Sorry Sparks, but I find this somewhat hypocritical considering a huge amount of the original Rumble line-up (TTTE, Nauz, LA, Mattcurr, Sir Vic, Wardy, Pervis etc) left long before any of the RA guys. It could even be argued that the RA guys left due to the resulting boredom and not having decent opponents any more, which I do believe contributed to some of the malaise felt in the core in the last couple of months*.
Practically all of your original line-up had the reputation of being early quitters from the get-go, yet you still played with them and I suspect you would do so again in future worlds. :icon_wink:
As for the topic at hand, efficiency is much more important than activity imho. The more efficiently you play the less time you need to spend. 15 minutes a day in village management and sending attacks / checking in for incomings a few times a day and you're grand.
Staying on top requires a certain amount of activity, but it's not so much a time factor as a strategy factor. The activity should consist of strategic planning, always planning several nobles ahead and knowing your next move and ensuring you have the resources necessary to continue nobling. I find once you stop doing that, growth slows immensely. My own account being case and point. Rank to to rank 30-something. :icon_redface:
* And just because I don't believe it was ever pointed out (much to Lardingd's dismay) RA won that war - statistically speaking! :lol: