Alain Colcer
Quantum Cats Syndicate
Villore Accords
7
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Posted - 2012.02.21 21:44:00 -
[1] - Quote
The problem with helping new players to deal with eve is more related to understanding its vast set of complex mechanics rather than just socializing.
Socializing has been a supportive tool to close the gap between those who have the knowledge and those who dont. Also, you don't want to engage the newbie into a long and ardous process to get up to speed with a veteran on even terms, that gap needs to exist in the first place. What you certainly need is a short process for the newbie to get the most basic aspects right and then where to find the rest.
Therefore i propose:
Instead of being "born" in a starting system, now players are thrown into a starting constellation that houses the 3 types of NPC schools and the various Career agents. The stations and services available are specifically tailored for the tutorial missions.
Aura tutorial arc -> very much like its current version, a set of missions designed to get comfortable with the game client and it's various screens.
Career Agents:
Split and adjusted so the first tutorial arc includes 3 agents with 5 missions for combat, then 5 missions for trade/business, then 5 missions for manufacturing (no research/science).
This group of 15 missions provides plenty of useful skills, t1 frigs and other goodies to keep the newbie engaged and unraveling the basics of what you can achieve in the game. These basic career missions will get you to travel around the newbie constellation and various landmarks to get used to the aspect of traveling from system to system and having an HQ base.
Then various specific and high-grade specialization agents, which could span as much as 20 missions or as short as 5 depending on the topic, examples could be:
-Exploration
-Adv combat
-Science and Research
-Corporation finding (find a prospect for yourself)
Finally
The current Newbie Epic Arc should only be triggered when you complete the basic set of 15 missions
Add a new "empire faction" epic arc that rescues the circle agent functionality and the datacenter agents into a single platform so you can get faction standing and open several NPC corps for you to work with.
Along the way, numerous references to Evelopedia, Help Channels and other venues that exit in eve (roleplaying even). All with the idea of providing the newbie with the set of tools that will help him survive, rather than train him up to veteran status.
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