diff --git a/src/common/gamecode/economy.c b/src/common/gamecode/economy.c
index 015e1bb74..aff7ab058 100644
--- a/src/common/gamecode/economy.c
+++ b/src/common/gamecode/economy.c
@@ -2927,7 +2927,7 @@ steal_cmd(unit * u, struct order * ord, request ** stealorders)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if (u2->faction->age < NewbieImmunity()) {
+	if (IsImmune(u2->faction)) {
 		ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs,
 			msg_feedback(u, ord, "newbie_immunity_error",
 			"turns", NewbieImmunity()));
diff --git a/src/common/gamecode/laws.c b/src/common/gamecode/laws.c
index 9f124d8cd..46d56f7a1 100644
--- a/src/common/gamecode/laws.c
+++ b/src/common/gamecode/laws.c
@@ -2603,7 +2603,7 @@ can_start_guarding(const unit * u)
   if (u->status>=ST_FLEE) return E_GUARD_FLEEING;
   if (fval(u->race, RCF_UNARMEDGUARD)) return E_GUARD_OK;
   if (!armedmen(u, true)) return E_GUARD_UNARMED;
-  if (u->faction->age < NewbieImmunity()) return E_GUARD_NEWBIE;
+  if (IsImmune(u->faction)) return E_GUARD_NEWBIE;
   return E_GUARD_OK;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/battle.c b/src/common/kernel/battle.c
index b39d1ac6b..13090451b 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/battle.c
+++ b/src/common/kernel/battle.c
@@ -4028,7 +4028,7 @@ init_battle(region * r, battle **bp)
             cmistake(u, ord, 47, MSG_BATTLE);
             continue;
           }
-          if (u2->faction->age < NewbieImmunity()) {
+          if (IsImmune(u2->faction)) {
             add_message(&u->faction->msgs,
               msg_feedback(u, u->thisorder, "newbie_immunity_error", "turns", NewbieImmunity()));
             continue;
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/eressea.c b/src/common/kernel/eressea.c
index 5c532781f..104df08ef 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/eressea.c
+++ b/src/common/kernel/eressea.c
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ attrib_type at_xontormiaexpress = {
   ATF_UNIQUE
 };
 #endif
+
 int
 NewbieImmunity(void) {
   static int value = -1;
@@ -126,6 +127,12 @@ NewbieImmunity(void) {
   return value;
 }
 
+boolean
+IsImmune(const faction * f)
+{
+  return !fval(f, FFL_NPC) && f->age < NewbieImmunity();
+}
+
 static int
 MaxAge(void) {
   static int value = -1;
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/eressea.h b/src/common/kernel/eressea.h
index d8bd245af..953677632 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/eressea.h
+++ b/src/common/kernel/eressea.h
@@ -405,6 +405,7 @@ extern int NMRTimeout(void);
 extern int LongHunger(const struct unit * u);
 extern int SkillCap(skill_t sk);
 extern int NewbieImmunity(void);
+extern boolean IsImmune(const struct faction * f);
 extern int AllianceAuto(void); /* flags that allied factions get automatically */
 extern int AllianceRestricted(void); /* flags restricted to allied factions */
 extern int HelpMask(void); /* flags restricted to allied factions */
diff --git a/src/eressea.sln b/src/eressea.sln
index 626508234..e9af6e9a6 100644
--- a/src/eressea.sln
+++ b/src/eressea.sln
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 Microsoft Visual Studio Solution File, Format Version 9.00
 # Visual Studio 2005
-Project("{8BC9CEB8-8B4A-11D0-8D11-00A0C91BC942}") = "util", "common\util.vcproj", "{F70CFB27-8A2F-E447-B452-4E1C590EDA6D}"
-EndProject
 Project("{8BC9CEB8-8B4A-11D0-8D11-00A0C91BC942}") = "kernel", "common\kernel.vcproj", "{6F104C0A-DDF5-A34B-A89C-0DC278DCEF6D}"
 EndProject
 Project("{8BC9CEB8-8B4A-11D0-8D11-00A0C91BC942}") = "gamecode", "common\gamecode.vcproj", "{1E8BFF9E-3044-0742-992F-C5765B80FE65}"
@@ -21,10 +19,6 @@ Global
 		Release|Win32 = Release|Win32
 	EndGlobalSection
 	GlobalSection(ProjectConfigurationPlatforms) = postSolution
-		{F70CFB27-8A2F-E447-B452-4E1C590EDA6D}.Debug|Win32.ActiveCfg = Debug|Win32
-		{F70CFB27-8A2F-E447-B452-4E1C590EDA6D}.Profile|Win32.ActiveCfg = Profile|Win32
-		{F70CFB27-8A2F-E447-B452-4E1C590EDA6D}.Profile|Win32.Build.0 = Profile|Win32
-		{F70CFB27-8A2F-E447-B452-4E1C590EDA6D}.Release|Win32.ActiveCfg = Release|Win32
 		{6F104C0A-DDF5-A34B-A89C-0DC278DCEF6D}.Debug|Win32.ActiveCfg = Debug|Win32
 		{6F104C0A-DDF5-A34B-A89C-0DC278DCEF6D}.Profile|Win32.ActiveCfg = Profile|Win32
 		{6F104C0A-DDF5-A34B-A89C-0DC278DCEF6D}.Profile|Win32.Build.0 = Profile|Win32