Welcome to Ikariam! If someone doesn't beat me to it I'll give you a run down on your first steps later tonight... For now read the in-game Help section to get you started!
Welcome to IKARIAM
First Advice:Build up a small Army (5-10 slingers) in your barracks, then raid some small inactive towns (have a small (i) beside name) to build up your resources/gold.
Trust me, it helps, big time
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There's got to be more to life then being really, really, ridiculously good looking