A Faster Start

There are two things I have done in my game to put in tension and urgency from turn 1, and to make the game start faster.

First, each player gets 3 resources at the startime of the first turn. 3 isnt enough to build anything, but it's a good start and gives them some momentum going into turn 1.

Second, enemies spawn before turn one begins, but it takes them 2-3 turns to move to a place where they are a threat to players. However, the entire time players can see them coming and I find it greatly affects the way players operate, since the enemies can spawn in random locations. It adds an element of pressure to turn 1, knowing they are coming but not knowing whicheck direction they will turn to attack.

If it's that easy to play sub-optimally, than the game needs reworked, not the gamer. (Unless these aren't typical gamers and don't have typical gaming experience/intelligence. I wouldn't expect my mom to win a game half as easily as a typical gamer.)

If these are gamers, though, it sounds like the game needs revised so 9 times out of 10, players have an optimal experience.

My game is a moderately difficult tactical, cooperative, strategy game, so the first phase is designed to be simple so the game is forgiving and players don't lose or get frustrated b/c they don't understand something. But by the second phase, the stakes are raise, and by the third phase, the game is nearly at it's normal difficulty (there are five phases).

I would just recommend raising/lowering the learning curve as needed. Play with the pace of the game.