you need a certain level of your HQ to gain acces to a level or a different difficulty from a level. you also need a certain level of your HQ to unlock the challenges.
Where do you need it for?
* to gain acces to a campaign
* to gain acces to another difficulty level of a campaign
* to unlock the first missions of the challenges.
* to unlock more space for the generals
* to unlock leveling up your troops, ion-cannon and other tech-tree stuff
but how do you upgrade your HQ?
these are the options:
* complete missions (purple and red ones)
* complete factory missions (yellow ones)
* complete the buildings of wonders
* complete a campaign for the first time
* complete a challenge
You get a little EXP from this:
* take recourses from Pharos wonder
(exp. +10 per 20 days)
* take recourses from Opera House Wonder
(exp. +20 per 20 days)
* take recourses from Moai wonder
(exp. +30 per 20 days)
* campaigns in other difficulty levels
* campaigns after you've completed it ones
You are NOT going to have exp from:
* conquests
* upgrading your generals or buy a new one
* upgrading your troops in the HQ