On the necro, if they get the first attack thing... It seems to me low level pk winner is often decided by the agressor. So be the agressor or run (at least until you think of a snazzy way to turn the tide). That is what I do and it works pretty well.

You are right, newbies will not have any easy time with this. I think the gauntlet newbies have to go through is good. They will either have the patience, learn, etc. Or not have the patience and leave.

We could try to keep around the second ones by making it easier, but they are the same ones who will not have patience for lots of what makes CF, CF.

EDIT: Piece of advice. Get a character to hero. Do nothing but focus on that one goal for a character. Once you are there you realize it doesn't change anything. It's the same game, your just a bigger fish. Frankly, I like prehero far more than hero. Once I did finally hero, I realized my level doesnt matter. What matters to me is just playing the game. No need to focus on being the ultimate badass or highest level, or any of that.