I’ve had the same issue. There is no indication that you can build the hamlet past 5 stars. Once I found out you could, I was level 28, getting beat by 11s. Now I’ve upgraded my hamlet at least another 5 times, and at level 32 now. Still getting beat by 17s and 19s with black holes, and seemingly endless level 2 and 3 shields. It’s really annoying to crush a level 29, then get crushed myself by a 19. I think the power gains are backwards, leveling should give 100, ungrading hamlet should give 50. Or at least both be the same.