I disagree with you both.
Yes a true soloist will play a full round with no PNaps, if they are trying to prove something.
But 2-3 new players signing up to a game should be able to play together, and help each other play without having to join an alliance of up to 20. You do have points about the trio thing with AR, new players creating an alliance is not safer than if they go solo, the only advantage is the incoming page.
If these players do like the game they might find a bigger alliance, but more often than not they probably don't like the game because they probably don't even realise what AR is, as they're in an alliance wasting the opportunity to even use it getting slapped around by everyone.
Garrett now without trying to offend you either, I probably make more friends in one solo round than you would in 10 allied rounds. Why?
You probably play with the same players more or less half the time, where as I mail random people constantly offering help, offering battles, challenges. I get so much mail, abuse, compliments, gestures, thank you messages.
I meet so many players on attacks mainly, I end up attacking almost every alliance in range (upwards), including every solo in range until they are out of range which is pretty much everyone. I do whatever I want, whenever I want it.
I think it's down to the person, you can view/call me anti social if you wish, but if you ever take an interest in Global Stats of any round I'm in you'll understand what I mean. My mails received is insane, each time I refresh my page I usually have 2-5 mails waiting for me. This round I had to play with mail filter!
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I do agree with you in the sense that allied play increases growth, but the allied players have to start somewhere, and it's always solo. I've realised this a long time ago and that's why I tend to help solo players much more than allied players, and I have done ever since I started back in 2001. New players aren't accepted in alliances these days, and that's why you'll never see me bashing a training alliance unless I have personal beef with someone in one, and anyone else who gets in my way (a very rare occurrence indeed).
You guys would happily rape/bash the training alliance because you play for personal gain and greed, and couldn't care who you have to step on to get it. True or not?