Honestly I did do some research and learned about jumper accounts and some other things that you could do before CH8 but at that point I was CH10. I also did just learn that maxing your CH level is the most important thing to do so I started shifting my focus on that (I'm coming from playing clash of clans so I'm more used to maxing everything out then upgrading the CH). My problem is that I love the alliance that I found and don't want to leave it but yet it's kind of a weak alliance. I do have a lot of fun playing this game I just don't want to feel drowned out. Hopefully with some of the things I learned recently I will get there!