I'm always a fan of early over extension. Try to block off huge chunks of the map with your city placement. Not only does this royally piss off the neighbors, but in the early game its a nice handicap to your happiness and gold. Myself, I go for broke and plop my first settler ridiculously far away, at least 4-6 cities away. Repeat that in different directions and then spend the rest of the game trying to fill in the blanks.
But it'll make for a fast game usually because if you can survive until the mid game, then this will start to pay off and you'll become a power house. Unless of course the constant AI bombardment keeps you down... in which case you'll get finished off. Either way, it makes for a fast game on big maps, usually.
But it'll make for a fast game usually because if you can survive until the mid game, then this will start to pay off and you'll become a power house. Unless of course the constant AI bombardment keeps you down... in which case you'll get finished off. Either way, it makes for a fast game on big maps, usually.
