Here is a thought. Currently, the make up of the game is very item intensive. To be particularly effective you have to have good items. If someone starts out brand new never having played they are at a significant disadvantage from the newbie who happened to have a benefactor who can pass them a full suit of armor and weapons to begin.

I would like to propose in some future discussion to make it so a players skills make up the bulk of their fighting ability. (This would require a significant change in the way devs are handed out but hey who doesn't like more devs.) I would recommend something like an 80% character skills, 20% weapons and armor split.

Weapons and armor are too important right now if you really want to enhance a character base. Back in the day, I made high mortal with a GM weapon and iron armor. (Mostly due to lack of money and a whole lot of crashes.)

Just a few thoughts.

Oh also, thanks to all of those hard working folk who are making Darke a better place to play.