What if there were a nation demographics and the map was shown with up to date flags on it, when new people make a determination.
Demogrphics:
1. Name of Nation on Map
2. Overview - Each king/new king can write or change a small summary of their nations philosophy and play style in x amount of words or less
3. Economy - high level economic overview with ship tax levels - low - medium - high
4. Nation focus - From kings as well - Port Economics (banks, gold, plantations), Trade, Battle, Piracy, Training. list all with a scale of 1-5 for kings to fill in in order of importance to that king.
5. Nation Diplomacy (nation play style)- Set by king - Pacifism - Neutrality - Aggressive - Pirates
6. World View of Nation - Pacifistic - Neutral - Aggressive - Dirty Scalawags - Everyone gets to cast one vote on how they see that nation. Only have this option for those on the map. Can change your view/vote once per week if wanted, if not your original vote stays until you do.
I wonder if there could be a Permanent training nation on an unused tiny island on the map, for the first x hours of play, that would come with a small daily stipend to help newcomers get started, lead by a rotating position (king) from those who wish to teach. There would be rules against certain activities or warring while in this nation. After the training missions are done, and play hours exceeded, they then must choose a new nation.
For nations not on the map:
1. follows as is now.

in that way every guild could link some wikis to newcomers and the work would be easier. I always have tried to be a mentor in many games, but if there isn't a publi official wiki of the game, it is tiring every time (in every guild) to re-explain everything with pictures and good explanations (Sometimes even in different languages). Thus i understand that many veterans would like to play with other veterans and not explaining the game to newcomers.
check the nation list and you will see many people coming from an english island called isle of man ... or many from USA or spain. Now i will join spain because switzerland is abandoned. Don't tell me that many people are in their real nation, i wouldn't trust you. not many are playing in their real nation because it wouldn't have any sense.