Early Expansion -- How?

[Morberus]

i am really interested how experienced players expand on the map.
what units do you guys build?
when do you start building workers / laborers?
is there another solution than cavalry to expansion?
any thoughts would be highly welcome, since i am a new and very inexperienced player.
thx alot in advance

[b2198]

what units do you guys build?

For buildings: At start, depending on the map and settings, I usually build an advancement center or a blacksmith to get my researches going ASAP
For units: usually 1 light cavalry and 1 laborer for 2 TC starts, for bigger starts it depends on the map, settings and who I'm playing with or against

when do you start building workers / laborers?

I usually start making a laborer by turn 0, to have a built factory by turn 2 (or to help with the second factory, if many starting units), after that I keep making builders and laborers for the rest of the match as needed (I usually like to have at least 2 builders + 1 laborer before getting all my factories built).

is there another solution than cavalry to expansion?

gaelic warriors, guerillas, skirmishers and barchas longas/caravels, but usually light cavalry and both hussars are the fastest and easiest ways to expand by land before encountering your opponents.

[Midonik]

I'd there are tcs in bundles and also some more further away, don't use you scout cavarly to capture all of the bundled ones, capture only one and make the cheapest tc capturing unit in it to get the rest. You cavarly should in the meantime push further instead of wasting it's time.

[Aral_Yaren]

For early scouting (without light cavalry), investing scout dog and gaelic fighter is my preference.

And try not to engage early on unless you sure you'll win some unit or trade more value (that is, opps lose more important unit than you).

[Morberus]

thx -- that was a lot of very valuable advice.