Strat for NEWBIES: Beating Tougher AI using ROMANS: on standard setting at small sized map (arena or 2-3 players): click research sci1, send scout to explore for ruins, create 5 vills, send two to wood camp, 1 to farm, 2 to scout for ruins (better if ruins will be converted to food). Create 2 vills and send to border edge. Build barracks while researching civ1. Create a few HIs and FAs (to prevent AI to rush). Build 2nd city while researching com1 then build market. Create 1 caravan and merchants (choose 2 to 3 good rares you've found). Reach and maintain commerce cap at +100. Advance to Age 2. Build senate, university and mining camp (with 3-4 miners initially). Research despotism. Research sci2 then mil2. Build stable and create a few HCs, HAs, and LCs. Send 2 vills at the border edge and build a fort (protect this by sending your army). Research civ2 and build 3rd city. Put a temple on this city. Research com2 and create 2 more caravans. At this point, your border should be 25% to 50% bigger than AI. And with this, Romans generate more gold. Create 1 barracks, 1 stable and 1 siege factory. Create army while upgrading. Bombard the first city nearest to your third city and capture it. Advance to Age 3 and further build up your army. You may go straight to his capital and try to capture it. But better to just capture the undefended cities and go for territory victory.
It is important to note that AI will attack you when its army is bigger than yours so you must continue building an army before launching an attack. Also, to try your skills, do not choose a map with water. AI doesn’t fish so it negates its advantage over you. The challenge is to use this strat in Great Sahara. Once you’re adept with this strat, try including a despot raid early classic (1 despot + 2 HA). A successful raid could finish the game on or before Age 3. (posted on: http://ronp.mednickonline.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=XForum&file=viewthread&tid=1519)