I think we can all agree that the new player experience can be a frustrating experience due to the steep learning curve when it comes to MWO. There are a LOT of nuances and details that go into being a successful mech pilot such as heat management, movement, targetting, weapon systems, etc.
Unfortunately at the moment there is nothing for new players to do but jump in with both feet and hope for the best. They drop into matches against other players with loaded out mechs optimized for battles piloted by players with much more experience and knowledge of how the game works. This leads to frustrated new players that either grind out or just get discouraged and leave. I'd like to present an idea to help with this that wouldn't require changing the overall game mechanics at all.
Solaris Training Academy:
Upon signing up a new player is dropped into the academy. They are allowed to select one of four mechs (one for each weight class) and drop into a game with other cadets. They will have their own queue so that they only drop with other cadets in the academy.
They will need to play xx amount of each mission types and instead of random maps they will have a set roadmap of which maps they play. They play each map in the set twice, once from each side of the map. (I would highly suggest that the maps with environmental impacts of heat and cold be included)
The players earn gxp while going through the academy but no c-bills. Upon completion of the academy and graduation they would receive a lump sum of c-bills that would be enough to purchase 2 mechs or one mech with enough leftover to deck it out and begin the customization process. They would also be given a stipend of MC. The MC amount would be just enough to buy a hangar bay, aesthetic item, convert exp, or similar items. Not a huge amount but just enough to let them see what they can do with MC and give them a little taste of how MC works and possibly a little incentive to purchase more.
Alternatively they could elect to take 2 days of premium time in lieu of the MC amount.
We could have community volunteers set up to drop in the cadet queues as drill instructors to give advice, answer questions, and help teach some beginner strategies to the cadets. These instructors could be compensated for their time by being given a special cockpit item and forum rank as a drill instructor. They could also be given a special skin for their mechs.
Drill instructors can submit an application to the mods and community volunteers who would determine would be "hired" as a drill instructor.
Drill instructors would be required to spend xx amount of hours in the academy queues helping cadets before they received their items in game.
Obviously all of the rewards and amounts would be subject to change based on feedback and implementation and experimentation. I think this would go way beyond just a tutorial and be much more useful in the long run for retention and getting new players acclimated to the overall universe of the inner sphere.
2
Solaris Vii Cadet Training
Started by Sandpit, Oct 11 2013 07:58 AM
5 replies to this topic
#2
-
-
- Philanthropist
- 408 posts
Member
Posted 11 October 2013 - 09:00 AM
So 1 veteran would drop in with 11 newbies? We already have that. It's called pug matches. Hey-oh!!!!
But seriously, PGI is already in the process of making tutorials. The movement tutorial is pretty good, and they're going to add weapons tutorials soon which I assume will cover everything from weapons grouping to heat management. With UI 2.0 they could also add a mech lab tutorial. They even said that a new player will get their own mech after doing the tutorials. Throw in an information warfare tutorial and you're golden. The only thing missing is your MC thing, which I don't think is necessary.
But seriously, PGI is already in the process of making tutorials. The movement tutorial is pretty good, and they're going to add weapons tutorials soon which I assume will cover everything from weapons grouping to heat management. With UI 2.0 they could also add a mech lab tutorial. They even said that a new player will get their own mech after doing the tutorials. Throw in an information warfare tutorial and you're golden. The only thing missing is your MC thing, which I don't think is necessary.
#3
Posted 11 October 2013 - 09:41 AM
tucsonspeed6, on 11 October 2013 - 09:00 AM, said:
So 1 veteran would drop in with 11 newbies? We already have that. It's called pug matches. Hey-oh!!!!
But seriously, PGI is already in the process of making tutorials. The movement tutorial is pretty good, and they're going to add weapons tutorials soon which I assume will cover everything from weapons grouping to heat management. With UI 2.0 they could also add a mech lab tutorial. They even said that a new player will get their own mech after doing the tutorials. Throw in an information warfare tutorial and you're golden. The only thing missing is your MC thing, which I don't think is necessary.
But seriously, PGI is already in the process of making tutorials. The movement tutorial is pretty good, and they're going to add weapons tutorials soon which I assume will cover everything from weapons grouping to heat management. With UI 2.0 they could also add a mech lab tutorial. They even said that a new player will get their own mech after doing the tutorials. Throw in an information warfare tutorial and you're golden. The only thing missing is your MC thing, which I don't think is necessary.
The idea behind this is to have more than a tutorial type system. Btech and MWO in general have extremely steep learning curves. I'm suggesting something much more all-inclusive than tutorials. Once CW is rolled out there is going to be a persistent world that every player drops in and affects. New players would greatly benefit from having mroe knowledge and advice than simple tutorials that teach them which buttons do what and how the heat scale goes up and down when you fire weapons (I know that's a rather simplistic synopsis of it but tutorials are usually nowhere near as in-depth as what I'm describing)
This is meant to be beyond tutorials and more of a retention tool over and beyond a teaching mechanism. The MC suggestion is merely there to give a player a very small taste of the value behind spending money and buying the stuff once they're in their grinding it out and planting flags on foreign planets in the name of (insert faction name here)
Think of this entire scenario as a sampler platter. You walk into boot camp and sample each weight class, the various mission types, and how useful MC can be throughout your piloting career. You also add in some great customer service and making them feel like they are immediately apart of a huge universe and get them hooked.
#5
-
-
- 1,591 posts
Member
- LocationCalifornia
Posted 11 October 2013 - 01:56 PM
They could probably save a lot of trouble by letting groups drop in the "testing grounds". Not sure how viable this is from a technical standpoint, but it would allow the many established groups to take new players under their wing and show them the ropes in an environment that would unfold at a player determined rate. Would also allow more veteran players to practice strategy/tactics in a controlled setting.
#6
Posted 11 October 2013 - 05:55 PM
LauLiao, on 11 October 2013 - 01:56 PM, said:
They could probably save a lot of trouble by letting groups drop in the "testing grounds". Not sure how viable this is from a technical standpoint, but it would allow the many established groups to take new players under their wing and show them the ropes in an environment that would unfold at a player determined rate. Would also allow more veteran players to practice strategy/tactics in a controlled setting.
the only thing about that is the players aren't earning anything and in an uncontrolled environment like that there are plenty who would take advantage of new players and some that would simply use it as strictly a recruiting tool. Unfortunately there are enough dbags out there that would do what they could to ruin the new players' experience
1 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users
