Clash of Clans

Clash of Clans

Despite a few updates that included Arena, class itemization, new items, and monsters, my attention and desire to play Castle Age HD on my iPhone has dwindled. It was then that my brother introduced me to a WarCraft-like game called Clash of Clans on my iPad.  I’ve put $9.99 and over an estimated 20 hours into it just 3 weeks since!

The premise is familiar: build a city, protect yourself from intruders, group with other players in a clan, destroy other players’ cities, and compete to become the most powerful player and clan.

Players begin the game with a Town Hall, 2 Builder’s Hut, a Barracks, Army Camp, Gold Mine, Elixir Collector, Cannon, and an Archer Tower to defend against a small Goblin attack.  Following the attacks and a few instructions, the tutorial then puts you on the offensive where you’re raiding small Goblin outposts.

After a few short rounds with the Goblins and a few new building options, you’re left on your own to build your defenses over the next 24 hours while shielded from incoming player attacks.  After 24 hours, however; hunt or be hunted.

Clash of Clans is a real-time strategy (RTS) game in every essence of the word “real-time”. To build units, buildings, and upgrade the aforementioned requires real seconds, minutes, hours, and even days to complete.

Clash of Clans sticks to many tried and true medieval units, while  introducing a few steam-punk varieties – Barbarian, Archer, Giant, Wall Breaker, Balloon, Wizard, Healer, Dragon, and P.E.K.K.A.  Your Town Hall serves are your primary building and dictates the building, building quantities, and max levels as you progress through the game.  Don’t be fooled, however, as there is enough freedom for players to choose their order that no two players are likely to play alike.

Three weeks into it and I sit at experience level 26 with 850 Trophies.  I’ve managed through about a dozen single-player scenarios versus the goblins, and hundreds of matches versus other players.  I found a clan that has great camaraderie and support and we’re slowly climbing the clan ladders.  I don’t expect to be competitive at this stage, but I am very strategic and, once equally leveled with the maxed players, might be able to hold my own; only time will tell.

In an upcoming post, I’ll reveal a leveling guide, resource farming guide, and attack guide that should help you through the first 30 or so experience levels, or about the first 30 hours of play.  Stay tuned… and GLHF!