diff --git a/scripts/eressea/autoseed.lua b/scripts/eressea/autoseed.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..69a21a310
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/eressea/autoseed.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+local autoseed = {}
+
+-- minimum required resources in the 7-hex neighborhood:
+local peasants = 20000
+local trees = 1000
+-- number of starters per region:
+local per_region = 2
+    
+local function score(r, res)
+    assert(r)
+    res = res or "peasant"
+    local x, y, rn
+    local peas = r:get_resource(res)
+    for _, rn in pairs(r.adj) do
+        if rn and not rn.units() then
+            peas = peas + rn:get_resource(res)
+        end
+    end
+    return peas
+end
+
+local function select_regions(regions, peasants, trees)
+    local sel = {}
+    for r in regions do
+        if not r.plane and r.terrain~="ocean" and not r.units() then
+            if score(r, "peasant") >= peasants and score(r, "tree") >= trees then
+                table.insert(sel, r)
+            end
+        end
+    end
+    return sel
+end
+
+local function read_players()
+--    return {{ email = "noreply@mailinator.com", race = "dwarf",  lang = "de" }}
+    local players =  {}
+    local input = io.open("newfactions", "r")
+    while input do
+        local str = input:read("*line")
+        if str==nil then break end
+        local email, race, lang = str:match("([^ ]*) ([^ ]*) ([^ ]*)")
+        if string.char(string.byte(email, 1))~='#' then
+            table.insert(players, { race = race, lang = lang, email = email })
+        end
+    end
+    return players
+end
+
+local function seed(r, email, race, lang)
+    local f = faction.create(email, race, lang)
+    local u = unit.create(f, r)
+    equip_unit(u, "new_faction")
+    equip_unit(u, "first_unit")
+    equip_unit(u, "first_" .. race, 7) -- disable old callbacks
+    unit.create(f, r, 5):set_skill("mining", 30)
+    unit.create(f, r, 5):set_skill("quarrying", 30)
+    f:set_origin(r)
+    return f
+end
+
+local function get_faction_by_email(email)
+    for f in factions() do
+        if f.email == email then
+            return f
+        end
+    end
+    return nil
+end
+
+function autoseed.init()
+    -- local newbs = {}
+    local num_seeded = 2
+    local start = nil
+
+    eressea.log.info('autoseed new players')
+    players = read_players()
+    if players and #players > 0 then
+        local sel
+        eressea.log.info(#players .. ' new players')
+        sel = select_regions(regions(), peasants, trees)
+    end
+    for _, p in ipairs(players) do
+        if num_seeded == per_region then
+            while not start or start.units() do
+                local index = 1 + (rng_int() % #sel)
+                start = sel[index]
+            end
+            num_seeded = 0
+        end
+        local dupe = get_faction_by_email(p.email)
+        if dupe then
+            eressea.log.warning("seed: duplicate email " .. p.email .. " already used by faction " .. tostring(f))
+        else
+            local f = seed(start, p.email, p.race or "human", p.lang or "de")
+            num_seeded = num_seeded + 1
+            print("new faction ".. tostring(f) .. " starts in ".. tostring(start))
+            -- table.insert(newbs, f)
+        end
+    end
+end
+
+return autoseed
diff --git a/scripts/eressea/e2/init.lua b/scripts/eressea/e2/init.lua
index 2bdc79b64..dd01a06d4 100644
--- a/scripts/eressea/e2/init.lua
+++ b/scripts/eressea/e2/init.lua
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ eressea.log.debug("rules for game E2")
 
 return {
     require('eressea'),
+    require('eressea.autoseed'),
     require('eressea.xmas2004'),
     require('eressea.xmas2005'),
     require('eressea.xmas2006'),