I'm a plunderer. I fight often, and I don't show up without a plan. This game is based on Medieval Times. You are the King or Queen of your city. Whining to other neighbor Kings or Queens doesn't normally help you, because it is a game based on Attack, Plunder the Spoils of the city you beat, and go back to the next Neighbor and do it again. That is a foundation of the game. Once you accept that, you build your city to withstand attack. How? defense Great Buildings, WatchFires, Rural Flames, Tavern Bonuses for Defense, Inventory DEFENSE percentage bottles, SPECIAL EVENT buildings. All of those methods work. DO NOT ADVANCE too quickly through the ages. It takes time to build a city. What is your hurry? I can tell you there is no pot of gold at the end of the game, there is just more game. So when you move slow, you build your friends list. Those friends will help trade FP's to build your Great Buildings. Setup swaps. Get into a GUILD that is active. How will you know? I have been in three GUILDS. First one blew up due to disagreements, second GUILD had a dictator leader but I learn a lot from those players and then I joined the one I am in now where we have a co-operative 10 LEADER GUILD, like a board of directors for the GUILD and decisions are hammered out and implemented for everyone. As an example, we have a rule. You can not PROFIT from a GUILDMATE, unless it happens through swaps threads. Rational is, why would you best/take from your GUILDMATE? So all players MUST place their GB ARC bonus when helping another GUILDMATE. Notice I said ARC BONUS and not 1.9%. Why? because it could be more than 1.9%
So in summary:
1) Plundering is part of this game. INNO has other games that don't include this element and if it bothers you play them instead.
2) Slow down. What is your rush? This is not like the game station games where you are trying to get to level 4000 to be on some leader board. Take time to build your city. Big hint: Look at advanced players. See what Great BUILDINGS they have, where their roads run, what special buildings they have, and how they are placed. There is no 1 right solution but there are many solutions to build your city.
3) Do not be upset when someone plunders you. Want to learn something about fighting? Watch the replay. Watch it again. Watch it once more. Read what each troop has as a profile for attack and defense. Ex. Gains Attack on Hills. Gains defense in bushes. Learn that and use those troops for their skills.
4) Find yourself a GREAT GUILD. Don't settle for easy swap, or AID/MOTIVATE GUILDS. If there is no advise flowing from leadership in that GUILD at least once a day, max every two days, find another GUILD. You may need to look in that GUILDS forum. Sometimes repeat questions have great answers in there. As you might realize I maintain our GUILD FORUM because I believe if I grow you and your city, you help us as a GUILD.
5) Spend Money, real money on Diamonds. I don't work for INNOGAMES, but I will tell you if you don't spend it, you will lose. You can play this game for free but why? Everyone I know has money issues but if you set a budget based on the enjoyment you are having, spend only that money. Ex. Entertainment budget for eating out at a restaurant per month might be $150-$200. I'm not telling you not to go out, I am suggesting you cut one visit out and buy DIAMONDS for this game and use them. That is exactly what I did. You might argue that you don't want to use real money to play a game. Then the question becomes, should you be playing THIS GAME? I play hockey. Costs me about $400 a season. Afterward I go to a bar which costs me about $50 per week. I drove my car to hockey and I am responsible when I beverage and I drive home using gas in my car. That is my cost for playing Hockey.
6) Try to remember what Medieval Times was like. Unlike today, where everyone must own a chainsaw if he is going to cut down trees, back in the day, people helped each other. Farmers, especially got together to help each other harvest crops, birth live stock, deal with illness. Do the same in this game. Work with other people to support your city. You make goods of one kind, and someone else makes goods that are different based on your cities BOOST from the Continental Map where you are conquering land. TRADE the goods. Want better goods with a better player in your HOOD, offer FP's for their higher age GOODS. Why not? You can then build newer Great BUILDINGS ahead of others in your age, and your powerful HOOD player is not likely to plunder you since they are now a TRADING PARTNER, just like in the real world.
Just a few helpful game tips.