Jungle + Fast Worker Armoured Divisions
P Mad Scientists, I'll throw you a bone)+ UBER Cottage City.
Jungle + fast Worker Armoured Divisions + at least two plantation/health resources + GP Farm (Farn the resources instead)
JUngle + Normal resources = A dark continent of slow infranstructure, have volenteers and whip them! (build workers in groups: 'Pioneers' building roads and groups building infranstrucutre).
If not rushing, have three cities by 1000 B.C. (and at least 2 defenders and 1 workers each). This might be hard, but it is useful.
Check ALL units in your stack to find the one with the best chances: even if it dies you 'Break' the lines and can hit weaker units.
Never build every single building unless you want to flaunt to everyone that you can.
Settle To specialize: don't be afraid for slightly sub-par early placement to have a strong Mid-game military pump or late-game commercial. (Early= hilly resources, Latter is jungled grasslands)
Don't be afraid to overlap: You will play 100 turns with about 5-9 pop per city (unless lucky with resources or have a huge army with HR,) 150 turns with about 13-15, and about 70 with 17-19. Only about 180 or so will you have enough dudes to take everys single tile.
Divide and Conquer: Seige two cities at the same time if possible, then reinforce one with mounted units the turn before the assualt, then take the other.
Stack: Always bring at least 3 of each detterant (Spearmen/Axemen/Chariot;Crossbow/Pikesmen; Promoted gunpoder) in every stack. AT least 2 defenders per city a stack is responsible to capture, and at least 8 turned on the side amount of seige. (Kidding, at least 5 for 40$ cities, 8 for 60% cities. ATLEAST.)