First off, this game is completely about strategy. I've been playing since realm 39 (over 2 years ago) & I've made many great friends through this game, who I will keep playing with for years to come. So I'd say I'm fairly experienced & have the right to judge W&O. In my first realm (realm 39), there isn't much to say, I was just a noob who was figuring out the game, I still spent probably around $400. But in my second realm (realm 89) I spent over $2,000 (which really isn't all that much compared to some people, but I was still a top killer in that realm), it was fun for the time being, until real-life problems caused me to quit the game. In my third realm (realm 355), my old alliance (RSC!) convinced me to join them in starting a new realm. I made it a challenge for me to be a top player without spending any money. That was almost a year ago. With experience, strategy, & many farms I was able to compete with some of the biggest spenders I have ever seen (I'm talking $5,000-$30,000+). Granted it was during summer so I had quite a bit of free time, but I was still able to compete without spending, I was even rank 1 power in the realm for a few weeks. So to all the players who complain that spending is a problem & that W&O is a money-grab: with effort, strategy, experience, & farms (I had 15+) you can compete even the largest of spenders.Also as a side note, I credit W&O to many amazing moments: from infiltrating top enemy alliances & making them zero their own members, watching my own alliance (RSC) slowly rise to the top & get crown (after 2 years we finally got it!), and making lifelong friends (Dark & Buck & others!) with my alliance mates.P.S. Get the LINE app for alliance communication!