As my turn is slowly coming towards me I will just tell you about my opening moves:
Get good relations with all neighbouring fractions,
Consolodate my position in Northern slowly building an army to take Milan
Build a powerful navy to rule the seas
Ally with all in the near proximity and then make trade with all.
Turn the Venations into a rich fraction and then destroy the Byzantians
Also for any of those who play the grand campaign as Venice heres a tip:
Watch out for all around you, they know your a profitable fraction and want it for themselves!
Baggies great escape!
Professor Hubert Farnsworth: Bender, be careful! That's the ship's diamond filament tether. It's unbreakable.
Bender: Then why do I have to be careful?
Professor Hubert Farnsworth: It belonged to my Grandmother.