I'm sure some folks here will have some strategy advice for you, but I'll also note I plan to add basic difficulty levels in the update I have planned for the end of August. For now, good luck out there! It can be tough for sure.

- Jon

Don’t up past 12 clans until you can afford to. Will be around turn 100

I generally focus on livestock. Gatherers/fishing/hunting for the first few turns, even if just to break even. Learn rancher and meat cutter, and build once you get enough wood. You’ll start storing a lot extra, especially with upgrades and a salter/smoker (though those can be tough get). If there’s a lot of animals around, I’ll even let it deplete and move on, or just abandon before it depletes. Once you can get one or two of the stone ranches, you’ll be all set. Especially with an upgraded butcher. I actually do go to 16 clans pretty early (right about when I hit 12) assuming I’m on my way to my plan above. (Although, to be honest, if i don’t have a lot animals around I generally restart...)

Forgot to add: I'll sometimes research and train a meat cutter before I'm ready to set up a ranch, just to get some food from any stray animals you may get from either bandit camps or from new clans. 3 sheep from a new clan with that trait is 90 food after three turns, which is a great stockpile for starting off the game.