personally i would attack all kinds of resource gathering operations because it will confuse ur enemy, they won't know what to defend. i would use cavalry because their fast or to a lesser extent the Ulfsark (i suggest use mummies to convert them to minions or curse to make them to pigs but get them also, serpents is also fun). PLUS destroy a undefended towncenter which will decrease their pop limit and they might not even know this will stop reinforcements from coming this might not work with egypt because of mercenaries. before all this make sure ur villies have a job to do. an unemployed viliger, gatherer etc is a strain on ur economy.
u ask if there are diff types of attacks, well.... i believe their isn't, probably hit and run with turma and chariot archers or pursue the deffencelesss villies which is always fun. but remember all civs has a counter for all types of units.
hope this helped P.S. my nickname here is the same as online play nickname.