I tend to explore and expand at least 1-3 extra cities in advantageous areas.  My current game that I am gonna finish up tomorrow after work saw me in a crappy spot. (still is crappy actually) I started with only a food source near by. Went ahead and settled in anyways cause I was surrounded by mountains. Lowered some land and made my way out. Turns out the way I went landed me 2 tech buildings next to each other. So I settled there a few turns later.

Another 30-40 turns of exploration has me finding a prime spot south of me only to lose it to Cerese. Lower land and head through the mountains to her east to continue exploring. I find 2 gold mines there. Walah! 70 turns into game I finally get gold! (I had used the tech buildings to blaze through civilization to build a palace and bazaar to get a gold economy online) So now I don't have Metal or crystal still but I do have a 45g a turn income. So while I can't make "good" weapons or armor I can afford to overwhelm the enemies with my tech advantage...(I hope)

So in this game I am 140 turns in and am in the middle of the pack with military power. But the economy has just finally hit full stride gold wise. Squad tech is coming out next. (I shoulda grabbed it early I somehow thought I had it already)  Also I have switched to playing the game on the Epic speed setting. I felt the tech was going too fast. The world was getting filled up with lvl 5+ monsters thanks to some AI's going balls to the wall on the adventure techs. All and All I think I like the "epic" pace best so far. But its my first game using these settings. Epic speed, medium map, 7 additional AI's.