You have an initial protection when it expires, after that to save your troops you need to harbor them.

a.reynolds551 said:

What is the point of playing this game.  Been playing for 4 days and got to lvl24. attacked a few nearby inactive players but then a lvl77 comes along and wipes out all my defenses.  I will struggle to replace them and he has 20+ times the forces I have so can't see why I should continue.

also you need to learn the basics, when to defend and when not too,

put your troops in the harbor give those level 77 attackers no advantage, a waist in a raid no resources and no raids, they go home empty and a wasted raid 

Is there a general game play tutorial that we can review?  Just started a few hours ago, and would appreciate an understanding of game play.

Ok.  In the meantime, is there a thread that discusses how to move troops to harbor, how to acquire ships, and what is a sea fort? 

And, more info on brotherhood -I joined one (middle ranked) in the first hour, but have no idea of how to contact members or get information.

You see this image where it says harbor, click this building.

click the secure button, select all units and than click send. Now your units are save.

Regarding asking for help, you can use the brotherhood chat which is 3 person logo as shown in first image. or you can go to your brthern court than to my brotherhood & send PM to them.

Hope it helps.

jongeleur said:

Ok.  In the meantime, is there a thread that discusses how to move troops to harbor, how to acquire ships, and what is a sea fort? 

And, more info on brotherhood -I joined one (middle ranked) in the first hour, but have no idea of how to contact members or get information.

get into a BH that will help  you and explain things to you,

being new here and getting the first rush of the game is the most exciting part of playing, 

but also can be discuraging to players that don't get the bh help they should, so make sure when you join a brotherhood (BH) 

you get into one that will be there for you..

jmccarty said:

First of all a level 77 should not be attacking a level 24, that's what I call bullying. He needs to be raiding havens more his own level. I don't allow my members to raid even 20 levels below their level...It's just wrong....

it's a war game, learn and prosper 

I agree with LINDA, there are many who calls themselves respected players of community and what they are doing is harassing, bullying low levels and that too with 60+ levels difference.

Maybe that is how they consider themselves "EXPERIENCED" & "RESPECTABLE" members of this community.