Well, players with no ODA are farming barbs, and people who haven't gained a point. Correct? Correct. :icon_razz:
Never a good thing to answer your own question and be wrong.
I have three farms off the top of my head with 100plus points yet I have no ODA.
If a player has some ODA this early on, that means they cleared something - obviously. When they cleared something they are gaining a new farm.
Maybe you missed what your friend said. 'Players with ODAshow they know how to play the game'. Or something along those lines. That is in no way true. Now players that know how to pick and choose who to clear and when to clear them, they know how to play the game, or at least part of the game. Getting a farm is not everything, it is the % lost and gained that matters.
So, by clearing players you're gaining more farms than just barbarians and inactive players (whatever you want to call those who make a village and quit).
True, but is it necessary? If you have enough inactives/barbs to farm and continue with full hauls and producing troops, why go willy nilly and clear to get more farms when your current income is more than sufficient?
It's not always wasteful. In fact, it's better for the long run - is it not? I mean, obviously no one should go out clearing people whom are turtles (spears/swords/high walls) early on. However, clearing someone with a few spears and a paladin in order to make a new farm definitely pays off.
You're right, it isn't 'always' wasteful. But often it is. And no, in the short term it might help but longer term not so much. While you empty the inactive/barbs and lose nothing your producing troops just like you would be had you cleared people, only you won't have the losses, and when you do clear players, you'll lose far less. So you'll get the same if not more back, and lose less.
I agree with the second part entirely.
I get what you mean, but that isn't what he said. Which is how this all started.