Personally taking Historical cities, colonising other players, avoiding being colonised is the best way of playing Age2.
While your concepts (which you ALREADY have a thread about) are fine for a temporary colony it is self defeating for long term.

you have played for the full length of NA4 and so far have you tried to take a lv.12 yet?
I did it on the weekend. Did it in 135 seconds to be exact.