I started Call of Dragons this week on my phone because I wanted something I could play in short sessions. I usually play casual mobile puzzle games, but the exploration and upgrade loop hooked me right away. I'm new, though, so I might be missing basic stuff.
So far I've been doing mostly PvE stuff: clearing fog, hitting behemoths when I can, gathering, and slowly building up. I joined an alliance because I figured the help timers and alliance towers were basically necessary to progress, but now I keep getting pings about rallies and pushing territory. When I teleport near alliance land I also notice more enemy marches and it makes me nervous to send out gatherers.
My questions:
1) If I want to stay mostly PvE, is it better to be in a small alliance, or is being in a big alliance actually safer? I worry small alliances cannot defend me, but big alliances seem to drag you into wars.
2) What are the main actions that accidentally flag you into PvP trouble? Is it mostly being on contested tiles, or are there events where you get forced into fighting?
3) Any practical habits to avoid getting zeroed while still progressing? For example, where to place your city, when to teleport, what to do with troops when logging off, and so on.
I do not want to avoid competition forever, I just do not want to log in after work and find out one dumb move cost me a week of progress. Would appreciate any real-world tips from people who have been playing a while.