Since this was a core module I didn't really want to just post this, so if anyone wants to tell me the best way to offer my changes that would be helpful.

I love newbie island, but I realized that when using newbie island it universally blocks ALL mods except for certain ones when someone is new (first creates an account). This included race or specialty mods so I couldn't offer a couple extra races or specialties when a player first created a character, they were stuck with only the original 3.

Basicly I have added an admin setting for unblocking up to 4 more  races or specialties when the user creates a character. You can actually use it to unblock any mods you have, but I wrote it so I could easily add or remove race and specialties on create character. You could use it to allow stores on newbie island or anything else.

If anyone wants it please private message me, and if I am told it is ok to just post it here I will just upload it and give a link.

I love how the Isle of Wen teaches new players, and keeps the game simple.

But I intended to allow new players to choose between 5 races and 5 specialties at the initial character creation.  It's not a huge leap from the 4 races and 3 specialties you get now, but it allows for a little more variety.  At the same time, I don't think it would completely overwhelm new players.

I've never had a new player complain there were too many races to choose from, as they are staggered by DK's.  They complained there were too many cities and places to deal with at first.

Isle of Wen is perfect for them in that regard.  Again, I don't expect this change to make the next core release, but I plan on implementing it.

Yes, you can select them as 0 dk races.

however, if you do so, then you probably shouldn't be using the newbie island is my opinion.

You can have a came which is ultra-friendly to newbies and thus tones down the options available so that they aren't overwhelmed, or you can make things more complex but risk scaring off players with too many choices.

It's just that 0dk settings on those races and the newbie island are incompatible.
Also, the choices were made for some other reasons.. Look at the tutor.php module, which is also there to help newbies.

That is very careful to suggest only one of the 4 base races.  The reason is that they have very simple and easy to understand effects.
The felyne are probably not very new player friendly as they sacrifice quicker advancement (gold->armor/weapon->more kills) for long-term potential (more gems).

That isn't a tradeoff that a new player necessarily knows enough to choose.