Basic Self Defense for New Players

Thank you for this guide :)

This guide does NOT yet reflect the changes implemented on February 22, 2015.  Will update it to reflect those changes, in particular recommendations with regards to the vault, once I've had time to mull that over.

Fronfor, I think that opinions about new players attacking other new players is an interesting topic, but not the focus of this thread, which is intended to be a guide to game mechanics.  I suggest you start a topic about it elsewhere, where I'd be happy to discuss it.

Rill, what's your opinion (and what's the general community's opinion) of a newb raiding another newb? You referenced it several times, "you are more likely to be targeted by a fellow new player," but you never actually said what you think of those attacking new players.

I've been playing Illyriad for a while — not nearly consistently or actively enough to be a vet; making no claims here — but nevertheless, a while. From this experience, I think there are some new players who don't want to just build up cities all the time. What would say about those new players who want a little fun, a little contest? Are you including them among the "cowards who try to take advantage of new players"? Are they more acceptable?

Not sure how accurate this theory is, seeing as when demolition was incorporated into the game number of building spots= number of buildings, so getting rid of the Vault was a tad pointless.