Mesix
Obergruppenführer
I have had a lot of success using a somewhat unconventional approach to policies. I like to use both Tradition and Liberty in my games. I open Tradition early (for the +3 
) and then run through the Liberty policy tree quickly. After getting the Liberty finisher, I return to Tradition to get the 4 bonus buildings (generally opera houses) and improved 
and growth during the late classical to early medieval periods when I have the happiness to support more population. By the time I finish Tradition, Rationalism is open for the mid to late game (depending on victory condition) technology push.
I also like to start with a Monument. Maximizing early culture allows me to finish two policy trees by the time I enter the Renaissance era.
I do not like to build settlers as they stunt growth and take a long time to build in the early game. I generally get the settler for my second city from the Liberty policy tree and buy the settler for the third city about the same time. Depending on how the early game plays out, I either build my National College in my capital before founding a second city or else rush libraries in the second and third cities to build the NC in one of them ASAP. If possible, the NC should be built in a city next to a mountain to get the synergy of the Observatory
bonus later in the game. The settler for the fourth city can be either bought with 
or hard built depending on circumstances. I seldom build more than four cities. I generally use this tall core along with a puppet empire of captured cities for a hybrid tall/wide empire.
I also don't like to build more than one worker. If I plan an early war, I will steal workers from the AI as necessary. If I am going for a peaceful early game, I will prioritize the Pyramids in the early game which is beneficial for both the free workers and the GE points.
) and then run through the Liberty policy tree quickly. After getting the Liberty finisher, I return to Tradition to get the 4 bonus buildings (generally opera houses) and improved and growth during the late classical to early medieval periods when I have the happiness to support more population. By the time I finish Tradition, Rationalism is open for the mid to late game (depending on victory condition) technology push.I also like to start with a Monument. Maximizing early culture allows me to finish two policy trees by the time I enter the Renaissance era.
I do not like to build settlers as they stunt growth and take a long time to build in the early game. I generally get the settler for my second city from the Liberty policy tree and buy the settler for the third city about the same time. Depending on how the early game plays out, I either build my National College in my capital before founding a second city or else rush libraries in the second and third cities to build the NC in one of them ASAP. If possible, the NC should be built in a city next to a mountain to get the synergy of the Observatory
bonus later in the game. The settler for the fourth city can be either bought with or hard built depending on circumstances. I seldom build more than four cities. I generally use this tall core along with a puppet empire of captured cities for a hybrid tall/wide empire.I also don't like to build more than one worker. If I plan an early war, I will steal workers from the AI as necessary. If I am going for a peaceful early game, I will prioritize the Pyramids in the early game which is beneficial for both the free workers and the GE points.
