My strategy is very much like Arnie's except I always have a builder with my farmer and researcher. It takes so darn long to get the builder to master that I like to start them out right away, especially if I need another hut (which I try not to because I don't want a huge population and a shortage of food). A runner as a builder is perfect -- it goes much faster.

Also, I only start a new game when I can devote a lot of time at the start up because of the change of starvation.