Becoming more friendly to new players

[Howlando]

I think we need to improve our experience for new players.

The problem is that often times we as DMs, who know most things, and have a very limited perspective, miss out on the big things that are problems for newer players.

And the thing about new players, is that often they will not report problems, or ask questions, but just leave if they get frustrated or confused.

So please keep an eye on things that you think might cause newer players to stumble, and suggest ways we could improve their experience.

Some things I suspect newer players don't always grasp -

- New players who try to quest alone, or run out into the wilds and immediately die to a stealthed jungle panther

- New players who don't get a sending stone, don't get involved with other players

- New players who get frustrated that they can not sell everything they find to merchants, or who get confused with the "Stolen" property item on objects

- New players who struggle to find basic gear, or get ripped off by our NPC merchants

- New players who get lost easily

- New players who, because of the efu phenomenon of people always using new player accounts, are mistaken for vets, and not really offered the helping hand that they should be offered

- Confusion about major mechanical changes (anything we need to explain better?)

- Outdated or confusing OOC info (is there any still?)

Comments from new or recently new players would be particularly welcome.

[Coldburn]

I see these posts pop up from the DM's side from time to time, and I always disagree with the necessity.

The moment the established playerbase sees someone stumbling around, they offer sincere help IC and OOC.
Hells, even when I got established on the server people still went out of their way to show me the ropes IC.

Things are great as they are, and the helpfulness of all the players is above and beyond the call of duty.

[Paha]

Very often within couple months, someone new has stumbled around, and when they've IC asked something, I usually have recognized if they are new or not. They have also either asked, or I've just straight away given advice or tips in those cases. I doubt there is a problem, as those that have little common sense, tend to also seek help, and I myself have no problem giving it if someone sends me a tell to ask for something.

[Yalta]

OK. Taking on-board Paha and Coldburn's comments about all of us being decnet stand-up types who will help the new players out some things i think could assist:

• Have an NPC at the visitors centre giving out rusted chainmail / leathers / shields / weapons (Have it so you can only ask for three things out of the options - Basic Splint, Large Shield, Longsword for example). Whilst sometimes there is stuff in the chest, sometimes its empty. Getting a player at least basic kit would mean they can swiftly start the starter quests/team up and do stuff, making the first hour or so more fun and rewarding.
• Have the sending stone magically appear in your bag (a new magical side effect of the Ziggurat which Fredoc has developed).
• Have one of the Stygain Guards at the Main Gates fire a speech off about not travelling outside the city to any level 2's that go past (not sure if this would be easy to script)
• Have Nduru give players a IG document which is a form of "welcome pack". Could give IC help like DO NOT GO OUTSIDE THE GATES etc. I think people would more likely read that than OOC things. If not Nduru, put some bored looking bureaucrat/Stygain giving them out who is doing this menial task as a minor punishment...

I agree with the guys that most of us would always help loads but these may help a bit as well.

[Barehander]

Some kind of a guideline to contacting DMs would be nice. That's something that frustrated me to no end: I spent hours on several days trying to get a DM to respond to me in game over various small things, when I had checked there was someone online. Finally players told me IRC was basically a necessity for communicating on EfU so I got into it. It would've been way easier if a DM had just told me in game that they were busy and that I should ask on IRC. Or it could be posted prominently on the forums. Nothing's more frustrating than complete silence.

In the same vein, it would be nice to know which DM to contact in which matters. I assume someone is in charge of forum maintenance, specific factions have dedicated DMs, there's a lead developer, maybe even someone who's considered a reliable authority on lore. But to this day, I have no idea which DM does what. Is there a Head DM who I could contact if I wanted to bring problems with the DMs to the entire team's attention, for example?

Other than that, I've found EfU relatively friendly and easy to get into. The forums and IRC are surprisingly full of trolling and flaming, but people in game tend to be nice enough. The purely game-related aspects of the server are easy to pick up from other players. It's the administrative and OOC stuff in general that I wish had been better communicated when I started.

