"Make defense of your realm a top priority.  Identify invasion routes and frontline cities and build outposts there to improve your defenses." - TEM

"Build banks in all your cities as quickly as possible.  After that turn your focus to deficit resources since these are draining gold from your economy. " - TEM

"Always build cities as fast as possible. They expand your territory and incoming gold. Economy is very important when it comes down to the nail bitters.

The best way to scout out the territory is to build a scout group consisting of scouts, rangers, and an immortal. The rangers allow your scouts to move across any kind of land without slowing down. Also, the rangers require a Library and woodmill so make sure a city of yours has those ASAP. Because the sooner you find out where the opponent is the better advantage you will have." - GokouSupaSayan