13 replies to this topic

[rolly]

Hey all,

Kinda sad and tired to read all the "I just started, why is this game so hard/difficult/unbalanced" from new players.

So here is what I'm proposing:

We need a stop gap until PGI gets UI 2.0 in place, a better ELO/MM system and/or a way for new players in their first 25 matches to only fight new players. (ie. like WoT Tier 1-2 matches)

What I'd like to brainstorm is a voluntary ambassador program of a pool of US (You and me) to be "big brother" to the newbie's for their first 25 matches. At most it would take 30-1 hour of our usual game time and with enough people and some help from PGI we can give new players a better experience until the game is patched enough to properly support them.

The Objective:
- Keep them alive at least half the time
- Ease the learning curve
- Foster better more effective community response to new player inquiries
- mitigate the troll response to new players
- retain new players

Thoughts? Constructive criticism welcome.

[Mudhutwarrior]

Lets let PGI lie in the pile they created for themselves. Without their assistance it would not work and their assistance could be targeted to things that would work much better.

[rolly]

You're more than welcome not to participate Mudhut. It already does in a way work because there are countless other members willing to help new members. This is just a suggestion to organize things more effectively.

[Modo44]

People who ask in-game already get good answers, often from multiple players. Heck, I have stopped and talked to enemy noobies to help them out. What more would you suggest we do, not shoot at trial mechs?

[Trip Hammer]

Mudhutwarrior, on 15 January 2014 - 06:20 AM, said:

Lets let PGI lie in the pile they created for themselves. Without their assistance it would not work and their assistance could be targeted to things that would work much better.

WHAT?!?! I'm sorry but your an {Dezgra}.


The key factors here are as follows

• There needs to be an agreed upon chat server that can be used to bring players together (I would suggest The Comstar Hyperpulse Network Server http://mwomercs.com/...e-chat-servers/)
  
• There needs to be some kind of advertisement on the front page of the web site and on the launcher that gives the specifics of the server information and who to contact (yes PGI would need to help here but they already do that on a regular basis so I don't see a problem with that as long as we can get their attention)
  
• There needs to be a group of players that are willing to help out new players get the hang of things and explain the basics of game play

That's all that really needs to happen, and if PGI would be willing to throw the people helping out a bone all the better.


So please stop with the nay saying without even trying to look at a positive way to do it.

Edited by The Faceless, 15 January 2014 - 07:38 AM.

[Mudhutwarrior]

I do my best to help new players when they announce themselves. I will tell them to stick close to me as that's about all i can do.
I think my stance on bringing in game voip is the best medicine available for new players overall as we can talk to them I realtime, offer advice and direction. Right now when in a fire fight I cant type instructions to anyone. The whole mentor thing to me is a bad idea because there will be no way to police who mentors new players. I tend to think that usually the wrong people will be attracted to it to recruit more then teach. Let the new players decide who they want to follow.

The Faceless, on 15 January 2014 - 07:37 AM, said:

WHAT?!?! I'm sorry but your an {Dezgra}.


The key factors here are as follows

• There needs to be an agreed upon chat server that can be used to bring players together (I would suggest The Comstar Hyperpulse Network Server http://mwomercs.com/...e-chat-servers/)
  
• There needs to be some kind of advertisement on the front page of the web site and on the launcher that gives the specifics of the server information and who to contact (yes PGI would need to help here but they already do that on a regular basis so I don't see a problem with that as long as we can get their attention)
  
• There needs to be a group of players that are willing to help out new players get the hang of things and explain the basics of game play

That's all that really needs to happen, and if PGI would be willing to throw the people helping out a bone all the better.



So please stop with the nay saying without even trying to look at a positive way to do it.

Shot yourself in the foot first sentence. I have been looking for a positive way for a year now. This isn't it in my opinion.

[rolly]

VoIP is a great medium, but again, the most casual player will not be able to readily access it.

The most modest step they take is the forum. To bridge the gap we need a pool of players, designated "ambassadors" (or call them whatever you will) to actively seek out the new players in game and on forum.

Yes, we already have this, but if its recognized, you'll have a designated source to ease the transition. Guns of Icarus has this on a voluntary basis, same with World of Warplanes when I was beta testing (so don't bother with that game!)

So we already know who are recruits on the forum since they are labelled as such. There is also a group of forum users whom I've seen have taken the extra step to be kind and patient to new members. I'm asking for that to be recognized and worked with on both sides. PGI and community.

If Mudhut only wants to roll with the recruits in game and at very least keep them alive. At very least he could do would be to note that player and pass him onto the "Ambassadors" to follow up with and ensure they have a direct line to an experienced player to help them out.

New recruits already have limited access don't they on the forum? Just stream them to a special thread.