[Farel Wolf]

Is there a way to get a link to the EFU:A forum board ( http://www.escapefromunderdark.com/index.php?pageid=overview ) to appear while IG on the server? If this is already happening, perhaps making it bolder so new people can see it. Without coming here you are completely in the dark while IG and will quit.

[Equinox]

Personally, I tend to driect a newer player to our forum automatically. When i was first playing here, i didnt use the forums for at least a month or more. Because i didnt know they existed.

I think the sendign stone is a big thing. Maybe have a quest that gives like 10xp. that makes you get one.

[Howlando]

Coldburn/Paha, it is true that often times many of our players are helpful, but trust me, it is a problem. The percentage of players who log in at the right time, who take the step to ask the right person, etc. is much smaller than the percentage of new players who just log in and run into problems and leave, never to return.

There is absolutely no doubt that at its best EFU is extraordinary, but it can be a hard road and I think some things could be done to make it easier.

Thank you for some excellent suggestions, Yalta.

Barehander - I'll make a post now that will hopefully address the issues you mention (thanks for bringing it to our attention).

[Cerberus]

Is there a way to get a link to the EFU:A forum board ( http://www.escapefromunderdark.com/index.php?pageid=overview ) to appear while IG on the server? If this is already happening, perhaps making it bolder so new people can see it. Without coming here you are completely in the dark while IG and will quit.

Personally, I tend to driect a newer player to our forum automatically. When i was first playing here, i didnt use the forums for at least a month or more. Because i didnt know they existed.

Perhaps adding it to map name transitions... ie:
You are entering the Dock District (for more info go to www .escapefromunderdark.com)

[Howlando]

A link to the forums/website is in lots of places IG. Journal and the start area, at the least.

Barehander, does this thread answer your questions?

[Damien]

We need more chilled quests, where it is long but spawns are not that much. EFUA has a harsh learning curve and for those unable to take the strain it is frustrating as hell, not to mention most people don't want to take noobs on quests as they usually end up being unable to help or just die straight away.

[putrid_plum]

I know it's always said to be on the 'to do list' but UPDATE the webpage.  Make it actually say what changes are made, correctly mind you, and also the factions as well.  As a new player to places I often read the webpage first and if what is on the server doesn't match with what the webpage says it would throw me off alot.

[Cerberus]

A link to the forums/website is in lots of places IG. Journal and the start area, at the least.

Things that make ya go; "Hmm?"
Myself (way back when), Eq and the newb I talked to just last night (in tells) all missed these... w/e

[Dr Dragon]

I think having an NPC like that exiled Duergar that new players are forced to run into would help a lot. Have the uhh man with the tatoos and the axe say way more.

[Drakill Tannan]

Yalta's suggestion of an NPC ICly telling people not to go to the wilds alone would be a good idea. It could be a stygian armada soldier on the same spot where samuel drake used to be on the gates. You could script it so when a level 2, 3 or 4 PC steps on the place just outside the transition, the guard would ICly "speak" with somthing such as

"You look too inexperienced to travel the wilds alone, you'll just get killed, come speak to me"

Then, in a better-made conversation, the styigian could ICly tell the PC why are the wilds dangerous, especially at night, how should he always travel with company if he intends to work for oters (quests) or simply explore the island, why he should get a ziggurat totem, that he should be doing errands to earn enough gold to buy decent equipment also saying that merchants will rarely buy most of the things he finds and so he is better off working to gain the gold, etc.

Another thing that could be made is an OOC placable in the OOC area that is large and bright and says "QUICK FAQ, READ PLEASE" and quickly (so lazy players read it too) answers some of this questions. Maybe having it speak too

"If you are a new player you should really read this, or esle chances are you'll die quickly and abandon the server"

Or something like that.

As for players being ripped off their gold trying to buy basic gear, that is defently a change to the merchants that must be done, have them sell basic armor (from paded to say, splint mail) at a decent price, so PCs aren't really "ripped off" when purchasing their armors