What should a first army be?

[falazar]

As you come out of protection at 50 pnts, what should your first army going out to attack be, as far as size?
What should I expect to be defending when I attack them?

What should be left at home to protect my resources?  Where should my resources be?  Can I make myself "invulnerable" to attack ever, IE hide enough of my resources, no troops in village that they get nothign?  Or will they always destroy the fortress?

Thanks

[Starbuck]

100+ archers left in garrison at home
950 spears + 50 archers for attacking undefended castles lvl 1 or 2
1500 swordsmen + 50 archers for attacking castles with archers in garrison lvl 1, 2 or 3

[falazar]

And how do I determine my first attack target?  thanks starbuck.

[fragmaster]

One of the ways is to find people with no farm room.This mean (very probable) that player is not active (or is begginer).
Particular farm limits(these popualtions represents good heuristic) :
1500
3150
4965
6961
9158
11573
14231
17154
20369
23905
...
36784
...
47658

etc...
formula for calculation : http://forum.imperiaonline.org/int/index.php?topic=16380.msg140029#msg140029

ow u already found it urself 

[Starbuck]

And how do I determine my first attack target?  thanks starbuck.

easy answer is to look after goldmines (ie: players who quit playing and have "gold coins" next to their name in the Player's List)
long answer is to spy active players and target the weakest of them (usually newbies like fragmaster explained)

... all in its your careful observation of the target


Have fun,

[k_mihai]

1st army, if you start early, 800 spears+200 archers.

[fragmaster]

yep i like 800/200 more ,u need one barrack less for that.It is very important to build whole 1000 soldiers in one moment ,while u are under 50 pts.With less then 1000,and more then 50 pts, u cannot escape anywhere with them,if someone attacks.

[smruti]

800 swords + 200 archers , unless u ahve credits for 800 sppears and 200 archers (my favorites  )

[fragmaster]

swordies=less stress from ambush (chance to attack lunatic-orientated pro player that rushes to only 200 horses just to kill some noob in defense=almost 0%)

[k_mihai]

yep i like 800/200 more ,u need one barrack less for that.It is very important to build whole 1000 soldiers in one moment ,while u are under 50 pts.With less then 1000,and more then 50 pts, u cannot escape anywhere with them,if someone attacks.

yup, and is easy to replentish it


@smruti, 800 sw+200 archers will push your points too much and you will lose many targets