OK, I think I've found an EXCELLENT simulation strategy for you. I'm using it myself and I decided to share the wealth.
Fillmore: Basically the exact same you did, but wait an extra turn at the end so the road hits the left side of the screen.
Bloodpool: Dry up the two marshes straight south, use bridge, then build towards that dragon lair just SE of the temple. But let the road hit the right edge of the screen. This joins Bloodpool with Fillmore, leading Bloodpool to teach Fillmore how to make wheat that helps population growth (not totally positive, but I did have a +128 pop gain in Fillmore after I left by the end of the game). After this, build back to the temple, up 1, then straight over to the bat. Partway there, you should get the "Teddy runs away from home" scenario. Grab a wheat when you get the bread. Use the bread and when you get the skull, grab another wheat. Use the skull (you DO NOT need to zap the trees at the Red Demon's lair!) and work up towards the lake for the scene. Grab your magic and about this time the bat should be sealed. Then work your way back to the temple (hitting the space on the left side) and you should get to the south river by the time you run out of spacing. Let the town get there then finish the route to the other dragon lair. Seal it and complete Act II. Get your MP from the town and wait about 1 turn (your road will get to the bottom of the screen).
Kasandora: Use rain on the two spaces to the right of the temple. Start moving out. When they build a field, use wheat on it. Continue using rain east of your last use, then south. Continue building the town to that lower red demon lair. After sealing it, send the town south to that tree. Let it build there and then build back to the bat lair and continue up all the way to the red demon lair. Keep clearing sand in a square (upper left the demon lair, upper right the dragon lair, lower right the lost man, lower left just above the bat lair). Right after the demon lair seals, built the town around the square counter-clockwise. Let the town build until that square is complete. Grab your MP (2 of them!) and complete Act II.
Aitos: Clear rocks and build the town W, W, S, W (1st seal), then seal the skull lair. Build back to the temple then straight up to the waters and all the way to the east (so you get the MP from the mountains). After the climber goes up, build back straight west and towards the other dragon lair. By the time you get done, you should be about at 1500, you may need to wait a round. Get your MP and sheep and complete Act II.
Marahna: Use earthquake right away, and intermix moving and zapping palm trees while you work NW through the dragon and red demon lairs. As you get SP, clear stuff to get to the other lairs. After the red demon is sealed, build back to the temple then south, then west to the bat lair. After it seals, build back to the temple, then east towards the last dragon lair. After you get 1900, finish Act II.
Northwall: Pretty much how you did it. North to the red demon, then the skull, they learn bridges, use sheep, build past the dragon lair, then the final skull lair (getting your MP). Finish Act II.
My final population at the end of my last attemp was 2124, and a ton was gained after leaving areas (128 in fillmore, 160 in Bloodpool, 152 in Kasandora, 24 in Aitos, 48 in Marahna, 0 in Northwall). I don't have differences in action level times, but my total time (from the fade just before you can set the text speed/enter Fillmore Act I to after losing control at Tanzara's defeat) was 1:14:29, though I may be able to get it under 1:14 if I don't make any stupid mistakes next time.
Hope this helps you out.
