How to play in multiplayer?

[Lynxx]

I have been playing civ4 for a while now, currently holding my grounds at emperor level. I havent tried out the multiplayer option yet, have played with friends, but not against them... So now I am wondering what tips you might have in store for me? I have read through many of the threads here and I know of how to do the CS slingshot and other similair things so there is no need to post that.

What I am interested in hearing is how you normally play your multiplayer games from the start and onwards. Do you prefer an early rush? How do you do it and why? Which leader do you prefer and why? Any must have technologies in the begining that will make it so much easier to beat you opponent? What wonders is good to build? <- pretty important question i think.
When to start building an army, and what this army should consist of?
Building cities or conquering them?

I am not asking you to give up your best strategies here but perhaps give me a hint...

This is how I would start a multiplayer game with my current knowledge of the game: I would research BW as early as possible, but without neglecting to research technologiers so that i could improve the land around my city. First build would be a warrior while my first warrior would go exploring, then a worker. After that I would build a bit more warriors along with another worker and a settler. Would perhaps try the CS slingshot, but somehow i dont think it would work that well in multiplayer... After that i would continue to develop and build up a huge army to conquer my neighbours...

 

[Mulholland]

Must do's
1)Protect your city right away! Chances are war will be declared as soon as the first scout/ warrior finds your borders.
2)Locate strategic Military resources ASAP. Copper, Iron, Horses. The AI will give you time to find these, humans won't.
3)If you can, avoid early wars with your neigbours. An early war (unless it is a cleansweep) will set you back. Build a respectable Military, open borders reap the benefits of trade, put scouts in each others cities to make sure no funny stuff is going on. If a nieghbour refuses open borders take this as a sign that he has you on his hitlist.
4)Many humans will declare early war so dont be afraid to build cities right on top of military resources. Spending ten turns develloping Iron or copper could be the difference between victory and defeat.

 

[Smokey McDope]

Most MP games are on smaller maps (pangaea being the favorite). It's usually always good to be aggressive, but you can get by without it. Mulholland has good points, I'll add some more.

ALWAYS build a warrior first, even two. Worker first strats are a good way to die in 3000 BC.
Prioritize bronze working, animal husbandry, iron working.
Cottages are liabilities and give good gold to enemy when pillaged.
Forests are un-pillagable production, don't be in a mad rush to chop.
Scout scout scout and build units/promotions to counter enemies forces.
You always need another military unit.
Specialist based economies are better for the early game.
Strike to kill, wars of attrition just lead to a third party getting more powerful than both of you. "Win before you go to war" or whatever that Sun Tzu thing says.

I like to have 3-4 cities before I start warring, but sometimes you have to go to war with 2 cities. It all depends on how much space there is. I had one good Napoleon game where I researched bronze working first and had copper in my capitol. Well, I started going to war with just Paris for my city and took over 2 other capitols..

 

[Lord Chambers]

Build on hills.

 

[Lynxx]

Thanks guys. I think I have a clearer picture of what I will do in my first mp game now.
Have you got any thoughts on if I should try do produce some wonders or not? They might leave you far behind in the military production...

 

[Mulholland]

I usually forgo wonder building in the early game especially now that chop rushing and thew pyramids have been nerfed. Oracle might come in handy for that free tech but if you're not going for religion than It might not be such a good idea. Btw if one opponent keeps completing all the wonders he'll most likley be a good target for an invasion.