Order of terrain's exploration M&M: Heroes VI Guide

Noticed that all, we can start exploring a map. During that, quite useful observatories are - they discover large area of land, thereupon we should find them very fast. After we get familiar with localisation of mines, treasures and monsters, we should start acting. Firstly, we need to look after sawmills and stone mines - of course with collecting all treasures along our path. It's important to not moving back anywhere - it's awful waste of time and movement points. Because of that you should schedule your exploration, including all battles, mines, army supplies etc. As control zones are not big, it isn't difficult usually at the beginning of the game, when random component (other players) is not that dangerous.

Observatories are hardly to skip

When we control all mines inside zone control, we have to arm ourselves and try to conquer dwellings (if they are near). If there are no dwellings, and we have nice army (usually at the beginning of the second week) we can think about moving to another zone - we'll have to defeat border guards. After coming up onto new terrain we make again the same: observatory, mines, dwellings and then cities and forts. If this land is in a hand of enemy, we shouldn't waste time and (if our army is strong enough) attack a city, which is usually in the middle of the zone. After conquering it, all mines and dwellings inside zone will be ours.