Getting the point across to new players

[The Industriallist]

Just recently the number of people I've seen who announce on spawning that they're "very new to the game" has made me despearately want to shoot something. Preferably them. Of course, anything but puzzlement would be out of character, so I don't, but

Would it be possible to put, in large, preferably flaming letters, a message: "Do not refer to the game as a game in character!"? Somewhere it couldn't possibly be missed? Maybe followed by a brief summary of the capital rule with focus on the IC aspect, rather than the no shared knowledge aspect?

[ephiroll]

It doesn't really happen that much, I normally just ignore anything like that anymore and let them figure it out. I've already learned that if you trying helping them they end up wanting you to tell them "everything". The game needs more documentation, simple screen shots with explanations if nothing else.

[Revanael]

Ephiroll, why don't you try writing some documentation? Or anyone else for that matter? It'd be a worthwhile contribution to the game. Write it up and email it to the staff.

[Anthony Roberts]

Isn't there a new player page, that describes quickly the CR rule, and the difference between Cantr and normal games? Obviously, these new players don't read it like they're supposed to...

[ephiroll]

Ephiroll, why don't you try writing some documentation? Or anyone else for that matter? It'd be a worthwhile contribution to the game. Write it up and email it to the staff.

I thought someone already had, I don't know what happened with it though. But the new players for the most part don't read what there is available already.

[The Industriallist]

Isn't there a new player page, that describes quickly the CR rule, and the difference between Cantr and normal games? Obviously, these new players don't read it like they're supposed to...

Yes, that's a big part of why it makes me want to kill them. But it's a large, unremarkable looking page of text. I could see stupid people assuming they didn't need to know about the rules, or disclaimers, or terms of use (which is what would usually go there), or whatever that stuff is.

Thus my request for something that they'd have an inclination to read, rather than a reflex to ignore.

[Revanael]

That's why I suggested one of you try writing something. You have plenty of good ideas; who better to implement your ideas than you?

[Okud]

Write some guidelines on the events page of their first character. If it's in game, it could be less likely to be ignored - as they would do with a disclaimer page or licence agreement ("Sure, I agree" click&submit).

[ephiroll]

That's why I suggested one of you try writing something. You have plenty of good ideas; who better to implement your ideas than you?

True, but I'm not the one who first came up with the idea of doing, its been so long that I can't even remember who came up with it or who said they were going to come up with something. The forum is great, but I'm willing to bet that at least 95%+ of the players never come here to any great extent. Maybe I'll play around with it and see what I can come up with, my time is at a premium at the moment though, especially with the holidays coming up, only reason I'm online much as I am is because I can use the com at work.

[Neelix]

I am new to this game and must shamefully say that I also uttered some things like the above.

However, this is mostly because of the overwhelming nature of Cantr, there is so much you can do, so much that can happen to you and you have no idea where to start.

One thing that I noticed and is puzzling me very much is that I have no idea what all the icons do. There is a very simple solution for this, just a text-balloon when you hold your mouse over it would do nicely. For an example, hold your mouse over the smilies when you post something.
Why are they not implemented? It would make it much easier. But this has probably already been requested several times...

[Junesun]

Neelix: your suggestion has already been implemented. However, it has been found that if people don't use Internet Explorer, they might not see them.

Judith Meyer
Programming Department

[Neelix]

I have never heard of a text-balloon solution that only works in Internet Explorer. It does not seem to be a 'real' solution to this problem then..

I work on a mac and I am not going to install Internet Explorer on it, just so I can see those text-popups.
And with decent alternatives available, more and more people are using other browsers now...

[Anthony Roberts]

<alt="Something something"> = Internet Explorer only (I think it's "alt"...)

<title="something something"> = Most browsers, including Internet Explorer.

[The Industriallist]

"OOC: I'm very new to this game" =

"I'm very new to this game" = and fantasies of RL violence...

Huge difference there. It's really a matter of reading the CR and stuff.

Of course, while I'm at it I might as well ask for brain transplants for people who can't get the CR when it's yelled at them repeatedly...as one recent case in the Krif Hills area...

[Revanael]

Industrialist: don't try to teach them yourself. Get the PD to deal with it...

Anthony: I think you might have something there... Poke Jos about it...

Welcome, Neelix. *grins evilly* I'd complement you on your imaginative nick - but it's not... *sticks his tongue out at him*

Ephiroll: if you don't have the time to write it yourself, what makes you think any of us have?