wedsaz: Running for bronze is fine if you can do it pretty fast...
In my case, I already know that I can't do it - at least not yet - I'm usually a couple of minutes later than the others. So if I try this strat of yours, which I have in the past, let me describe to you the typical scenario:
1) I rush to get to bronze. I have vils on wood and fishing boats. I have made a few scout ships to protect the fishing boats.
2) I press the bronze button
3) About 10 seconds later there are enemy cavalry in my town.
4) Because I was rushing to get to bronze and skimping on army (as you suggested), I have almost nothing to defend with.
5) Yes, I could have taken one vil away from his woodcutting chores and built walls, but anyway, about one minute later (while I am still bronzing) here come one or two catapults. Those walls were then built for nothing...
6) I am now in bronze. Yippee. But my town is being razed.
So what can I do when I know that chances are, I'm not going to bronze first? I usually have to brace myself for a couple waves of attacks before I can get to bronze.
So I was wondering if maybe I should delay bronze even a little longer and build a huge tool army. With the tool archer armor upgrade and lots of bowmen perhaps you can withstand an 8-10 cav assault.
Or is it simply the case that the first one to get to bronze wins? That would be kinda sad since then there only exists one basic successful strat - bronze rush.