Nearing stage one of my strategy- research was involved. Unfortunately, I'm near the bottom of the province race now. I'll be diverting my efforts to expansion now. Here's hoping.
*Squawk!*
Not there yet, though, and it's not a world shattering research goal, just a mildy useful one. I'm trying to go into games now with a plan of action, instead of blindly. Since I couldn't think of anything late game, i focused on having a loose starting strategy. Writing an AAR report after every important turn helped as well, where normally I might just recruit a homogeneous bunch of troops and send them off without bothering with things like formations or tactics. I'm playing for history, now.
My mid-game strat is more a collection of ideas than anything game-winning, or tested. But it is there, for once. I'll probably be focusing on diplomacy, to limit my risk to one front while I test out this strategy - which I'm not even certain I'll be able to pull off, though I did weigh things as heavily in my favor as possible, though it cost me a couple more sacrifices than usual.