Hi all,
I have learnt a few things since playing Ikariam, and just wanted to share a few with you I have been playing now for about 6 months and have just managed to get into the Top 50 in high scores and Top 25 in Master Builders on world Beta. I started on a low level crystal island with only 2 other players on the island, one who was inactive!

Here are my tips..

1. Keep your gold stocks below $1 million wherever possible
2. Keep your trading port at Level 3 or less
3. Keep your wall level as high or higher than your town hall
4. When selling goods on the trading post, check how much others are selling the same goods for and undercut them by a dollar a piece! (You'll sell more that way!)
5. When listing goods for sale on the trading post, list the quantity in multiples of 300.. eg. 300, 600, 900 etc. as each trade ship carries 300 goods each, makes it easier to sell
6. Make sure you donate to your islands luxury resource and saw mill
7. Ask other players on your island to donate, if they don't then attack them and donate what you steal from them to your island resources
8. Whenever you are saving lots of resources in one town (eg. saving up for Palace upgrade) then transport some of your army and navy to that town so it has extra defence. You want to protect all of those goods you are saving up from greedy thieves!
9. Help your friends in XGX - send the smaller players goods for free to help them get strong
10. If you need any particular resource send a message to the alliance, we will help you if we can!
11. If you are getting attacked, let the alliance know, we will help wherever possible - but make sure you follow the steps above - this will stop you being an enticing target.
12. If you need a cultural goods treaty, ask your alliance, nearby neighbours or the people on the top score list if they are looking for one
13. Avoid attacking those players in the bigger alliances, especially more war oriented alliances eg. DLR or Dawn
14. Start off by attacking inactive players (I rarely attack active players!)
15. Most of all.. have fun!