how to steal a town...i can answer that one
you get a guy who claims to be a leader and destroys the entire lot,,treats everyboy with discontent,,and then he wonders why he got booted in silence,,then when he gladdly mails everybody in the town death threats, to tell you off or hunt you down(for the very first contact he has made in over months)
you flip it on him,,and tell the truth,,,you then use all those contacts against him,,,by keeping them up to date about what is going on.
you then figure out what he did wrong ,,and correct it,,,then you own the empire,,,to only give it away again,,,so others can enjoy game play and being"leader"
1.join
2.get treated bad as well as others.
3.boot the fool
4."re" establish mailing and contact with one another,so every body is fully up to date(dont lie)
5. repair fallen towns and other potential problems.
6.help other towns,,sort the members out.
7.rescue the princess.
and yes..trusted people are an important one,,and dont get them angry,,or they will turn on you,,,same as a dog,,beat it ,,and it will bite.