Ikariam US

I'm gonna give you a whole bunch of advice I think may be very helpful to youf, and if you want to improve your gameplay, I would advise you read every last word carefully
1. I don't know how often you check in, but at least try this
check in every day, stay on for like 10-20 minutes minimum
every third or fourth day, stay on for longer than an hour
These are times to do what is necessary

2. Always be thinking about ways to upgrade that palace and GRS
when you want to colonize, upgrade your GRs (Governor Residences) FIRST to avoid the temptation of colonizning, than having corruption in your cities

3. Build a decent military, like say 10 phalanx, and if you have them, about 10 archers, if not, 20-30 slingers, they will attack the enemy from the wall
Keep adding to this army, make sure you have a respectable defense in each town, including wall level to deter pirates

4. Constantly upgrade your town halls, hideouts, and walls, they are essential for you're points and military. Also, when you get taverns, they are essential for your growth, and constantly upgrading them can raise your population quickly, and the larger the population, the more oppurtunity

5. upgrade your barracks so it is up to date with your latest units, also be active with pillaging too, but you SHOULD spy on them before you do, although not necessary

6. keep 1-2 ships in your harbors, so enemies can't just come and pillage you

7. Try, for someone your size, to get around 70-100 wood produced in each city every hour, in your wine city, do not worry about wine unless you plan on selling it, right now you don't need it, you do need a sulfur colony however, also, a good tactic is to post 200 wood for like 7-10 gold per piece, other smaller people will buy this, and you can make a good economy off of this

8. Sulfur and Marble islands are the essential things for beginners, and essential for upgrading early GR's and Palaces
then wine then crystal

9. Communicate with the alliance, do this by going to the diplomacy guy, and there is a section that says alliance, then send "a message to the alliance". Leaders like it when even small members talk because they know they are active, you can use this to advertise trades too

10. Ask large nearby players for necessary resources you can't get but need

11. If you feel threatened, tell your alliance leader for he can talk with the alliance the guy is from and stop hostilities, and of course there local giants, not in the alliance or in the alliance that can help

12. Donate, whenever you get on, donate 200-50 resources, so that means if you get on every day, you'll have donated about 1400 in a week, which is acceptable for your size

13. Be active in the new agoras. They are for island communication, you can advertise trade here

14. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS use your resources that you have, unless your doing a thing like a palace upgrade, it is essential not to build up resources, you'll be a good target and your wasting your time if you don't use your stuff

Hope this helps,
Agamemnox Zappo