Beginning strategy

[Grump]

hi, haven't played Civ V much and I was wondering about some things. For one thing the civilopedia doesn't do a good job explaining whats changed from IV.


What are some good general strategies and tips?

Also what are the best wonders and social policies/synergies?

Are you limited in how many national wonders you can build per city? Or can you cram all of them in a mega city?

Each city no longer has its own happiness right?

Do Great People points compete with each other? ie great scientist is born because you have more sci points and it resets the great artist counter? Is it beneficial for cities to focus on particular gpeople or can you have one producing all sorts?

The computer almost always recommends that I build a farm or a mine on non resource squares when should I mix in trading posts?

 

[Pim]

Ill try to give some tips:
Building a scout is considered the best opening, what to do next depends on a lot of factors. Stealing a worker from a city state is also considered as a good move.

Best wonders? my favorite is scoring the great library, then asap the national college. This makes your science go for the next 100 turns, and will give you an pretty early Great scientist. Completing the GL can be done around turn 42.

Getting Hagio Sofia is almost a must! Only dont build it if you cant. Its a wonder and gives you a free great person -> great engineer which makes another wonder.(liberty policy tree finisher also gives a free great person/great engineer).
Porcelein Tower is great, science wonder which gives a great scientist(build hagia sofia and end up with 2 wonders and a great scientist).
Notre Dame - it gives a 10 happiness bonus, which is huge and fits in almost every tactic: happiness allowes for conquering, golden ages or just growing your cities.

National wonders: i tend to build them in my capital or a very good production city, why? because i want them asap. especially the national college(when warmongering puppet at least until you got the national wonders you want)

nope indeed not every city has its own happiness, it empire wide: happiness has become more important.(you'll need a positive or at least above -10 before you can conquer or expand.

On great persones: every type in every city collects untill the bar is full. When another type is born, the bar is extended, but you keep your saved points. This allows for more control, if played well, on which persones you get. Most players run for scientist, although running engineers like mad is also considered good(it allows for wonderspamming without building them).
building a academy with a scientist, i have to admit im just exploring the posibility but liking it. I tent to build academies with my first scientists(first 100- 150 turns i think) (i calculate: (400 - turns played) * science from academy compared to the cost of the most expensive tech at that moment. When i dont feel satisfied with the long time win over the short time win, ill bulb new techs instead of building academies(i think 3 academies is ok allthough there are , better, players whom will maybe disagree).