Help playing on King

[Finding Forever]

I've been playing Civ 5 G&K for about 6 months (first CIV game I've ever played). I just recently moved from Prince to King but I'm struggling to keep up now on King. I try to keep up in the beginning but all the AI build cities so fast and I get 3 or 4 good cities and I'm left in the dust as they continue to grow their empires (Not to mention getting warrior rushed every few games). Any general pointers to help me compete? I realize my strategy depends on the map type and my spawn but...

 

[blazingsprocket]

Build up those four cities into four really good cities, generating a lot of science. Build military units and continue to upgrade them as you unlock new technology until you have a military advantage. Go to war and puppet enemy civilization's cities to grow your economy, maybe annex as happiness allows if it's a good production city. You don't need too many cities if the cities that you do have very high population.

 

[marekb]

Read

1. Tradition's 4 cities opening
2. Deity OCC Science Victory - G&K Strategy and Tips
3. Opening build: Liberty NC Expand [G&K]

Don't build (unnecessary) early wonders. If you cannot build a wonder fast - don't even try. In particular, don't build them if you see that they slow down your expansion or weaken your defence.

Don't build cites far away one from other, unless you need to secure some resource or choke point. But if so, be prepare that this city will be a target of invasion (so gather some archers or CB around it)

Try to have 4-6 archers by turn 60.

Don't research Construction too early (be sure that your cites has finished archers).

Sell all strategic and luxury resources that you can sell. If AI don't want to pay you 240 per lux (or 109 + 1gpt, 177+2gpt, etc.) or 45 per strategic, in particular if price goes below 209/lux, the AI is plotting against you.

If you see an army approaching to you borders (in particular with cats and/or GG) be prepare to defend yourself.

Play as Spain, find 2-3 natural wonders first and fast nad buy settlers for this money.

 

[joncnunn]

Archers: 6 by turn 60 is a bit excessive for defense; I prefer one composite per city for defense for the first 100 turns which is plenty given how bad the AI is at combat. (Yup, built as Archers and upgraded)

Spain amounts to playing a normal civ two difficulty levels lower if your first to 2 national wonders.

AI building tons of cities: Don't worry about this at all. AI plays on Chieftain happiness level. It doesn't do a good job building libaries so it's slowing down its National College and some of these won't build Oxford at all.

 

[tetley]

Don't build cites far away one from other, unless you need to secure some resource or choke point. But if so, be prepare that this city will be a target of invasion (so gather some archers or CB around it)

It's King. I think it's okay to land-grab cities a little far apart because you can build chariots instead.

 

[joncnunn]

It's King. I think it's okay to land-grab cities a little far apart because you can build chariots instead.

How many tiles are you referring to?
One person's "a little far apart" could be another's "rather tight"; and the exact number of tiles is critical in this context.