attacking while offline

[fiddler]

seems it is best to attack people when they are offline.  why is that?

is it just that people might spend all their hoaded cash?

do they have enough time to react to my incoming forces?

how soon do they see them?  do they get a message when my troops arrive?

this is not really clear from the manual and would appreciate some help.

[Radooo]

You can see the attacks against you with one hour before the attack and there is no message to announce that you are under attack.
And it's good to attack while players are offline because they can't react, they can't move resources/army, they can't mobilize army or ambush you...

[fiddler]

so where do you see the attack one hour before, if there is no message?  is it necessary to scan a particular report?

[Nebthe]

so where do you see the attack one hour before, if there is no message?  is it necessary to scan a particular report?

You will see a sign the upper part of the screen starting 60 minutes before the attack will lend. You can't miss that sign 

[fiddler]

Thanks that is clear now.