[tinkthank]

I'm not your better, only a newbie, but I'd like to add that I tend to play conservativly and my patterns ditto Gandalf P's fairly well, with one thing to add: I make liberal use of fortresses, especially if snaking. I hate starving, and I like having a larger army around, especially when recruiting mercs far from home. I scout as best as I can, always recruiting a scout if available in the provinces I take in turns 2-5), and try to take my next provinces (the ones not immediatley around my starting province, which I take first unless there is a good reason not to (like tons of knights)). I then go for "strategic building", that is: I try to beeline towards provinces with good units to recruit (in many cases with nations I play: Heavy Cavs) plus resources and build there.