Thank you for your post! I learned a few things a while ago:

-You NEVER win at Persians

-Statements made, and remembered  by me, by certain Mods-

"Me: Can you check my account for_ _ _ _ _  insert whatever question

Mod: We can not see that issue on your account as we have extremley limited options to see/view accounts

YET:

-Mod-Looking at your account, you need to "invest" more troops to get your payout

And my absolute favorite statement:

"There's been no changes to Persian Positions"

From a purely statistical point of view-if new troops, new levels of Persians were added, from a mathematical/game development point of view-you would need to re-calculate the operation of Persian Positions. 

Given the recent additions of troops, and levels of PP's over the last few years, the "there have been no changes to PP's" statement for me, does not have any ring of truth.

 But after heart surgery, I no longer consider explaining myself on any posts knowledgable in Statitistical Analysis/Game Development.  It is counter-productive.  

My observations are purely Statitistical and many "issues" in the game are related to...Yup...you got it-Money. 

It is, after all, a business. 

Having no less than 11 trouble tickets open at one time, a pandemic, heart surgery and now a war in the Ukraine, I find it counter productive to complain or post diatribes as to not getting troops in PVP, spending all emeralds, submitting  trouble ticket(s) to get the 2K of Mounted Peltasts. 

I play with what I have. I build what I need.  I enjoy the friendship of players. 

I use lights and knock down positions over time. Does it take me a long time?

Yes, of course.  

I still enjoy the game and the interaction with players from all over the world.

In closing, try using Google translate to meet and chat withother players from somewhere else in the world.

Surprisingly refreshing. 

I am waiting on an answer as to why I can't purchase any packages though.

Respect to all.

Prayers to all in the Ukraine and our Plarium family.

Meritus

P.S. Damn-I did what I just stated above that I wouldn't do! Apologies!

100% Agree with OP

Respect to all and prayers for our friends in the Ukraine!

Guys, Mods cannot see your city. Mods are players, and NOT Plarium's employees. It is different to speak with Plarium's agents and different with mods. Regarding Persian Positions, all the specialists in Xerxes I know, don't play positions every week, but every month. They try to get defensive units as a payout, and the next payout has to be from offensive Positions. if  I see that I cannot get a decent payout even if I know that my Xerxes bank is full, I stop it, as to get a full payment and to empty your bank, is a bit of luck. Let's be honest, we cannot get a big army only by training our units. Xerxes can give us an army, but you have to set your own limits of what units you can afford to lose.