Early round, try to get to 4 cities as soon as possible, preferably 5.

Always be flexible, the strategy is just that, a strategy. The game is very tactical as it's dice/luck driven. Skills will only get you so far, the rest lies with luck.

Big City Strategy - Get Cities to 6, preferably 7 - Get food engine early, balancing with unlocking cities - Reroll for workers (reroll goods / coins) - Score through monuments - Core Developments: Agriculture, Masonry, Architecture, Religion (when you have 7 dice, aim for 5 skulls)

Big Money Strategy - Ideally 5 cities by mid-game (round 6 / 7) as you don't want to get a revolt. - Aim for quarry and/or coinage for flexibility early - Caravans are recommended around mid-game - Engineering to spend as workers to catch-up with incomplete monument (denying VPs) - Aim for skulls after you have the appropriate developments. - Score points through unlocked developments - Don't be afraid to not feed people (missing 1/2 foods) - Core Developments: Quarrying, Coinage, Irrigation - Situational: Caravans, Engineering,