We've been getting a lot more newbs and one or two n00bs since we moved up a few places on the mudlist.
Let's go out of our way to make sure they stay.
Try not to answer questions on the newb channel by always saying "look it up on the website" or "thats what help files are for!". Its good to teach them to use help, but the newb channel is there for a reason and if you don't like stupid questions, you can turn it off.
When a new char is created, try to figure out if they're new to sloth or mudding in general. If they're new to mudding, encourage them to create a warrior, thief, or monk prime. Caster chars can be frustrating if you're just beginning. A level 1 mage or necro can't kill a ferret.
Good presents for newbs are: cabbage rose (doubles their hit points right off the bat), black rods (woohoo, fireballs!), orange potions, etc.. Encourage them to get to bh kobolds where they get some really useful potions. Kobolds pop cure critical, regeneration, and bone armor potions - really handy at low levels.
Also, lets get some of these triple 20 newbs off of valkrye. A lot of them think that its somehow to their advantage to stay on valk until quad 40. We need to explain to them that the quad 20's are usually folks who have another char as their main and are just keeping a valker. There's no reason for Tibal, Ga, and Orcs for example to stay on valk. Especially Tibal, he's a sharp guy, who would be a great addition to any group if he'd work on getting heal, instead of working on leveling to quad 20.
Just 2 cents,
Cheers