Early Game, Mid Game, and End Game... What's the goal of each?

[Norfleet]

Originally posted by Spacepain:
Well, the tricky part is one can only be beaten by the easy AI so many time before one is slightly discouraged...

And this is why you need to get your *** beat by real people. So you can be owned in entirely new and different ways!

And....wait, the *EASY* AI is beating you?

Well, in that case, first, I'd suggest taking a nation that is fairly conventional, so you'll get a decent level of exposure to how the game works, and is also fairly difficult to attack. Try Atlantis, or R'lyeh. That will impede the AI's ability to rush you, and you'll be able to experience a full game without being swarmed. Once you get that down, try and go faster. Then move onto land.