A Brief Overview of the Basics of AoE:CS

A Brief Overview of the Basics of AoE:CS

For a more detailed and extensive explanation of the way things work in AoE:CS please check out the AoE:CS FAQ by Andy P.

1. The way the stars are earned in AoE:CS is: Kill the Keep=1 star, Loot 50% of resources=1 star, 100%= 3 stars. Each star=1/3 of crowns offered, but it takes only 1 star to count as a win. The 3 star system informs both your offense and defense. 
2. For Offense--since you can score a 1 star win by either taking down the Keep or looting 50% of resources, decide on your objectives before starting an attack. To maximize effectiveness target the Keep and/or Resource Storage buildings (Silos, Lumberyards and Storehouses), they hold the highest percentage of resources per building.
3. For Defense--Make a point to protect your Keep, Resource Storage buildings, Watch Signal and Guardhouses, inside the walls (the University and Cathedral hold most of the pennants, so you may want to protect those as well).
4. Rough Percentage Value of Buildings--The total percentage points are divided between different building types and then between the number of buildings of each type. The percentages per building changes over time depending on how many buildings of a type are already built (for ex., an age 10 Silo holds less percentages than an age 3 Silo, because there are less silos available in the lower ages). The Keep holds 6-8%, Resource Storage buildings 3-4%, Resource Production buildings (Farms, Mills and Quarries) 2-3%, Military buildings (Barracks, Stable, Archery Range and Siege Workshop) 1-2%, the Rest (WS, GHs, Embassy, Cathedral, University, Cultural Troops building and Hall of Heroes) 1-5%, Towers 0.5-1%.
5. Gold--Gold can be acquired by: 1) Connecting roads to the Keep, each road gives you 3 gold every day, more connected roads=more gold, when the road is connected properly it turns to pavement. The daily gold from roads may also be doubled by activating the Trade Envoy boost from the San Vitale monument; 2) Some Jackpot and bonus chests may also contain gold; 3) silver, Gold and Regal Battle Chests may also contain various amounts of gold; 4) You may also buy gold (as well as resources) by clicking on the Loot Menu. The devs have from time to time offered Gold Sales when gold is sold at a discount.
6. Wonders--Wonders are built by an alliance and can be accessed through your Embassy and Wonder Monuments, a player also needs to have an Embassy to be able to donate resources and for their battles to contribute to the building of the Wonders (click on your Embassy>Task to see what the current Wonder requires to get built). That is why all of our coalition alliances have building an embassy after age 5 as a requirement, you cannot be in a CODA alliance without an embassy. Just building wonder monuments doesn't not activate their boosts, you have to buy the boosts and renew them when they run out. To activate a wonder boost, click on the monument and then the boost to pay the activation fee, the monument will turn golden when active.
7. Relief Troops--Relief troops are donated by other members of your alliance. In order to be able to receive troops you need to build a Watch Signal.To donate troops to your alliance mates go to Social> Alliances this will take you to your alliance Mainpage, to the right of the alliance member's Gamertags there is a button with a helmet on it, if this button is lit up it means that player needs troops, so click on it and donate.We cannot donate Relief Troops for your attacks, they are for defense only.
8. Matchmaking--In AoE:CS battle matchmaking (MM) is based on you Power Level (PL) which is determined by the strength of your Keep, troops, defenses, heroes and walls. So, if you see a player while looking for an attack it means that that player's PL is slightly above, or below, or equivalent to yours. Even if you are an age 5-6 player and find an age 7-8 player in MM, it means that that player's PL is roughly the equivalent of yours and you should be able to get a win against them depending on your skill. This also means that if a higher age player attacks you, then their PL is roughly the equivalent of yours and you should be able to get a revenge win against them depending on your skill. There is only one exception to MM working by PL know as the Cav Cat Rule (look it up in the FAQ by Andy P above) which comes in effect if you have amassed a very high number of crowns for your PL, then you may temporarily get attacked by stronger players until you improve your PL (but this is rare).
9. Upgrading--As you upgrade your buildings and troops your PL will gradually rise, especially as you age up your Keep (which gives the highest boost in PL), therefore it is important that after age 7 you do not age up your Keep until you have maxed out the upgrades on all your troops and defenses. Some time ago the devs have nerfed all defense levels until age 8, so at age 8 there is a big jump in upgrade levels for defenses and you will need to have fully upgraded troops to have a chance against them. It is also highly not recommended to keep aging up without acquiring the necessary skill level to gain wins at higher PL, so take your time to learn how to win attacks at your current PL before ageing up. 
10. Lords--Lords can only be promoted/demoted by the Emperor of the alliance, Lords can invite new players, kick out Nobles and post/delete announcements. If you want to be promoted to Lord talk to your Emperor in Chat about what you need to do to get the promotion (or look up your alliance's rules by clicking the name of your alliance at the top of the CODA Website). 
11. Changing your Gamertag--at the beginning of the game you are given a random generated Gamertag (GT) which you can change on time free of charge. If you haven't changed your GT when you registered for the game, you may still do so by going to Xbox.com>Profile> Change Gamertag.
12. Alliances--Alliances exist primarily for the purpose of mutual support and wonder building, therefore communication is very important to the building and health of the alliance. So, make a point to get to know your alliance mates by talking to them in Chat.