Hi, I'm one of the newer folks to the game, only been playing the Civ series since Feb 2005. Was a Regent player in C3C, now busy mastering Noble level on Civ4! But then GOTM 2 comes out as Prince Lakes Epic, what is a poor ewok to do?!?
After reading the posts of many of the competent folks, I know I won't be breaking any new ground with the approach I'm going to take to this GOTM.
Anyway,
I played five practice games with Lizzie on Lakes (Epic_Trop_Low) out to 160BC/turn 528 to get a notion of what works and what doesn't, and on only two of those games did I compete well with the AI. I one case I started with lots of flood plains, in the second game the 2nd city got the flood plains.
There was quite a lot of variation in how close one started to other civs. Once Lizzie started almost on top of Isabella, and Ghengis almost on top of her. On other starts there was only one somewhat close neighbor. Barbs are worse the fewer close neighbors you have.
Also, Stone or Marble only appeared close to my lands once, so things may not work out for those folks counting on getting the Pyramids.
I will settle in place because I want the lighthouse later (waaaaaay later, I think) and because I'm too dumb to move... Ewoks have short legs!
Initial build will be Warrior - Worker, initial research will be Ag - Bronze, to get the Wheat tile up (want the food AND that hammer) and to chop out the next warrior pair/settler quickly. And then chop, and then chop, and then chop...
Next research will Hunt, Arch, Hus, Myst(for obelisks) ... I'll let others discover the religions, although I have to admit happiness is a big problem, and the growth limiter (after money, and barbs....). I want Bronze so quickly, I won't get a chance for a religion. Post Myst, I'm not sure, since Sailing is potentially a substitute for Pottery, and if the second city is down river, roads aren't immediately needed.
Barbs are a concern. I don't know if the best approach is to constantly chase them down, or just kill them as they come. In one practice game, one the of two better ones, I killed off two barb cities, keeping one, so did not have to settle. Early archery is certainly necessary, and if you don't see copper, you better find Iron, else doom awaits!
Also, the budget is a concern, as research generally got down to 60% by turn 528 in the practice games. It seems like you only get to settle/capture four cities, and still do research at a reasonable rate. When you get Alphabet, then you find out how you have really done vrs the AIs! This may be where the lighthouse comes in, as a kind of a late classical/early reinnaisance (sp) source of funds.
If stone or Marble shows up, settle it, and build Pyramid or Oracle. I did beat the AIs to the Pyramid in the one game I got handed Stone. Flexibility!!
If Barb cities show up, take them, they are easy pickings. Keeping them may break the budget, however.
As for early conquest of a neighbor, I don't believe my skill level is up to it. If I'm in the top three scores, and one of my neighbors looks weak to my scouts, maybe then. The question is when to have a go at them.
As for my objective, I'd say at my skill level, surviving until I get Redcoats would be cool. Then Lizzie could rock. Thus, is my one and only fond hope!
-- We who are about to die salute you --
. On the plus side almost all my units have good experience and later warmongering is made slightly easier.
), this is gonna be hard. I'm not gonna bother with practice games - just go straight in and get a kickin', no doubt 
Not sure there's much point in planning befoer I start other than knowig I'll start with Agriculture on Tech, Warrior on Prod and Settle where I start. I've no idea what my starting warrior will find.. there might be gold, stone, marble etc. which will effet my strategy so planning's out the window. 
