Make Levels Useful

[Systemicyco]

But what sort of abilities or boons?

Have some building types be locked behind construction or city planner skills. Having to build some buildings in order to unlock the next tier of building types.

Accuracy for ranged weapons unlocked with combat skill.

When you start looking at default things you can take away from new players, it becomes a lot easier to think of ideas. Cor example the current avatar being super good at everything could be the baseline for an avatar that has unlocked all bonuses. Limiting what a new player can do will reduce the learning curve, having them focus on just a few things at first and then have them unlock bonuses to become better and small progression goals.

I really don't like the idea of locking gameplay behind progression. It makes the game unapproachable for people with a life... like those of us that work for governments.