1) can anyone suggest the fastest way to reach lvl 3 with troops without waiting for a long time?
Initiative, morale and defense parameters. You can get morale from your combat school or talents (if you think it's worth the trade off.), initiative from TG and arts priority, defense from arts priority plus parameters level up and guilds like WG, LG, MG, CG.
Attack is indeed usless for this specific goal.