[Mudhutwarrior]

rolly, on 15 January 2014 - 08:08 AM, said:

New recruits already have limited access don't they on the forum? Just stream them to a special thread.

I agree with that.

[rolly]

Mudhutwarrior, on 15 January 2014 - 07:42 AM, said:

I do my best to help new players when they announce themselves. I will tell them to stick close to me as that's about all i can do.
I think my stance on bringing in game voip is the best medicine available for new players overall as we can talk to them I realtime, offer advice and direction. Right now when in a fire fight I cant type instructions to anyone. The whole mentor thing to me is a bad idea because there will be no way to police who mentors new players. I tend to think that usually the wrong people will be attracted to it to recruit more then teach. Let the new players decide who they want to follow.



Shot yourself in the foot first sentence. I have been looking for a positive way for a year now. This isn't it in my opinion.

Nobody is forcing anyone to participate in anything. New members don't have to respond to an ambassador if they don't like them. The purpose is to lay the ground work, the rest is up to the community (jaded or not)

Whether or not its a bad idea or not. It works and has worked on other more successful games and there is a need for it. Furthermore seeing the need to police is really just problem seeking. VoIP is great but its one more hoop to jump through for those that don't use it regularly.

Every member of this game is subject to EULA / Code of Conduct and we're all adults for the most part. We're not asking for PGI employee status.

We're working to get organized.

Even then if it does attract the type to recruit players, that's fine too, because at least these new players will be more likely to run in pre-mades and have people train them. They're not sheep, they can determine if someone is trying to recruit or genuinely help them.

Edited by rolly, 15 January 2014 - 08:21 AM.

[Sandpit]

It's been tried before with mediocre results. I'd much rather see the program you're talking about setup as a separate queue. New players would have their own queue and we would have approved vets dropping in the queue with them to answer questions, give advice, etc. That way the new players aren't dropped in with vets and stomped.

[rolly]

Good news. I just got word back from the Community Managers. They'll support it in whatever way they can. As expected the dev's are busy giving birth to UI 2.0 so they'll only be able to give minimal support.

Here is what I propose.

Developer end:
-Those who are "Recruits" have their first 25 matches streamed only with other "Recruits" - They're already marked as recruits because of the bonus anyhow. So effectively ensure a really low ELO, with a handicap of -100 say?
- The only exception would be those in pre-mades with "Ambassadors" (I dislike the name, so suggestions welcome)
- Ambassadors have their text in green so its stands out, this way their help can be read (Really Helpful if possible)
- Ambassadors can only be MM'ed into these low ELO Recruit matches with a premade. (Optional?)

Community End:
- Volunteers must apply and be vetted by the community managers who already know the history of the helpful members
- Support and moderation of Ambassador is standard EULA, Code of Conduct
- Community Ambassadors can serve for 6 months to 1 year, after that the post is renewed from a pool
- Minimum requirement is 15-30 minutes a week. Provided we have a large enough pool, its less "work" for everyone.

Forum End:
- Community Managers help and support the formation of Ambassadors, who are voluntary members of the community willing to address forum questions and "buddy up" with the new members as a go to for questions and platooning up
- Each Ambassador has a title that is easily recognizable
- No special rights or privileges come with the title other than accessing the special section of the forums
- This special section is the "Recruit forum thread" that all recruits have already limited until they reach a certain number of posts.
- If Community Managers can help funnel new recruit questions to the Ambassadors to answer this will help get the ball rolling

Thoughts?

Edited by rolly, 16 January 2014 - 07:28 AM.

[Trip Hammer]

Mudhutwarrior, on 15 January 2014 - 07:42 AM, said:

IShot yourself in the foot first sentence. I have been looking for a positive way for a year now. This isn't it in my opinion.

Yep, your correct.

I will formally apologize for my comment right now. Sorry Folks.

I've had the flu the last 4 days and my temper has been a bit off. That's not necessarily an excuse but.....

[Novakaine]

Soldier up and Enlist.
There are dozens of teams or premades if you will to join.
This would be the better options for newbies
Unless you're just a antisocial misfit in your mommies basement.
Since it's highly unlikely that PGI will do anything "soon" to facilitate this.
Plus it a better way to make friends and gain some training than just puggin it.

Edited by Novakaine, 16 January 2014 - 11:19 AM.

[rolly]

"Learn to walk before you can run"

How can you expect people to join pre-mades when they've just got here? Even then your suggestion is black and white. Not everyone wants to join. The idea behind of attracting of retaining new players is to make things easier for them and to the widest possible audience.

Pray tell how is that the "better" solution when they've just got the basics down on the game, when they have to sign up at another website, apply to become a member, DL teamspeak/ventrilo/mumble/raidcall THEN learn the game.