Ok, so we all know that we need materials (Iron Ore, Fabric, etc...) to do research in the workshop so we can level up our heros. Problem is, they don't drop anymore when you hit valleys and NPC's. I don't know why, maybe it is a bug or maybe they just turned them off.
Solution: Do a Commission Quest. Donate troops to help a player uprise via the Commission Quest. You will earn game coins when you do this. Sometimes 30 coins, sometimes 80 coins, sometimes 120 coins. You will earn whatever the "bid" amount is if you win the bid to have your troops fight in behalf of the person who issued the Anti-Colonization request. If the player chooses to use your troops and you win the bid, then use the coins to by the materials. The materials are cheap. So you can buy plenty of meterials with 60 coins. Then you can do plenty O research in the workshop and level up your heros.

