Ideas to help new players settle on BG

[Vogar Eol]

The graveyard has certainly improved from previous iterations. However, a couple things still bother me about the area for real rookies.

Mixed enemy types. By mixed, I'm mostly talking about the DR types and speed. Some enemies run quite fast... such as the helmet wearing skeletons, and the spirits. The zombies need a slash weapon for full damage, while the skeletons need a blunt weapon. I forget what made the spirits different other than their monk type.

Ranged damage... as much as kiting helps survival against those slower enemies, the slings are murder. You simply can't out run a ranged weapon. The majority of the deaths I've seen or personally experienced there were from a sling bullet while retreating.

Also, even using great gear... there are some dangerous enemies nearby. I was pretty confident in an RCR'ed level 4 Cleric. So I explored the zone a little. As a veteran player on a level 4 cleric, with great gear, scrolls, and potions... I died three times. Once to the skeleton that spawns in the mini-crypt when you touch the sarcophagus. Once to the Necromancer in the caves. Once to two "Gray Oozes" behind the secret walls in the caves. Three deaths where I had no chance, and certainly a less prepared character would have done even worse.

So I see there is some room for improvement and a few less surprises. It looks like we removed the "Look At Me!" Dispel statue inside Kobolds. That's certainly a start. We could use some similar love in the graveyard for the benefit of exploring rookies.

[WhatsInTheBox]

The biggest struggle for new players on this server from my point of view being fairly new still I believe as well my friend who tried the server and lost interest is the lack of RP. Not very many people want to RP much if at all unless you are sitting around a campfire. If you go out to adventure its usually just a mindless kill fest where you are prolly watching TV and not even looking at the screen while killing things

[Hrafnar]

The biggest struggle for new players on this server from my point of view being fairly new still I believe as well my friend who tried the server and lost interest is the lack of RP. Not very many people want to RP much if at all unless you are sitting around a campfire. If you go out to adventure its usually just a mindless kill fest where you are prolly watching TV and not even looking at the screen while killing things

I experienced this somewhat in my first few weeks, but this has changed recently as I've put more effort into finding folks to adventure RP with. It's tough at first though when you don't know anyone or what's going on in the world.

[Tekill]

Yeah finding fun rp can be hard at the beginning. Getting used to the games style, rules, and players takes time regardless of how much help you get.

Some days I will go on and there is no end to the excitement and adventure. Then other times, its all crickets chirping....its very hit or miss I find.
It is simply not for everyone.
Character building alone is can ruin it for newbies. A lot of new players are overwhelmed and get turned off by this aspect of the game alone. They just want to roll a toon and jump into the action, not spend 2 weeks theory crafting. Trying to put together that ideal build will keep me up at nights...

I think the thing that really influenced my decision to invest my time and energy into this complex and randomly rewarding game, is that I love D&D and The Forgotten Realms.

[Cowbot]

I don't know if this is helpful to the conversation, but this is what I did as a new player:

Logged on and went to the farmlands-> Talked to all NPCs -> Read the bulletin board -> Bulletin board had a guild advertised that included my character's religion -> went to the temple and got into amazing RP.

Maybe the forum list of active and recruiting guilds is a bigger deal than I thought. We could definitely try it.

[professiondude]

Become the most interesting PC you can be and set up props. Invite them into your little special session of RP and let them see and feel that they have a place here.

((Offer them candy and invite them into your windowless white van.
If they refuse to enter the white van lightly push them into the white van.
Let them escape the windowless white van.))
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
All of this is code for what I did yesterday. Feedback was great from the new players.


Just remember the key is to : have fun.

[Darkwind]

Become the most interesting PC you can be and set up props. Invite them into your little special session of RP and let them see and feel that they have a place here.

((Offer them candy and invite them into your windowless white van.
If they refuse to enter the white van lightly push them into the white van.
Let them escape the windowless white van.))
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
All of this is code for what I did yesterday. Feedback was great from the new players.


Just remember the key is to : have fun.

Hahahah! That was an incredibly funny "analogy" & description as well as being spot on accurate. I'm not sure if I should nod approvingly or call this guy---

[Marathados]

The biggest struggle for new players on this server from my point of view being fairly new still I believe as well my friend who tried the server and lost interest is the lack of RP. Not very many people want to RP much if at all unless you are sitting around a campfire. If you go out to adventure its usually just a mindless kill fest where you are prolly watching TV and not even looking at the screen while killing things

I experienced this somewhat in my first few weeks, but this has changed recently as I've put more effort into finding folks to adventure RP with. It's tough at first though when you don't know anyone or what's going on in the world.

I can totally confirm the post of Hrafnar. When I started, summer last year, it took me quite a while to find some rp folk.
Problem is, most of the rp folk do not have a lvl 1 char so it takes some time to settle in.

[Akivaria]

Not a player right now, but might try it in the very near future.

The best server I ever played on had a training area where you could level up to two just by whacking a combat dummy for ten minutes.

