To help with new players learn the game and find the game interesting, I think a war island should be brought back, but modified. New players will be given an additional player for the purpose of the war island advertised as being a tutorial or mock game, so they can learn and test things with out affecting their real characters. Also they can then see the excitement of doing large scale battles right quickly.
To populate the continent, X amount of random people from current players will get to make an additional character only for the war island. Then when the war island finishes by conquer or turn limit. The current players lose their character and new random players get selected giving priority to those that haven't been chosen yet. New players will then lose their character at the end or continue for another if they just came in at the end, and then join the lottery like everyone else.
Features like fame, and family gold would be disabled. Current players would be encourage to teach the new players and provide a fun environment.
I think this would really help new players feel the excitement of the game quicker, and be able to learn easier. Also, it would help the current players satisfy their blood lust.
