Different starting strategies

[Faustmouse]

I finally got my girlfriend into playing a hotseat game with me. While I running the standard "first , then " tactic, she was trying to get as much food as fast as possible. At first she was ahead of me, but now I found my first city and she is still bee-lining Hunting Tactics. Of course we are both hunting and she also has more myths/subdued animals then I have.
Is there really only this one strategy at the beginning?

 

[Hydromancerx]

I think a lot can be based on starting location. Even if you optimize tech pathing and hunt like crazy I personally think the starting placement will impact you the most. At least for the beginning of the game. Once you get more cities this factor become less and less.