Regarding "Era-Trolls" and Plunder
I'd like to comment on this topic as its related to plunder very much.
The first era of FoE as i see it, was designed to be relatively easy, short and not to costly to manage, because new players do not have much resources and strong military to push fast in the game, unless spending massive amount of diamonds right away.
The first age or era in FoE IMO is similar to a "starting platform" or kinda "test platform" for those that start playing so that they can test the game out and see if they like it, and those that do, can then move on and expand their city and "empire", this was and still is one the main intended purposes with the game. Fight and expand your empire (your city is included in this obviously)!
Now, some of these new players are unsure and have little ability to defend initially as it takes time to build up defenses and a military to strike back so they are easy game for any veteran who camps in lowest age due to them generally having vastly stronger military both attack and defense (some may have little or no city defense but don't count on it). IMO The purpose of the lowest era is not for this platform to be used for veteran players to camp, and certainly not intended at all, for the sole reason so they can stomp on any new player they see just for their own amusement, and to the detriment to innogames by reducing the new player base and potentially hurting them financially.
If Innogames want to allow them "Era-Trolls" or "First Age-Bullies" to hang around, you have to find ways to fight back, so what can a total new player be expected to possibly then do, to fight back against these veteran overpowered trolls that hangs around in the first age for years?
Id like to answer that question, maybe it can help some new players understand why they are being attacked and how to react and act.
1.
Focus on moving up to the next era or age, as soon as possible, but do not rush it to much, make sure you have the resources to move up then make the move. If you leave the lowest age you will avoid the lowest era bullies or "trolls" for sure.This is the best option but not the fastest.
2. Do
not lash out, complaining will
not hurt the attacker, it will
give them fuel to attack you even more! Do not feed the "Trolls"!
Be
patient and calm. Over the long run you will overcome them, even if you suffer some losses, with proper collection scheme you will get the resources eventually to move up an age. Everyone started as a weakling in this game, those that prosper are those that are able to have the virtues you need to survive.
3. Most attackers attack same time every day, set your production about 1 hour before they usually attack, even if they win they will have to hang around for
23 hours then for a shot at plunder.
4. Set only 24 hours productions and use a app or kitchen timer.
5. If you just started out, another option is to move on to the newest server and world in the game, you will not find any multi year campers there hanging around the earliest age attacking new players and "bullying" them! This is very effective but a very drastic measure, you may have to abandon an already established city to do this one.
6. Until Innogames allows new players to buy a "Do-Not-attack-Me-Forever"-Shield for diamonds (when hell freezes over?) you can try and max out friends and use taverns "City shield" but for new players i doubt this is is a good option, its just to expensive for them, they would not be able to use it very often, to say the least.
I know there are ideas floating around about allowing players to buy "Peace Treaty" that will allow a player to never be attacked or attack other players ("PVP" or Player vs. Player) as this is and have always been a Battle game in principle, such a thing would violate one of the games fundamental principles, so i don't see such a item to ever be tested or released on all servers, it simply
goes against everything the game is about, it's not a city building pacifist game it's a War game with city building & management functions, not the other way around, until new players realize this and accept this you will continue to have people complaining and leaving the game in the early stages sadly cause they simple do not understand the purpose of the game and how it works.