diff --git a/s/preview b/s/preview
index bafbae3ac..c89f4c3ca 100755
--- a/s/preview
+++ b/s/preview
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ assert_dir $SOURCE
 cd $SOURCE
 git fetch || abort "failed to update source. do you have local changes?"
 [ -z $1 ] || git checkout $1
+git pull
 git submodule update
 s/build || abort "build failed."
 }
diff --git a/scripts/newplayer.lua b/scripts/newplayer.lua
index 239eb487b..9d64f585b 100644
--- a/scripts/newplayer.lua
+++ b/scripts/newplayer.lua
@@ -30,38 +30,8 @@ local function seed(r, email, race, lang)
     for it, num in pairs(items) do
         u:add_item(it, num)
     end
-    u = nil
-    skills ={
-    "crossbow",
-    "bow",
-    "building",
-    "trade",
-    "forestry",
-    "catapult",
-    "herbalism",
-    "training",
-    "riding",
-    "armorer",
-    "shipcraft",
-    "melee",
-    "sailing",
-    "polearm",
-    "espionage",
-    "roadwork",
-    "tactics",
-    "stealth",
-    "weaponsmithing",
-    "cartmaking",
-    "taxation",
-    "stamina"
-    }
-    unit.create(f, r, 50):set_skill("entertainment", 15)
     unit.create(f, r, 5):set_skill("mining", 30)
     unit.create(f, r, 5):set_skill("quarrying", 30)
-    for _, sk in ipairs(skills) do
-        u = u or unit.create(f, r, 5)
-        if u:set_skill(sk, 15)>0 then u=nil end
-    end
     return f
 end
 
@@ -94,11 +64,16 @@ end
 math.randomseed(os.time())
 
 local newbs = {}
+local per_region = 2
+local num_seeded = 2
+local start = nil
 for _, p in ipairs(players) do
-    local index = math.random(#sel)
-    local start = nil
-    while not start or start.units() do
-        start = sel[index]
+    if num_seeded == per_region then
+        while not start or start.units() do
+            local index = math.random(#sel)
+            start = sel[index]
+        end
+        num_seeded = 0
     end
     local dupe = false
     for f in factions() do
@@ -109,6 +84,7 @@ for _, p in ipairs(players) do
         end
     end
     if not dupe then
+        num_seeded = num_seeded + 1
         f = seed(start, p.email, p.race or "human", p.lang or "de")
         print("new faction ".. tostring(f) .. " starts in ".. tostring(start))
         table.insert(newbs, f)