are too important. Just do settlers and settlers. I don't believe the granary pays off, even with rich squares.

A sidenote: I didn't study the Xin's 5-size strategy very closely, but I think that adding Settlers to the city should be more expensive way than use of a granary. I don't think the 5-size strategy should be effective.

Decided. 
Settler2 builds first-I plan to work on Iron, I don't want to lose 5th shield when size 2. (From the other side, the coal position might be closer to the center of my future empire...).

science 40%, choosed Bronze working, 10 beakers needed, going for Monarchy as the 5th tech
preparing plan, some rushbuild counting... 

3700
Bronze working done, next 18 beakers
Warr1 in York7, Warr 2 in London. 
Warr1- how to explore? SW from coal is ocean, and so to move Warr to SE is not interesting. Moving NE. And then? A special may be NE, going there.

3650
How to explore? Warr2: would you explore to E or SE? There is water on 34,38,  and there can't be a special: I needn't see that square, I go diagonally.
I think there can't be a ground square on 33,39. I never saw this kind of strait, except for poles. But I am not sure. your opinions?
Warr2 moved, whales(If I would know it when I founded London... :-( ). I know the specials/huts grid completely now. 
Next city? Around  whales at Warr1, or around a possible special E from Iron, 38,30 ?
One of warriors can continue exploring, which one? Warr2 will explore E from Iron, the next Warr3 will be able go in front of Settler from London (because London will drop to size 1 and won't need martial law) to explore the position around 31,27

3550
A big problem: Celt Warrior, Boadicea requires Bronze working, I give it. Peace with Celts. 
Everything changed: Warr2 must return, and I will go for huts in city area and hope for mercs.

3500
An archer from a hut: ideal. I can cout myself lucky.
York: to finish Warrior (4 shields lost due support) or start Settler (3 shields+2 trade lost due disorder)? The Warrior choice will slow down Settler in York by 1 move only, and then London will be able to build Settler immediately, without building an additional warrior. I finish Warrior.

3450
both cities size 2, London will work on iron

3400
York will work on Coal
Do you want I explain I prefer shields over food?

3300
Cer. Burial done, next tech 27 beakers
Celts don't want exchange techs (After this step I realized that it was risky. They needn't have any monarchy tech)

3150
Nottingham founded(3rd city)
I decided to take the hut at Nottingham. 
(If there will be a bad tech, I will need about 90 additional beakers for Monarchy (besides there is a chance to exchange one tech and to lower number of additional techs to 1), if I will suppose 10 beakers/turn in the final stage, then Monarchy will come 9 turns later. I guess Monarchy increases the production by 1/5 (I mean 20%)
(Two-sized city that works on shielded Grs has output 6.5 resources: 3.5 from the first square, 1.5 from the others(2 food eaten). The monarchy will add 1 resource on the irrigated city square. 1-sized city production goes from 5 to 6. Mon. also brings new opportunities (irrigating and mining new squares)), and so I will lose almost 2 turns (9/5). 
On other side, a 20-shield merc brings 20 resources, OK, little bit less, I wouldn't build him exactly now. My production is about 20 resources per turn now. I gain almost 1 turn).
I think the chance to get a bad tech is less then 50%. I will grab the hut.
I start to be afraid a little. Phalanx or Barracks in London or not? I will wait for the hut result. (I set prod. to warrior for the moment - I would lose 2 shields if changing barr. to warr.; warr. to barr. wastes 1 shield only)

3100
Hastings founded(4th city)
Hut E from Nottingham: Archer

3050
sneak attack by Celts: Warrior put my Archer into red (vet status). Archer returns to York to heal.

3000
Plan:
The area E from Nott. is slowly accessible, and so I won't build a city there, Nottingham will produce warriors for martial law 5 turns later. (BTW, these affairs weren't prepared well. The coordination is bad, Warriors wait a little bit too long and eat the support shields ...)
Last two cities to the limit of 6 (then there are +3 new red hats fot each city) will be build in the W area.

Barracks, yes or not? Vets are about 2times more powerfull, i.e more than 2times effective use of shields. But you can "train" them in battles (not in your cities! I mean send them to a defensive terrain near AI activity, fortify and let the stupid AI make them veterans). But this way is costly (shield support). I prefer barracks, but...
In the moment, I don't know, how many phalanxes I need, I have to explore first. I plan the 5th city on 25,33 (to stop Celts, both shield and food, good as the canal), the 6th on 29,25 or 25,27 (hills). On hills I can defend with Warrior only, and so I might not to need too many of phalanx.
Conclusion: Now, I will wait with barracks. Phalanx is more flexible, I can switch to settlers and back.

What about taxes? My "production" is 24, I wanted to think about the tax change when the production would be 20. (See thinking in 3150). It is the right time now, but first I must build  cities nr. 5 and 6 as soon as possible (settlers production in York and Hastings).

Hut at Hastings: I will grab it, same reason as in 3150.