That might be a nice concession to make for helping new players without breaking things open too wide, especially if your main RP hub is some distance away from your starting area.

[professiondude]

Become the most interesting PC you can be and set up props. Invite them into your little special session of RP and let them see and feel that they have a place here.

((Offer them candy and invite them into your windowless white van.
If they refuse to enter the white van lightly push them into the white van.
Let them escape the windowless white van.))
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
All of this is code for what I did yesterday. Feedback was great from the new players.


Just remember the key is to : have fun.

Hahahah! That was an incredibly funny "analogy" & description as well as being spot on accurate. I'm not sure if I should nod approvingly or call this guy---

You are comedy good sir. I give you a slow clap gif for using Chris Hansen in the most proper way possible. (pushes you into the windowless white van)

http://i.imgur.com/sSJQgmW.gif

[chad878262]

Here is my idea/attempt to help new players by giving them a reason to explore specific areas of the server. If anyone wishes to get involved feel free to shoot me a PM.

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=57328

[ZestyDragon]

So I am more returning then new, But well its been so long that i might as well be new. I would just like to echo this.

Clean up the roads between FAI and BG. Low-leveled people can't make that trip easily in a lot of cases. FAI is an RP hub and it is essential that all people have constant access to it. Just move the bandit and animal spawns away from the road and get rid of the random road ambushes.

FAI is the RP hub of the server and its a bit disheartening when you can't actually get there on a new character. I know a lot of people take shots at FAI RP, But its friendly, inviting and unlike a lot of other areas it does not seem to matter how long you have been around. Quest npc's with colored names is also a good idea, A little more DM attention for GMT +7/8 wouldn't hurt either.

Though honestly the reason i am sticking around is because i found some good guild and personal RP. The biggest deterrents being players that are generally exclusive of the newer crowd and all the technical issues. That said i did pick a druid so it was saving bug, Loss of temp HP when you shift and constant crashes, That really made it a pain to achieve anything. However these bugs have been for the most part addressed quickly.

[Miyuki]

I can support this, too. I am relatively new and returning, had to take a break because of health issues.

Some classes might be really not able to make their way to the FAI alone at low levels. Sometimes monsters spawn so close to the road, you can't even avoid them. I mean, my CLE/FvS could make them pretty early by herself. She still would accompany new peeps who talk to her and ask her to.
But sometimes you also can't find other players to go with you. I know that pain with my playing times. So you can't go there and might miss chances for a DM-quest or simply RP.
That's why i would suggest to put the spawns that are on the way to the FAI, more away from the road simply.
Problem solved.

"Open your minds"

Another habit i have seen with some players is in RP. There are people who RP more than others. I like to RP and it's important for me, too. But on some people i see they have their fix lives in RP and friends and people they rely on. They always go to the same priest with their problems, they always let the same bards perform at the same times, some guilds go on adventures at the same times etc.. They smile fondly, they flirt when they see them, but the new peeps stand there and are suddenly unimportant or even ignored.

I know, some players like to play together and do it often. That's pretty normal and ok. But the danger i see is, they fall also into habits, become to fixed on the same people. It seems like those players play according to "It is so and will always stay so."

But with new players things also change and i would hope the old players could be more flexible. Let open stages nights take place earlier, so that new chatacters can take part, too. Talk to another priest if one isn't there. Do adventures and guild meetings at different times.
What i mean is, i sometimes miss more chances for new people to show what they can do, too. That is more a matter of playing-habits than game mechanincs. But i think it's possible for DMs and also players in that way, to help newer players to get their characters into RP and bring them in, too. Some could just be more open for my taste.

[Hrafnar]

So I am more returning then new, But well its been so long that i might as well be new. I would just like to echo this.

Clean up the roads between FAI and BG. Low-leveled people can't make that trip easily in a lot of cases. FAI is an RP hub and it is essential that all people have constant access to it. Just move the bandit and animal spawns away from the road and get rid of the random road ambushes.

FAI is the RP hub of the server and its a bit disheartening when you can't actually get there on a new character. I know a lot of people take shots at FAI RP, But its friendly, inviting and unlike a lot of other areas it does not seem to matter how long you have been around.

+1

I would also prefer the goblins around the road north of Beregost to be removed, or confined to the area around their cave, given that one of the first quests you'll get offered sends you down that way. It's rough when you're new and feel completely confined to Wyrm's Crossing, BG north and the graveyard.

Edit: And those ambushes! I remember when I was level 6 and, knowing I couldn't make it alone, I asked a high level to accompany me IC. Well, they spawned an ambush and suddenly there were three worg-riders poofing into existence around us and I got killed in about 2 seconds. That's the kind of stuff that makes you want to rage-quit.

[Cowbot]

A little more DM attention for GMT +7/8 wouldn't hurt either.

I just wanted to echo this sentiment. I know we can't ask DMs to lose sleep for the game, but the server can be pretty bare during some of our prime-time RP hours. I'm not sure how to address the problem short of recruiting more DMs, though.