First of all i want to congratulate the Dev team
for the nice job and say hello to all community.

i started 2 weeks ago and i loved the game, thou i would say:

1. The ranking system does not boost the new players, as we see
huge numbers to achieve to come closer to the top ranked, therefore a division
in the ranks would in my opinion give the new players a target to achieve, I suggest:

Ranks as

a- Rookies (up to 100 k points)
b- Amateur (up to 1000 k points)
e- Expert ( up to 5000 k points)
f- Elite ( over 5000 k points)

each member will try to reach the top of his rank "league" to get in the next, I believe
that will be a good incentive to keep trying.....

The points I suggested can be discussed by the community if the suggestion is accepted.

Good luck to all and flight straight !

this is a good start, but it needs to be fleshed out more. For example, what effect would it have when you reach a new division?

It won't work. I've played a similar game that restricts who you can attack to up or down 5x your points. The higher you get the less targets are available. If you're in the elite class and someone in a lower rank quits you can't even take out their fleet until they show as (i) and by that time it would be gone. We've all had the same growing pains and either persevered and learned how to play or quit. The dropout rate is incredibly high in this game. There are a number of issues that can't be worked around without some radical changes, so the player base will continue to decline. Even when a new server is started(Massacre e.g.) the initial excitement is short lived as the good players push to the top quickly and the rest give up. Now, after only a few months, massacre is dying a slow death.

To be fair he didn't actually mention the protection rule changing. I think his idea is more of a rank for display rather than for functionality

Read it again. He splits it so that only each group plays within their rank. The higher the group, the less members will be in that group. The groups are their own protecton. However, skillful players can remain in a low rank by hiding their fleet when points are counted and still continue to prey on noobs. A good fleeter might be able to encompass all the ranks points wise but remain in a lower group by hiding his fleet.
The best way to learn this game will still be having to face the best players. You think you're doing great and then you go up a group and lose your prized fleet in the first few days. All the top players have lost fleets along the way. If they tell you different they're either lying or they built a big fleet but never used it, choosing to stay hidden.
The format that is here now works....it isn't perfect but it does work. Perhaps the biggest problem I have seen in the past 2 years is actually the players themselves. Everybody starts Zorg thinking they are good. Not so. Some are "light years" ahead in strategy games and sooner or later others realize that. Time and experience will win out.

I agree with Zorton. You can make yourself unprofittable to big sharks and they won't hit you or at least not much. But you will get losses as in any game.

I did not mean protection, what i was trying to say is that each : each player will have a easier target to achieve before the new rank lvl, just like Football leagues or any other sport;