@Thorn....
Firstly, thanks for posting!
Second, please don't be intimidated, we were all total newbs once also. Go back and look at the SG2 Gipsy Kings thread, I was so late to post my 1st post in the thread because I couldn't even find where the threads were located!
Here is a brief rundown of how I test....I start my game and put a clean 8.5x11 piece of paper on my desk with a goal written on the top along with a test #. I split the page into columns as needed. Column 1 is always Capitol builds, column 2 is research, column 3 is tile use. After that I add columns as they become necessary depending on what happens in columns 1/2/3. If you build worker 1st, column 4 will be worker actions. In this game, since worker is later, Column 5 has been City#2 builds, Col6 is city2 tile use.
EVERY time something changes in the game, I note it on the page. City builds start and finish, research start and finish, tiles use every time I add or subtract population AND when I change tile use for specific Micro Management situations. Things that I deem critical get circled or starred or noted in some way so I can't miss them when I review.
I make saves at points where my path may diverge(and name them so I can remember what the hell I was doing and can find them easily), so I can go back and load the save and work on the alternate option(new note page started from that point of course).
This is critical for ME, you need to figure out what works for you. This SG is pretty much the only game I put this kind of effort into, real life time doesn't allow it anywhere else. If I am playing for fun, I just play!
OH, at the end of testing, my desk is littered, and looks like a bomb went off!
Here is the save at the diverge point of my whip decision.