How to build up your empire

[Radiant]

I know you need more cities than castles, but what do you build in your cities/castles aside from income buildings?

And when do you sack a settlement?

[Furiøùs]

I sack every settlement i capture, unless its one of mine that i lost to an enemy, then you occupy.

Also, use priests to convert, that adds public order and gets rid of Religious Unrest.

Build church buildings, town halls all the advanced one's also, Not technically more cities then castles, but all your borders should be all castles, cities should be in the heart / middle of your empire. So when you get bigger, you can convert those settlements that were once your border into cities, and cities to castles if its not one already.

Its more of how the game goes, sometimes you dont need this building for that building. Also, i set 3 buildings as my military, where i build nothing economically and just go straight for all the high tech barracks / stables. Good luck!

[DeaDBolT]

Thats some nice advice furious, i always try to keep several focused unit production settlements, but i just cant resist building everything high and mighty

also isnt it very costly to constantly change settlements to castles and opposite only to revert them again when the borders change.

you also seem to lose a lot of military, economy buildings that could have cost a lot to build. I dont see how that can be so beneficial in the long term, if you could elaborate for me you'd have my gratitude

[Hellbent]

I usually have a 4:1 ratio of cities to castles.

I only sack when the money gained it at least over a 1000 or the unrest is at blue or red level because I think the population that you can save if you occupy creates more money with taxes in the long run.

[Furiøùs]

Yes it is costly, but thats what sacking settlements are for heh..

In the long term, once you've done what i said you'll be an economic superpower, you'll have enough money to build whatever whenever.