Game-starting strategies?

[WoundedKnight]

When you play random maps, what's your initial strategy (for the first 20 turns or so)? Initial research goals? What do you build? How many cities do you aim for, & foreign policy (trade vs. war?)

Thanx.

WoundedKnight

 

[WinstonJen]

At the start of the game, on higher difficulty levels, the only way to do well is to expand like crazy and hope you don't run into a warlike Civ at the beginning. If you can't beat 'em, join em - until you are strong enough.

An alternate unit strategy I use is to build a settler rather than a defense unit. It's riskier, but it gives you a slight head start over your rivals if you can pull it off. I also delay construction of my first wonder (usually the Colossus) until I have at least 4-5 cities.