High level play is not about levels, it's about having multiple hours per day to drive around, gather resources and create links. Access to portals in closed areas is a bonus.
A group of determined players can keep a town permanently covered by a field, preventing everybody else from playing, especially if the anchor portals are in military bases or gated communities.
A group of determined players can keep a town permanently covered by a field, preventing everybody else from playing, especially if the anchor portals are in military bases or gated communities.