Build order

[Cainehill]

Originally posted by sergex:
Lots of players hire Mercs first turn to get a jump on early expansion. If you don't hire them, then your enemy probably will, so it's a strategy to get the mercs first turn no matter what. Otherwise, use all your gold the first 5-10 turns in building armies and cheap research units.

All the gold for army troops and research units? With many races I've tended to try and buy the most powerful commander on turn 1, in order to make my Prophet. Priest-3 and, better, Priest-4 (such as High Inquisitor, Anathemant Warlock) are ideal, since going to Priest-4 gives Holy Bless and Fanaticism, while P-5 gives Smite - a great way to win early battles with no casualties, while getting the Prophet into the Hall of Fame where he'll no doubt get something useful like Heroic Attack skill.

Alternatively, I want a topnotch combat commander for the Prophet - Niefel Jarls become decent mini-SCs. Or (less often) a super-expensive mage, in order to drop the upkeep by 15 or so.

Of course - I wind up getting my butt kicked, so maybe I should try buying the cheap commanders.