Perhaps The problems with the noobs could be better handled by starting them in a training system that is completely separate from the rest of VO. Noobs would be started as Unaligned characters in an unaligned system. There they can train with gov buses and few real dangers. The training missions can cover all aspects of VO including trade and factions. The mission tree could cover VO in a lot more detail and still allow most of it to be skipped if desired by the player.

Once the noob is ready they take the pilot finals and are ejected to the capitol system of their choice with the appropriate colors. If they (level up beyond 2/2/2/2/2) or (any level greater then 3) or (greater then 10 pks) then they are auto ejected to a random system after being warned(ie choose or else). The noob would be able to choose their faction with a lot better understanding of what their choice will mean as well.

The training system would be off grid for all other players and unreachable. Noobs would be defaulted to a noob help channel as well. Even if someone wanted to pirate there they would be stuck in a govbus on equal footing and before long ejected anyway. Most players will want to exit the training area as soon as possible as the equipment will be very limited.

Also this would not be outside the story line as the noob would be in a training simulator and given the 5000 as a graduation present along with a warning.....

Mentoring might be allowed with a special mentor ship perhaps with repair beams. The mentor could pick up a mission at the normal station and be transported in with only the mentoring ship availible. Mentor missions could be triggered by noob requests.

Sectors inside the training area could be dedicated to special stuff like cap ship usage and tube racing. A sector with one of each asteroid for mining training would be good. (The roids could reset every time the sector was empty unlike the real world.) Because of the special nature of the system almost any condition can be presented in a controlled manner, then simply reset when the sector is empty. For example a queening mission could have an NPC enter, demo missle stacking, then leave the queen behind for the noob to kill if they wish.

Finally the devs can better control the initial experiance and not be forced to over-protect the capital systems for noob benefit. They can limit the availibility of anything they choose and completely prevent the entry of anything they dont want in with the noobs.

Opinions?

http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/16468 especially the first post

and then Incarnate's posts at:

http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/1/19693?page=3

Thanks whistler, There are so many threads its impossible to get to them all :{

I know - I read the posts daily and still can't keep up on every forum.