Villages are the best way to boost your stars per turn and unit construction capabilities. In addition, it’s much better to meet opposing tribes closer to their cities than to your cities. Meeting a new tribe often results in a reward of technology or stars.
There are no bad results from exploring ruins, so get to them before any opponents do. If you reveal a village and a ruin on the same turn, always go to the ruin first. The potential rewards are too great to put off.
