Usually, when I skip Pool, I regret it, but this time, I believe there is something faster.
On the one hand, "first go for pools, then get thin ASAP" takes an eternity. Pools will take a very, very long time to become better than apprentice-fortress. And here is how I would like to set up the latter:
- open Ironworks/Storeroom
- get Fortresses on 4/with IW, a second Storeroom on 3, grab Poor House alongside
- with 5 (which is achievable via Fortress-Storeroom-Poor House), get Apprentices
With massive draw power, discard for coins with Storeroom+3PoorHouses get me quickly to 21, which is double prov plus apprentice to keep the engine alive.