diff --git a/src/common/kernel/save.c b/src/common/kernel/save.c
index 0b32d07d5..b7be7f77b 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/save.c
+++ b/src/common/kernel/save.c
@@ -1015,7 +1015,7 @@ void
 fwriteorder(FILE * F, const order * ord, const struct locale * lang)
 {
   write_order(ord, lang, buf, sizeof(buf));
-	fwritestr(F, buf);
+  if (buf[0]) fwritestr(F, buf);
 }
 
 unit *
@@ -1252,24 +1252,24 @@ writeunit(FILE * F, const unit * u)
     fputc(' ', F);
   }
 #endif
-	for (ord = u->orders; ord; ord=ord->next) {
+  for (ord = u->orders; ord; ord=ord->next) {
     if (u->old_orders && is_repeated(ord)) continue; /* has new defaults */
-	  if (is_persistent(ord)) {
+    if (is_persistent(ord)) {
       fwriteorder(F, ord, u->faction->locale);
       fputc(' ', F);
-	  }
-	}
+    }
+  }
   /* write an empty string to terminate the list */
-  fwriteorder(F, NULL, u->faction->locale);
-	wnl(F);
+  fputs("\"\"", F);
+  wnl(F);
 #if RELEASE_VERSION<NOLASTORDER_VERSION
   /* the current default order */
-	fwriteorder(F, u->lastorder, u->faction->locale);
-	wnl(F);
+  fwriteorder(F, u->lastorder, u->faction->locale);
+  wnl(F);
 #endif
 
   assert(u->number <= UNIT_MAXSIZE);
-	assert(u->race);
+  assert(u->race);
 
 	for (i=0;i!=u->skill_size;++i) {
 		skill * sv = u->skills+i;
diff --git a/src/common/modules/autoseed.c b/src/common/modules/autoseed.c
index 53371fe07..acdd1e4b9 100644
--- a/src/common/modules/autoseed.c
+++ b/src/common/modules/autoseed.c
@@ -355,7 +355,6 @@ preferred_terrain(const struct race * rc)
 
 #define REGIONS_PER_FACTION 2
 #define PLAYERS_PER_ISLAND 20
-#define TURNS_PER_ISLAND 3
 #define MINFACTIONS 1
 #define MAXAGEDIFF 5
 #define VOLCANO_CHANCE 100
@@ -412,18 +411,18 @@ get_island(region * root, region_list ** rlist)
  * returns the number of players placed on the new island.
  */
 int
-autoseed(newfaction ** players, int nsize)
+autoseed(newfaction ** players, int nsize, boolean new_island)
 {
-	short x = 0, y = 0;
-	region * r = NULL;
-	region_list * rlist = NULL;
-	int rsize, tsize = 0;
+  short x = 0, y = 0;
+  region * r = NULL;
+  region_list * rlist = NULL;
+  int rsize, tsize = 0;
   int isize = REGIONS_PER_FACTION; /* target size for the island */
   int psize = 0; /* players on this island */
 
   if (listlen(*players)<MINFACTIONS) return 0;
 
-  if (turn % TURNS_PER_ISLAND) {
+  if (!new_island) {
     region * rmin = NULL;
     /* find a spot that's adjacent to the previous island, but virgin.
      * like the last land virgin ocean region adjacent to land.
diff --git a/src/common/modules/autoseed.h b/src/common/modules/autoseed.h
index 1634890a7..a9bd156c7 100644
--- a/src/common/modules/autoseed.h
+++ b/src/common/modules/autoseed.h
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ typedef struct newfaction {
   struct alliance * allies;
 } newfaction;
 
-extern int autoseed(newfaction ** players, int nsize);
+extern int autoseed(newfaction ** players, int nsize, boolean new_island);
 extern newfaction * read_newfactions(const char * filename);
 extern void get_island(struct region * root, struct region_list ** rlist);
 extern int fix_demand(struct region *r);
diff --git a/src/eressea/lua/eressea.cpp b/src/eressea/lua/eressea.cpp
index 44c91fa98..69c288743 100644
--- a/src/eressea/lua/eressea.cpp
+++ b/src/eressea/lua/eressea.cpp
@@ -166,15 +166,16 @@ race_setscript(const char * rcname, const functor<void>& f)
 }
 
 #define ISLANDSIZE 20
+#define TURNS_PER_ISLAND 3
 static void 
-lua_autoseed(const char * filename)
+lua_autoseed(const char * filename, bool new_island)
 {
   newfaction * players = read_newfactions(filename);
   while (players) {
     int n = listlen(players);
     int k = (n+ISLANDSIZE-1)/ISLANDSIZE;
     k = n / k;
-    autoseed(&players, k);
+    autoseed(&players, k, new_island || (turn % TURNS_PER_ISLAND)==0);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/eressea/main.c b/src/eressea/main.c
index 8cf1b7615..51dae3f0d 100644
--- a/src/eressea/main.c
+++ b/src/eressea/main.c
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ processturn(char *filename)
     int n = listlen(players);
     int k = (n+ISLANDSIZE-1)/ISLANDSIZE;
     k = n / k;
-    autoseed(&players, k);
+    autoseed(&players, k, true);
   }
 	score();
 	remove_unequipped_guarded();
diff --git a/src/mapper/mapper.c b/src/mapper/mapper.c
index 10f2aa189..5af727209 100644
--- a/src/mapper/mapper.c
+++ b/src/mapper/mapper.c
@@ -144,12 +144,12 @@ newfaction * newfactions = NULL;
 static void 
 runautoseed(void)
 {
-	while (newfactions) {
-		int n = listlen(newfactions);
-		int k = (n+ISLANDSIZE-1)/ISLANDSIZE;
-		k = n / k;
-		autoseed(&newfactions, k);
-	}
+  while (newfactions) {
+    int n = listlen(newfactions);
+    int k = (n+ISLANDSIZE-1)/ISLANDSIZE;
+    k = n / k;
+    autoseed(&newfactions, k, true);
+  }
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/src/scripts/default.lua b/src/scripts/default.lua
index 0fb0f8926..a853435f4 100644
--- a/src/scripts/default.lua
+++ b/src/scripts/default.lua
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ function process(orders)
   add_equipment("money", 4200);
 
   -- use newfactions file to place out new players
-  autoseed(basepath .. "/newfactions")
+  autoseed(basepath .. "/newfactions", true)
 
   write_passwords()
   write_reports()
diff --git a/src/scripts/eressea.lua b/src/scripts/eressea.lua
index 44ec17da4..77e2d2729 100644
--- a/src/scripts/eressea.lua
+++ b/src/scripts/eressea.lua
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ function process(orders)
   change_locales()
   
   -- use newfactions file to place out new players
-  autoseed(basepath .. "/newfactions")
+  autoseed(basepath .. "/newfactions", false)
 
   write_passwords()
   write_reports()