American Openings?

[MetaSkipper]

Such is. Double scout, quadruple after, warrior, maybe buy a barracks in there somewhere, sound workable?

 

[joncnunn]

Don't build Shrines in your starting cities; build troops and take over cities with Shrines. Let them go through all the work of setting something up; once the cities are yours, you have your pick of religions. Unless you're for some weird reason trying to play a peaceful game with a warmonger Civ.

Personally, I would prefer my own religion even playing warmonger.
The AI's religious belief choices aren't nearly as good as mine.

 

[MetaSkipper]

After rushing, should I continue conquering, or wait for Minutemen?

 

[Bandobras Took]

Depends on how happy you are, I'd say. Now that Longswordmen upgrade to Minutemen, there's no real reason to wait if your happiness can support having more cities.

 

[comatosedragon]

As America (one of my favorite CIVs) on any map larger than small, and any difficulty lower than Immortal I will ALWAYS open with 2 scouts. (Unless my initial warrior gets a goody hut with gold, and there is a few CS's nearby, meaning I can get 140 gold before I would start building the second scout).

Also, with the half priced tiles, I will abuse the heck out of land purchases. If I see any benificial tiles (especialy 3 food[cow], 2food, hammer gold [salt]), I will buy and work that tile asap, even if border growth would have given it to me in a turn or two. 25 gold is worth a turn faster pop growth IMHO. I find (because of this 'strategy') In the early game I am shorter on gold than usual, and will prioritize guilds faster than usual.