For quests involving adventures, all players troops count to finish the quest for the individual; for achievements, have the main player do the quest normally, only your troops count for your achievement.
Anyone who considers protocol unimportant has never dealt with a cat. ~Robert A. Heinlein
Send your explorer to search for treasure or adventures every day.
Save your premium time for special occasions, like events or when you know you'll be able to do multiple adventures. Also, try to use the premium time on days where it will coincide with the server maintenance, because it will be extended (and they generally shut down the servers while you're sleeping anyway).
check the "deal i can't afford" box in TO and compare prices first. too many players preying on new player with bad deals. get an average price and post your resources yourself. you get more for them instead of selling it to one of those "noob stalkers"
When your population is maxed out, continue to make settlers with bread in the provision house. Keep them in your star menu ready be trained.
Send all loaded garrisons to the adventure; unload and send the empty garrisons home to load more troops.
uses for decorations: remove bushes / small trees by building or moving a decoration (like a flowerbed) on or in front of the bush, then move the decoration away. This will allow additional building locations. If you leave your island before placing the building down, the bush will return.
uses for decorations, #2: collectibles can not appear on a decoration, so you can force collectibles to be placed somewhere else by putting down decorations.