Helping them n00bs.

In my circle of friends I’ve tried to get at least 5 people to play this game. They see me on it constantly and want to get in on the action. Every single one of them has eventually stopped playing, and only one even made it out of the newbie academy. The problem? This game is not newbie-friendly enough. If you take a look at the top ten muds on MC you’ll notice they all have a very robust "academy". It’s almost always a set of automated quests that get players use to mudding or the specific style of the mud in general. It is optional, but it provides new people with a VERY clear understanding of how to play. I think we need this. There is nothing inherently WRONG with the current academy, which as I understand it was recently renovated. However, I don’t believe it’s detailed enough. I’m sure the experience my friends had was probably very similar to what a lot of people experience. The current system makes players GUESS as to what to do next. Yes…most of the time exploring will solve whatever issue, but many players don’t understand what to do and are simply turned away.

Also…I think we need an optional map that could be config’d and come up with every move. I know this is unrealistic given the current coding climate, but this is another way we falter in comparison to other muds above us. (with higher player counts!!!) The argument here is that players make maps…but how often does this happen? And how do these get in the hands of new players? How do they understand how to use them? Where they are at, etc? I feel like this argument is just an excuse to not have them..even though they are necessary. Out of the 5 friend I had try this 2 quit because they didn’t understand where they were at or how to get anywhere. Not that I had a perfect sample audience, but that’s 40%. Think of how that may translate to new players that quit.

I made this thread because I think it is EXTREMELY important we make starting out easier on new players so we can increase the pbase. It would enhance the game experience many times over.

I’m all for making the place more newbie friendly.

Making the place more newbie friendly is a top priority! We tried to accomplish this with the new academy. If the academy is lacking in some capacity, please let us know with specifics. "The room where you that you do this or that in is unclear… I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to do this or that."

I always try to help newbies, even when I wasn’t an RPC. But some get turned away, but I’m not sure why, must be like Telestrial said, they weren’t sure why. But I know some stayed, because I remember the day when they were first on.

Academy? It’s good, but then again, I’m an experienced mudder. The only problem might be with some medical quest, I remember at least one player was confused with it, asking me about it. And one newbie was a little confused with the hutt quest with the battery in the academy, but I could help that one out. It’s not that I don’t like the academy, but it could be simpler.

Maps? They could be in room descriptions, or, in help files. Only for general areas though, like Adascopolis, etc.

I think our builders need to take a step back and remember how different it was the first time they muded. Our academy is great for adjusting people to lotj from other swr’s or smaugs. But what about totally different code bases or brand new in general. The best Academy’s I have seen for brand spanking new players are very very linear and dont allow them to progress until they try a command out. Forcing them into the basics. IE forcing them to rpc chat or immchat or using open door n,s,e,w,prac, Also a virtual ship system doesnt even have to be a ship but I know our builders could do one where they pilot launch fly to a planet and land.

I’d like to see ascii maps of all major cities attached in certain areas, ie the square on Arkaia. Don’t need to map out the outsides.

The best way to help newbies is by answering their questions and being patient. Too many people are rude jackasses when a newbie asks for help. Doesn’t exactly help us bring in a new crowd.

The problem with the academy is that it’s too open and free. Ideally, you should design two academies – one that is for players that are experienced with MUDs, and one that is designed for those who are not. Give them the choice at the beginning of which to choose. Have the second be completely structured, with very clear ‘go here, do this’ style of thing.

[quote:2zajlu10]The problem with the academy is that it’s too open and free. Ideally, you should design two academies – one that is for players that are experienced with MUDs, and one that is designed for those who are not. Give them the choice at the beginning of which to choose. Have the second be completely structured, with very clear ‘go here, do this’ style of thing.[/quote:2zajlu10]

That more or less is how the academy is. There’s a ‘new to LotJ’ path and a ‘new to mudding’ path. The new to mudding area explains basic mud features and highlights context and syntax. I think you are right on the first point, though. The hub of the academy has 6 or 7 exits and it can be disorientating, I’ll see about slimming that down a bit.

[quote:2zajlu10]I’d like to see ascii maps of all major cities attached in certain areas, ie the square on Arkaia. Don’t need to map out the outsides.
[/quote:2zajlu10]

I’d love to see this. I tried to make an ascii map of Coruscant but it took me forever, I am not very good at it. I’ll see about digging up my files.

[quote:2zajlu10] Our academy is great for adjusting people to lotj from other swr’s or smaugs. But what about totally different code bases or brand new in general. The best Academy’s I have seen for brand spanking new players are very very linear and dont allow them to progress until they try a command out. Forcing them into the basics. IE forcing them to rpc chat or immchat or using open door n,s,e,w,prac,[/quote:2zajlu10]

I don’thave much to add, just that I think that’s a good approach. The older academy was kind of like this, with the mob guide who explained things in each room then forced you to do something to move on. I think we had issues with that though because you couldn’t go back to the start.

[quote:2zajlu10] Every single one of them has eventually stopped playing, and only one even made it out of the newbie academy.[/quote:2zajlu10]
What is it that tripped them up? If there’s any specific things you or anyone else can point to please do and I’ll look into cleaning it up. This isn’t just for the newbie academy, but for the newbie exprience in general.

Maybe have an RPC guide this time, so they can go to the start of the academy again if they need to <!– s:) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!– s:) –> One RPC member per newbie, unless the RPC doesn’t have much patience with the newbies.

I’m not sure why some newbies left, but it can sometimes be hard to start, probably. ASCII maps would help. They don’t have to be everywhere… perhaps a &quot;table&quot; with that map at a landing pad and some parts of the city.

The RPC can go to the academy now without needing goto. The problem arises when the noobs either think they don’t need the academy, or they go through it real fast, or they go through it normally even, and then are out playing and can’t figure out how to fly or use note/mail or stuff like that.

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve asked to be transed to people who were confused and couldn’t figure out how to fly.

Although this wouldn’t work while there are no RPC around, perhaps the player must ask an RPC member to guide them through the academy. There could be a password thing for experienced players, but every new player would be required to have an RPC guide, or maybe an immortal if no RPC are around. But this is just an idea.

Seems like it would be a bad idea, to base the entire newbie experience on there being unbusy, unafk RPC online.

I would say, have a few rooms at the beginning with a basic overview of movement commands and say/sayto with some blurbs to read about other stuff, maybe toss in a turbolift they have to navigate, a simple quest or two. Then have a hub where they can opt to go level and get more practice with skills and quests, or go IC, and have some newbie stores and stuff. And have a password to skip from the first room to the hub.

Mandating combat is sorta silly since newbies take ages to kill anything, though some level of learning about it would be good. Maybe MAKE them research certain skills in order to proceed?

I think making anything mandatory for newbies is going to go against the point of higher retention ratings. I think Fishy’s right though; the issues lie beyond the newbie academy. I’m not sure how long ago Telestrial’s friends went through the academy, but it is pretty straightforward and newbs getting lost there are in the minority.

When I joined I spent two days in the newbie academy, over the course of which I tried to work out some prog (I don’t remember what it was) countless times before finally going to the friend who got me to join and get help. I’ll admit that I was a particularly stupid newbie, but everyone I’ve tried to get to play has had a lot of difficulty there too. People who are new to muds, especially if they’re new to the whole verbal-command-based-game thing tend to have a LOT of trouble with the parts that are intended to be a little bit intuitive. Because to them, it isn’t. So I know the problem goes beyond the academy, but I think there -is- problems there as well. I agree that the central hub is too busy. Multiple exits is overwhelming as a completely new-newbie.