There is quite a difference between NR 5-15, NR 20-30, NR 30-40, and NR45+ (refering to vanilla)
With any NR game, you want to get to age 3 and get two more TCs up ASAP. From there get 80 CDBs ASAP. If you look at "all resources gathered" in postgame after a game that you lose, you will see that your opponent probably had more resources than you. That is why you need the strongest economy you can get, and the French have the strongest next to the Germans in land games. The French get 2 fort shipments in vanilla, but they are useless in NR games.
NR 20-30, you will want resource cards, CDB cards, and the rest early and late game economy cards.
NR 30-40, you will want two CDB cards, 3 in age1 and 4 in age2. A TC card or wood card in age3. have a couple early game eco cards, like furrier and silversmith. the rest of your cards are late game economy. Include all of the gather cards for mills and plantations, and factories. If you have any space, put military upgrade cards. Advanced Arsenal is very important.
NR 45+, these games are too long, and generally result in a massive war of attrition that can last hours more 
. Have one or no settler cards, and optionally a TC card in age3. Have no ealy game economy cards. Have no resource cards. 90% of your longNR deck should be all mill/plantation upgrades and military/defense upgrades. In addition, the unique French tech after sending the church card (code napoleon) is very usefull in these games. The french also have team wood chopping rate+. Oh, and for any game, also include riding school and fencing school cards.