Hi, I started this game tonight, and while I was watching chat, two other newcomers complained about not being able to start the missions.

A veteran player said it was because they didn't follow the quests, and I have to admit it was tempting to build the warehouse and lumber mill, even though it wasn't a quest among the tavern and town hall things.

Maybe you could hide those buildings until players get back from the first mission? Or put in a warning that they will need to wait for their town hall/lumber mill to produce the resources if they deviate from the plan. From the sounds of it, I think those two players might not be coming back.