The year is 2010; browser games are all the rage. People log in and they expect to grind like heck to get to the top. The top is out of sight, it doesn't matter. The internet is a confusing, vast expanse.
That was 11 years ago.
If I want to introduce this game to a buddy, how do I tell him that there's only a few players and you'll have to play pretty solidly for like a year before you can get even the beginnings of an even playing field?
Give new camps better equipment so they can train EFC level fighters. Start em with 3 blocks on all maybe?