NewbieHelpProject < Main

Newbie Help Project

In order to convert more of our visitors to regular players without them being already familar to this kind of Muds, I want to start a discussion about how to make Geas more Newbie friendly. Remember, most of us here have already played similar games or no Mud at all. But most had at least some help when they started, but many more have neither a helping hand in the beginning nor any experience with Geas' system. Following suggestions already came up. If you find more, add them (with your name), and if you want to add a comment to one of the topics, do it as well. To our wizards: if you volunteer to code one of those ideas, please leave your name below the relevant topic. To our players: If you encountered as a newbie difficulties which gave you troubles to play in Geas, please tell us here as well.

NOTE! This page is for the project of making the MUD more newbie-friendly. Don't try to find actual newbiehelp from this page. (Perhaps at the section "Info Files" right below...)

Info Files

AdVerbs - see also NewAdverbs

Experiences

ArdanWen - ROM2.4 to Geas newbie experiences (By two newbies)

Vurdijak: When I started, I had played an LP mud and a few others, and the basic commands I learned quickly enough. There were a few commands that were very hard to learn though, like how to set a trap, how to check my ranger ring with 'telepathy' and others. I have to admit that I was impressed recently to find out that when I typed 'help a' I got a lengthy list of many help files in alphabetical order. I was thinking that a list of all, some, or even only basic commands could be posted as a link on the website homepage, and newbies could reference that while they learn how to play.

Discussion

Someone

a) when new characters are generated, they get a short background story wich ends with a task for the newbie*

b) we make some diku/merc/circle mud alias commands for our commands*

c) we put up easy start areas and quests as close as possible to the starting locations - or one starting point for all newbies*

d) we improve our help system and enable wildcard search*

e) we notify some chosen older players automatically about new players and they go there and offer their help*
(JezZ) I'm always up to it, just commune when someone enters (Gojin) I would volunteer as well

f) we fix/update the web-page so that people don't get "scared"*

AbHarSair

g) Good idea, a newbie helpline could be implemented as well. I'd volunteer for helping.

h) Bugs are scary, too Not sure if that counts for newbies but it does for me.

i) I found the former list of weapons/armours in the game very attracting. Also available guilds could be placed more obvious. If people get an idea of what's possible in Geas they might get lured to have a look.

JoTun Don't be afraid to add ideas! We all want a larger playerbase! smile