In 4000 BC, I start by moving the worker one tile south onto the mountain to see if there's any fresh water nearby. Nope, oh well. Move the settler one SE, so as not to waste a shield grassland, and to get the city on the coast.

Just to be different (and to make my report read a little differently than everyone else's), I'm going to name the cities after towns from my home area on Long Island, NY. My capital is Bohemia, founded in 3950 BC. In the long run, I think doing this reduced the flavor a bit, though. I never thought of myself as India during the entire game.

In 3050 BC, I meet Russia. They don't have Writing yet, but they did get Writing later on and did not have any contacts to trade at the time, so I'll claim the 2 points for first-civ contact.

We researched Pottery, and let's do the "Granary Gambit". Of course, most people build granaries early, but I think there's no better time than before your FIRST settler. Food and shields are pretty much interchangeable in Civ 3: a settler costs 70 units total. A granary discounts that to 50, so why build ANY settlers at the higher price? The granary pays for itself after the third settler. Also, the gambit grows the capital a bit bigger early - most of the settlers will be produced from size 4->2 (often the first one is 5->3), getting a bit farther ahead, or less behind, on research. In Epic One, building a granary in the capital and using it for all settler production threw me WAY up the growth curve -- France was the Largest Nation in the World at a 500 BC report. On Emperor, without war!

Warrior going west finds more Russians. I'd bet everyone playing the game found Kiev in the same spot blocking the isthmus. The area with the tons of food bonuses is super tempting, but I doubt I'll be able to get a settler there before Russia does, so I concede the area and concentrate on lands closer to my capital.

Second city, Oakdale, founded one space NE of the cow, 3 spaces away from Bohemia and sharing two tiles. (Turned out later that one space W of where it was would have gotten an Iron Works; surely some players did get it.) Third city, Sayville, just south of the southernmost gem. Oakdale builds a temple. In 1700 BC, fourth city, Patchogue, by the whale on the southern peninsula. Oakdale builds a granary, and then starts a worker. Workers also get a "granary discount" - costing 20 total production instead of 30. Fifth city, Bayport, southern tip of peninsula, founded in 1375 BC.

Russia finishes the Colossus at the early date of 1350 BC! They demand a 27g fee to gaze upon its splendor, and I've got to pay it. I'm not in fighting shape yet.

The Great Millenial Dance: From 1100 to 900 BC, lots of Russian and Indian Warriors, Spearmen, and Settlers all dance around the western part of the area, scrambling for spots. Russia founds Odessa in the center of the cow pasture. I claim a decent one (Bayshore) by moving a 3-stack of workers to build road there fast, and keeping a wall of warriors in front of a Russian settler. Russia founds Sevastopol on the hill next to the lake. (Future resource site?) Russia beats me to a spot north of the wheat by one turn. We've split the good spots about half and half; only some tundra remains. We can't possibly beat Russia back yet, but we DO have higher culture, and MAYBE we can flip Sevastopol or Odessa. I found Islip and Commack to apply cultural pressure to Odessa and Sevastopol, and poprush both temples ASAP. Commack's got another advantage: it's only two spaces from its target; once it has higher culture, it will control the single space between the cities, so units can attack Sevastopol from Commack in a single turn.

Bohemia goes off settler churn, and starts the Oracle. Oakdale can build the last couple settlers that I need to fill in the tundra.

I can see a cultural border south of Bayport, but I haven't got Map Making. Hopefully somebody over there will get it soon...

570 BC: Persia builds Pyramids.

530 BC: Russia builds Oracle. So much for that idea.

"We need Map Making."
"Russia has it, Sir."
"Well then, research something to trade them - Code of Laws sounds good."
...
"Sir, Russia has Code of Laws. We'll have it in 6 turns."
"Dammit. Switch to Philosophy then."
...
"Sir, Russia has Philosophy. We'll have it in 2 turns."

AAUGH. Lesson learned - when you need a tech, don't play silly games. After Philosophy, I start researching Map Making. I haven't got Iron Working yet either, and won't anytime soon. So the impending Russian war will have to be fought with Archers...

Sometime around here I start Patchogue on a wonder; we'll see what it gets. Lots of other cities build barracks and then start building archers.

By 210 BC, I've built about 15 archers. I ask Cathy if she'll share her Map Making, either by trade or as a "gift to preserve the peace"...