I've been playing for several years. The player community is amazing. If you want one of the strongest castles you do have to pay. If you devote the time you can have a good castle without paying. You should join a alliance or you won't get anywhere. Warning if you are a American player in my opinion you will get no support from the GM team. Non American friends have shown me screen shots of the support they get its real decent so there is definitely a bias. In game I am Woofy clan Torv K33.