Expand your territory fast. At the beginning of the game you'll have everything you need at hand, but once you're settled and fortified, set out to conquer adjacent terrain and create some construction. Be proactive, buildings can take literally days to develop, so plan ahead and think about what you are going to do and how long it will take. Research as many units as you can. There will be many at your disposal, the more you have unlocked, the easier it will be to adapt to any situation. Don't lose the overview of your territory. Use the Provinces button to have all this information at the click of a button. Take advantage of market offers, you can save a lot of resources. Use espionage to explore areas outside your control. And finally, know your units. The more you know about them, the better you will know their strengths and weaknesses.