I was Pho and started at one end. Found berries immediately very close to the TC. A little later my explorer found a wood/2 phant/gold sweet spot also very close. The sea was also fairly close to the TC. A great spot no? Well I managed to convert it into an 18 min. bronze with no fight in tool! It takes real talent and hours of practice to get a time like that.
The basic problem was as S_Hemlock said in one of his posts: too much micromanagement and not enough multi tasking. For example, I was in stone getting my fbs just right before I noticed that I had 750 food. In tool an early scout had found an enemy really close. I am so tired of getting creamed by CAs in early bronze that I focused on walling just right until I noticed that food was up to 1100. Finally got to bronze, got up some ranges and attacked the nearby neighbour who had me so intimidated to find him maxed out at 18 vils and no army. This is at about 24 min. The enemy obliged by counterattacking my 8 CAs with his peons. Yawn.
Game ended at about 40 min when the last of the enemy resigned. I checked achievements, None of us had any more than about 30 kills. Yawn.
Scarab and Rounin had about twice my vils, had spread out all over (Scarab by transporting -- very neat). I logged off in disgust at myself. Forgot to say goodbye. Sorry about that guys.
I have got to play more multiplayer. Practice vs. the comp just isn't getting me any further ahead. ------------------
VagrantKnight