What are the fav strategy web sites/3rd party books out there any of you veterans could recommend? I know, experience is the best teacher. However, before I embarass myself on 'net play (not to mention letting anyone down who happened to get me as a partner--I've read how you guys feel about weak partners... hehehe), I would like to get some in depth knowledge about the game mechanics which unfortunately aren't covered well enough for my liking in the **totally inadequate docs** which ship with the product.
Also, are there any "cerebral" players out there? I mean, does everyone just play for body count and to take over the world? Does anyone ever try diplomacy or trading as an alternative? Can you? Is that aspect built into the game?
I know that combat was one of the main ways a civilization expaned, but it seems like combat is ALL that this game's about. Am I wrong? Don't misunderstand, I'm an ex-Marine, not a tree-hugger, so I have nothing against combat! It's just that it gets boring for me ALWAYS struggling against the computer's shock troops (which has cheating AI anyway).
Is there a "thinking game" behind the scenes besides thinking about which technologies to get to make you stong enough to kick your neighbors feet out from under him and sack all his women and children?