My understanding of the new aw is that you get points for wining fights and exploration and also the pi of defenders placed.
If this is correct then if you meet an alliance which is full of r4 x 5* there is basically no point trying as if they clear 100% you've lost what ever you do.
Obviously this will depend on the defence they place but if a high pi defence gives you the upper hand then alliances will palace as many r4's as possible, meaning the bigger alliances get bigger while the rest of us are stuck watching.
@Kabam Miike please answer this message and explain if this interpretation is right.