"This is only when you play against the computer: Do not play very defensively. Your enemy will overwhelm you. Attack him before he attacks you. Choose the Aztecs or the Goths and try to harass enemy villagers as soon as possible, disrupt their work maybe immediately after you reach Feudal Age. Do not let enemy villagers gather at least gold once they reach Feudal.Place archers close to every gold mine you find near their town, make sure to order your archers to stand ground." - markoso

"Usually my strategy is to choose chinese and make an army of elite chu ko nus and champions and kill the opponents military, then i destroy their buildings with trebuchets. It is good because chu ko nus are strong archers and champions are really strong and cheap infantry. it can usually kill anything." - xcrissxcrossx

"I would start with Briton if I were playing against persia .Britons would dominate with the Longbow men. Go Archers.You can make them at the castles so advance fast and go kill." - Boywholikestoplaygames

"Be the teutons or the britians then have your ally be the other one then just order your ally to attack then shabang you win! " - HOT DOG

"Don't forget to gather gold even from the start. It will bite you in the ass in the end when you don't have money to pay for troops and your enemy's attacking you." - lol man

"Advance to imperial age as fast as you can(somewhat 18 min in fast modes) and make 2 trebuchets and some troops(archers and cavalry) and attack enemy....
Remember this should be fair quicker or the enemy will advance to imperial age and you will be DOOMED!" - Ace