I usually play like this: first, I build all the buildings (excluding creature generators) up to the Capitol (prefecture, market, forge, guild of mages, municipality, Stronghold, Castle, Capitol), collecting unclaimed resources with heroes, and then I build the creature generators. Of course, it all depends on the circumstances; I might build monsters if needed, but the goal is to build administrative buildings to generate a stable income, and then use that income to acquire creatures. However, I play on difficulties 2-4; I've only played on 200% a few times (3-4), and this tactic is only valid for maps of size M and larger, meaning when the enemy is still far away, and you don't need to worry about a strong army yet. In two weeks, you can get a pretty strong city. The main thing is to choose a hero (or several) and level them up, level them up, level them up. It's also best to try to capture the adjacent mines in the first few weeks and not wait for your opponent to develop. You also need to hire a hero and have them explore the map, and then, if possible, eliminate the opponent's heroes while they are traveling with small armies or armies smaller than yours.
But this applies to Heroes 3, and different missions have their own nuances; in many ways, the game tactics depend on the map, on the terrain on which you will play. Remember, if you manage to build a building every day (more or less) in the first week, then you're on the right track. And don't split your army if you can attack the enemy with a larger force. Level up your hero and magic for him; you'll be able to win with quality. That's basically it; the rest depends only on you.