Nope. If it doesn't have enough population then the game is flawed, period. Especially when it used to be one of the top games in its genre. As someone that knows this particular game, I'd go as far as to say it's fundamentally flawed the way it is now. If you look at the game mechanics, more specifically incomes and the such, you either boost from tick 1 or you're out. Simple as that. None of that "skill makes up for it" bs. You either boost or lose, and you can blame lack of population but the game shouldn't have to depend on it having many people playing it. That's just one problem. The second problem is how certain people can develop incredibly fast and kill any chances of competition early on. Even an entire alliance with a few mines is an ant compared to an usual top alliance with 50~ mines. They can either move with no units, or have units and be stuck without oil. Who's that supposed to be fun for? Obviously people don't like to either be absolutely useless or to have the win handed over to them just because they placed right and had the tokens. Competition is a word this game is sorely lacking, and its mechanics are as much to blame for that as lack of players. Casual players can't even get tokens anymore because almost none of them are willing to enter their world every day to see how utterly useless they are to the world, punch in their daily bonus until they get the blue goods and repeat. Hell, I can't do that. Why would I? There's much better games in the ocean. The sad thing is that I'm saying all of this almost certain that next to no one will actually hear it. Just us few people left roaming the community. I can't trust even admins will ever read this and acknowledge just how true it is and how much we're letting slip by placing the blame elsewhere. I'd like to think there's still a chance for BD. I really would like to. I'd support the hell out of it. But frankly, I don't see it right now.

battledawn became a rigged game when pods became the main strategy, when i started playing pods werent very viable for the fact that it was extremely dangerous to be by yourself around so many people. back then the only time i ever saw podding work was 2 groups of 5. now because every1 gets tokens for being in subs and finishing 2nd an empire can easily take over a world without too much competition and that is the very reason why i never played with the same family for more than 2 eras

I am an old player with a new account, and I think the reason why we have these massive sub hierarchies is due to the nature of winning the game. Many groups could concede to 2nd or 3rd place as they were still given rewards. Hence, the solution to the sub problem (or at least mitigate it) is to only reward the #1 alliance/player. This would prevent alliances from simply grouping together and waiting for the round to end. This would at least make the game more fun. However, many noobs join sub families as it provides security and early support. So on one hand, you have experienced players leaving because of the sub problem, and on the other, you have noobs without places to go. I think any solution to the lack of players must be so fundamental; which may entirely change the game.

i think maybe advertising could help out, like maybe not even tv ones but on social media etc.

Definitely only the winning team gets a prize.

But also, I think having a world with no boosting allowed would be fun as well.