You can only play for free to a certain point. You can't keep up with the researches for troop types, even with the right gear on. Too bad. Yes, there are speed ups and treasures but you might get two 24hr speed ups a week...which doesn't really have an impact on a 50 day research. For instance, I've devoted all my resources to T4 troops...but in the time it has taken to get them there has been TWO more troop types made available. My lvl21 base can't compete against a lvl36.