Hi Everyone. This is just a reminder that if we, hopefully, see a significant influx of new players over this coming year, some of them will probably need a little extra help. It would be better for us, and for the game, if our userbase could approach them with some patience, both in and out of the game.

Some users will be more savvy than others. Because of our exposure on the Mac platform, we've noticed in the past that we get a non-trivial number of people who have actually.. never played a game before (like, any game. ever). These people really exist, and are not necessarily trolls. Others will simply not read the available information, or correctly parse what they've read: they're just human.

The more vitriolic and intense the response from the userbase, the more forbidding and uninviting the community appears (not just to the original poster, but to any other confused newbies reading.. who may then be afraid to ask their more legitimate question). I know there's a certain attitude of "well, the community doesn't want idiotic people who can't RTFM, anyway".. but seriously, that outlook won't help the game grow. And if we do want it to grow, then the answer should be pretty clear.

For our part, Andy and I have been redoing the new user experience to try and clear up a lot of confusion, since we usually have to answer these questions via support@ and billing@. Hopefully the more verbose introduction, with both signup and subscription confirmation emails that explain how things work (and eventually, more & better tutorials) will reduce the number of confused newbies.

But, overall, it would be for the best if you guys could treat these people with a little patience. I know a lot of you do, and Lecter doesn't, but this message is intended for everyone.. on here, on Suggestions, in game, etc. Thanks.

Yes sir. :)

Yarr.

How quickly we're forgotten. :(

I hope you don't imply that we have INFINITE patience, but I'll try to stay calm. Also, rats, please, take note that if they're noobs, they don't have much money. Don't kill them five billion times, it's not cool.

Yarr!

I think I speak on the behalf of everyone in the guild and that TGFT stands ready to help anyone in need. Excluding pirates, naturally.

Mad Miner Moda

I try, sir.

I'll be nice as long as they don't try to go through my asteroids

it's fairly easy to go around, I don't know why people insist at flying through it. It isn't the roid field of youth or anything. Just plain ol roids.

But they're MINE! stay out!

Where are your 'roids, Spence? Since I've just subscribed to a new month, I'll be sure to visit them sometime, just out of spite. I'm a re-noob.

Noobs. Yum. Might finally be time to renew my sub!

Fair comment inc.

As a further comment, part of this has to be a far more disciplined use of chat channels, with perhaps restrictions on the use of the common ones .

A pull down screen similar to k or u that lists the commonly used channels with a description of their nominal uses , with perhaps radio buttons (off , monitor , speak ) to allow easy joining of the right channel would allow new players to get to the right place for assistance more intuitively.

There is little point in trying to help a new player if the help gets lost in a sea of radio chatter ..

Ecka

Yeah, you do have a fair point there ecka, I remember the last influx of newbs.

100: <Somenewb> How Do I Dock?
100: <Somenewb2> How Do I Dock?
1: <Somenewb> How Do I Dock?
100: <Somenewb3> HOW TO MINE FOR FISH?!?!
100: <Somevet> (instructions on how to dock)
(100 is spammed with lines similar to 1 to 4, pushing the vets advice off screen before anyone can read it)

Of course, once I shot Somenewb and Somenewb2, 100 was much quieter. :) I guess I'll just have to mine for fish, or something...

yoda, you forgot landing on planets.

but, incarnate, you shouldn't have to put a reminder again for this. the "be nice" thing is taken a bit too seriously by your own moderators giving trolls still way too much latitude on the boards.

the /vote mute thing usually takes care of in-game trolls but effectiveness varies. at least, users can control some of it.

/me looks at uc, detects no trace of sarcasm, and wonders what the Hell is wrong with uc's gray matter

I'll be nice if training missions are forced. IE.

You have to do training one before you can do training two, no other missions should be available until you completed the tree. This should be the case for any new account or char. Going with char might put people off making alts, but prolly not, but would help newbs 10 fold. The amount of newbs that take the "kill 10 bots" as a first mission is silly Inc.

Fix it, and I will fix myself hows about that? Deal or?

Aye , I'd agree with that too yoda .
It won't put folk off making alts , most of us could work through the training missions in a few minutes .

Yes, yes... I'm both aggressively persecuting people using the "Be Nice" policy AND begningly neglecting the trolls. It's all my fault.

Let's all just do what Inc asks and move on.

Heeeeeeeeeeell no! I'm gonna smash every noob I see!

Just lock them up within their respective nation's borders until they have completed a number of training mission or reached certain lvls.