Hi lightmare.
I agree it is virtually impossible to get to 1700 for a new player, unless you forget all about your 1700 dreams and just play straight away.
There are always smurfs, there are always people drop from 1750++ or 1800++ to 1600 around and play all newbees down.
I am personally being one of people probably around 1730 to 1750 but at moment I can't even make myself pass 1590, seriously. I lost a battle recently against some zeus and then an Isis, which was virtually un-believable. Though one of them admitted that he was 1790 in the past, but still it was extremely annoying to see him smurfing at 1621, and I was too easy in late game because I took the entire water on mediterrian and hit myth much earlier, so I thought I would win easily. I should never up Osiris vs. Isis though, especially I didn't have many monument...
Anyway, I remember the first time and second time I hit 1700, which were as well the only twice I hit 1700, was extremely long and hard journey. The first battle I went fast titan and dug out 5 titans that morning in a row. Lucky enough none of my enemies were in the mood of fighting a titan at 6 a.m. in morning. So they mostly resigned. Then the last battle my locus swarm killed 18 of enemy villagers and dwarfs at 9:12 (extremely lucky cast), and I got my miggy with second tc up already, so he resigned as well, that was how I got to 1700 first time.
Second time was easier, fought some 1699 Isis when I was 1685, and he was fancying some double tc strategy while I did critical FH. Then he went Thoth too fast, but didn't make any descent army...Pretty much suicide. I did straight elephant spam, and not go myth so I could spare 1000/1000 resources on my army. After I knocked down his first tc he went out of things, then resigned, so I hit 1700 for the second time.
After that I only hit 1699 once, and never been that high again. I believe if I do 20 games in a row I should hit 1700, but I never has the spirit of doing that kind of things again.
Mydickislong is a descent player. I fought him last time with velite on my side and biblo on the other. Tough battle I would say. Because I got better ally so I managed to win, extremely lucky win
Anyway, good luck. Keep away from hack users as they really suck helly bad. One of the reasons I stopped trying to get to 1700 is that I met too many hack users recently, like 5 or 6 in three days, so I got fed up. Play at another time if you can't pass some hacker at certain hour.
Regards
Aoth_1wing_angel