Starting Perks and Strategy for Human?

[Primaris]

I noticed that the common human units in the game are very... weak. I'm having trouble expanding in the early game because they tend to die when something sneezes at their general direction.

I don't really have a strategy in terms of "what's good to rush" or "what's a waste of time" or even "how should I build my cities".

I'm obviously doing something wrong but then again Warlock 2 is my first 4x game haha.

[skycrow]

Rogues and Hunters have nice perks and performance compared with their price, so you can mass-produce them in the early stage. BTW, Mages' Ice Arrow range is "3".

Humans race also have most kinds of Temple cities/units or shrines.

[Primaris]

What perks should I pick for them? Should I focus on damage or defense?

[skycrow]

It depends on your play-style.

For example:
Koatl's Training: for mass early units
Elven unit or villager: powerful early units
Archon:+2 city limit to reduce unrest pressure
Favour of Helia + lesser weakness: for spell combos
...