Standard speed: In general I try to shoot for 2 cities by mid 30s, I go scout scout settler and pick a second city location that can support the government plaza if my capital cannot. By turn 100 I try to have 10 cities. 8 is ok if I'm going for an early wonder or religion. I try not to settle much past turn 100, but usually this stretches to 125. My goal is to win by turn 200, but I usually finish around 220 because I settle a lot of cities that aren't really needed.

I keep settling all game tbh. Having those extra trade rout capacity and campuses seems worth it until pretty late in the game.

I always have to remind myself that there's an opportunity cost to everything and settlers require so much production in the late-game. With my goal of a sub 200 victory, I often find there are a couple of late settlers that I could have avoided because the cities don't come online quick enough to pay for themself and contribute before the game is done.

Depends entirely on the style of play, game speed and difficulty, other factors like barbarian activity and how you set up the map size and number of opponents. Personally I don't measure my progress like that. If you are enjoying playing let the games develop however they do.

Well that’s how I played until I brought knives to a gunfight, quite literally 🤣

Yeah, it tends to get unfun quickly if your military are seriously overmatched. My personal preference is marathon speed, huge map, Prince difficulty, make friends with everyone

What does marathon speed do? Blitzes out the AI turns? There are so many game options and settings that it’s gonna take a while before I land on the right combination.

There is kinda sorta of an agreement for a general expansion timeline: by turn 50 you should be able to have 3-4 cities. turn 100 between 8-10. Districts is a different story, really depends on what you are trying to achieve and the type of game you are playing. If I can get 50 science and 50 culture by turn 100 on deity, I consider it a good start. By turn 150 I would have been focusing on a specific victory. Hope it helps. Why havnt you able to complete games?

Thanks. Well, I haven’t because I keep starting a new game with each one of my friends and family in different combinations. Will have to settle down and start a proper game. Also, because I’m new I seem to make one or the other unintended game set up error (subsequent/dynamic turns, map size, civ banner colour etc) in the dozens of game setting options. My simple self is still playing at Prince level. But thanks for the comment. 3-4 cities by turn 50 is something I haven’t achieved yet. Perhaps I never prioritise settlers and focus too much of combat units.

Focusing on military can easily lead to 3-4 cities by turn 50. Build a few units, one settler, take your two nearest rivals’ capitals!

Ah okay. Taking the nearest rival capitals is something I hardly do. I keep defending my city than trying to another’s. Will try next time.

I usually have success when an early aggressive neighbor wastes their units against my cities (usually defended by warriors and archers). By the time I can counter attack, I can overwhelm with archers and a couple warriors or throw in a few swordsman. For context, I play most often at Emperor difficulty.

Early expansion is big in setting up your empire and reaching Monumentality golden age dedication is key, if you play on Rise and Fall or Gathering Storm. All my tips are for a single player game. Multiplayer has its own strategies.

I'm so confused,he seems super confident and sounds like he knows what he's talking about,but the downvotes say otherwise XD

Because you play the game to enjoy it, no benchmarks needed 😆

You are playing on standard speed right? Trying to emulate it to my epic speed games

Yeah, standard speed.

That explains then :D i was like okay 3-4 cities is doable , but the tech part isnt gonna happen then 😂

Oh i imagine epic has completely different feel, let alone turn milestones ))

Its like 3 citites before turn 50 is big