Stake your claims: A good tactic for that early settler rush

[Pinstar]

Here is a good way to help reduce the chances of settler death and to better keep an eye on your expanding empire.

With your initial unit, explore around your capital and take note of the areas that you wish to found future cities. As you build more units (warriors or archers) send them to those future city spots and have them fortify there. This will do several things:

1. Barbarians won't spawn in the immediate area
2. Your settler won't be slowed down by a personal escort tagging along
3. Your city is defended with a fully fortified (25% fortification bonus) defender right from the start.

 

[Arkanin]

After dealing with barbarians and learning they can't spawn outside of fog of war, I always do this, myself.

Also, don't be too ambitious about your location. It's better to actually get the forested area than send your settler a long way to that lovely flood plains just so he can get slaughtered by a bear.