Hi, I am the chief of Cagon clan in kingdom 421. We're always looking for new members. I do a good bit of fighting, especially trap setting, really like setting many different kinds of traps, but I do attacks sometimes. I have one other frequent fighter in my clan and a few others who attack mostly empty towns for their resources, but for the most part my members are just farmers. Don't underestimate farmers though, they are good for helping hands, and they really come through when donations to the stronghold are called for. Currently working on finishing up my knowledge, building, troop training, and food making gear for my shaman, already there for my hero, and already pretty maxed out for my fighting equipment on both my hero and shaman, then I move to making all of my fortress attacking gear. Anyways, I do have some tips and advice for you.
First, you can't switch kingdoms at level 8 anymore. When you first start the game you can switch kingdoms for free but not after you grow past level 5. After that you have to buy with real money the drakkar item to move kingdoms only after you're level 21. Some kingdoms cost more than others, and there are other terms and conditions for using the drakkar item, like you can't have too many resources in your town, and once you use it you won't be able to again for months, and again, if you buy a pack with 20 drakkars the kingdom you might want to move to may cost 40, you never know, so at this point better to start over and move before you move up to level 6 palace. The great relocation item may seem like it lets you move to another kingdom, but only during a kingdom battle or a clan battle, then if you don't move back it will kick you back at the end of that event.
Second, about your growth. Focus on a few areas in the beginning. Most importantly get your town to a high level quickly. This will speed up your knowledge upgrades and get your town producing more resources so when you do start to go for the more military upgrades you will at least be able to have a good quick head start on bursting through them quickly. It will also increase your range ability of your tower, your defense stats on your wall and tower, your ability to send more resources, your number of marches, how many troops are in those marches, how fast your shaman and hero gain experience, and plus you start to get really nice treasure chest items for those higher level palace upgrades. So highest priority, is upgrading that town. Another big thing about this is higher level palaces get offered much bigger bank offer packs with tons more items in greater quantities for the same price.
As for what knowledge upgrades to do while you're getting your town to the highest level. Don't go for military right away, it is a waste of time until you are ready for it. The most important upgrades to do are economy, invader fighting, and troop training. Economy will get your town producing more resources faster, as well as making building upgrades faster, so I'd recommend doing that one in tandem with growing your town. Upgrading your invader fighting stats all the way is a top priority too, this will get you building hero gear and getting higher level gems with the minimum amount of expended hero energy. And the troop training one might seem minor, but a ways down that list are two extra marches, get at least that far in it. There is also an extra march in the invader fighting upgrades.
After all of that, you are ready to really start working away on those crucial military upgrades, but in tandem with that you'll also want to start plucking away at those shaman upgrades. The shaman gives some crucial fighting bonuses, as well as the ability to, like the hero, fight ghosts with minimal shaman energy expenditure, which becomes very crucial in getting runes which come with some very nice bonuses. A strong fighter will have all gold hero gear, with all gold gems, and all gold runes. Don't bother making hero gear until you can make it gold, you'll regret it. The first and most important hero outfit to make is the Royal Guard gear which will make you more powerful at fighting invaders. After that, other important hero and shaman gear to build is the stuff that comes with good knowledge speed up bonuses, building speed up bonuses, troop training speed up bonuses, and food production speed up bonuses so you can have a larger army.
Third, as far as fighting goes, once you start getting there, pick a specialty unit. Don't try to build a complete army with everything, pick one unit type and stick with it, Either melee, killer, archery, siege, or cavalry. Being a spy specialist is alright but it kind of leads you away from any standard kind of fighting. I'd only recommend a spy specialist to those who have more than one account, and can spare one to develop it as a spy. Can't tile hit with spies. Can't get resources from towns with spies. Can't be part of an onslaught with spies.
And last but not least, if you plan on spending money, wait every few months. The offers get better and better, as in more and more stuff for less and less money, the longer you wait, up until about 2 months. To put some numbers on it, right now I have a bank offer that is 80 X 250,000 resource for $19.99, but I just bought packs last month, if I just wait it out eventually that same bank offer will turn in to 120,000 X 250,000 of each resource, for $19.99. A good thing to look out for is when they say they're marked down from $99.99 instead of 49.99 or 19.99. Initially the most important bank offers to go for are the ones with hero energy and shaman energy, as building good gear, gems, and runes, will make you stronger without increasing your influence, lean and mean. Also for your gold, spend it on increasing your VIP status level, again, stronger without increasing your influence, lean and mean.
Good luck in the game, and for a heck of a lot more game tips, feel free to join my clan, I am a wealth of knowledge on this game. Been at it for a few years now, am currently at 25 billion influence, set a pretty mean trap, my offense leaves a lot to be desired but I'm working on maxing out my defense before I max out my offense. There's another tip for you. If you max out your defense first, at least when you start dropping your shield to start attacking things any successful counter attacks will be minimized by your maxed out defense, so I recommend defense playing first. Also, you don't have to drop your shield to set a mead hall trap or a tile trap, or to take part in a harassment trap or an incognito trap. For onslaught traps you do have to start dropping your shield momentarily. I should stop typing now, I could go on for days. Good luck again.