problem
The problem of old Sow are it is too danger and high risk for new regiment to gather experience.
It make faction rely on few player to taking command, once those important player or guild quit, faction player base suddenly collapse.
Also, from other game and GV experience, most of player won't enter danger zone for there is any chance they may lost. In very old version GV, most player just waiting fight at capital until siege event or someone commander calling.
suggestion
So my suggestion to new GV that will free to play.
You still can't make people to enter danger zone, but you can prepare a location that make player practice wihout fear and important guild won't need to interfere.
And how to improve it?
**It will be safe zone state of war, same rule as danger zone SoW, claiming, fighting, ending, but no one get looting. **
It will make engaging totally different, new guild can get command experience, old guild can try new tactics, random player can try to fight and learning from that.
Also building castle and fighting for it is quite cost resources and money, it probably can improve economic cycle.