I`m creating a strategic game which will run on the internet browser with PHP. The game has a little problem with new players. When new players join the game they have 3 days of protection from other players attacking them, but in those 3 days they can not catch up with others, who are playing that game since much longer. Please suggest how I could solve this. I had couple of ideas like making protection time longer, but if I do that, players will not be able to progress without attacking (gaining more resources for faster progress).

Thank you in advance.