Multiplayer strategy

[Dinner]

Which strategies do you use? I tend to find most MP games get decided by wars started right off the bat so I make fewer cities and defend them much more strongly. I also rush to get a pirate ship (to attack enemy shipping), a galleon (so I don't have to give the king 50% of my treasure), and a frigate (to bombard enemy cities and to kill their pirates). Of course I do the galleon first so I can rush out to drain the natives of all their cash before the others can then the pirate then the frigate. I usually try to build the pirate and the frigate in my cities since that costs about 50% compared to buying them in Europe but the Galleon I buy in Europe and it pays for itself by not having to give the king 50% of my treasures. Lastly, I'm always asking the king for military help because that's just about the only thing he is good for.

[PrinceMyshkin]

I don't play MP any more.

Basically get Jose and rush, rush, rush! You described the process beautifully some time ago.

[Dinner]

I use Jose on a small(ish) map where fighting matters but on a larger map I'll use Adrian as he seems to be the best for peace.

As always trade like mad with the natives to get money then rush a pirate and a frigate to use against the enemy.