Topic

Update to Greeting System - Info Relays

When Glitch quits beta and re-launches, we will surely see a large influx of new players. The tutorial in place is pleasant and effective for the most part, but it could be better once new players enter Ur proper. The greeting system is an excellent idea, but it has some inherent problems due to placing all the responsibility on one greeter at a time. As an alternative to all-purpose greeters, perhaps an information relay using field-specific guides would remedy some of the existing difficulties.

That is, have a few guides, henceforth known as Civil Glitchen, hang out on different roads on and near to the opening street while tutorials are taking place. While Civil Glitchen on the opening street would greet the newcomers and provide essential information, they should not cover all information topics. That would be quite overwhelming for the new guys, and pretty taxing on the guides too. An alternative would be a sort of relay for the newcomers: Civil Glitchen could divvy up the info by topic into more manageable chunks, and send the newcomers to other Civil Glitchen on neighbouring or nearby streets after essential information has been covered ("Okay, now go find Lupicek in Torpan Cleft using what I've told you about the map. He'll tell you about finding resources.").

After the newcomers meet guides in other streets, the new Civil Glitchen will offer more specialised information essential for having a good time in Glitch. I'm thinking maybe 2-3 extra "stops" on the relay at most: the newcomers will want to play on their own asap. In any case, each stop will feature a few pointers from Civil Glitchen focusing on key topics - one "stop" each for Collection, Production, and Housing, for example. Each Civil Glitch answers questions and offers in-depth tips on more specific topics, after which the newcomers move to the next stop on the relay.

This relay provides several advantages to a single-Greeter system. One, it will give newcomers a bit of practice in moving around and using the map, which ought to be covered in essentials. Two, the change of screens gives the newcomers a few moments to digest new information during loading - and a few moments would be all they'd need for organised blocks of information. It will take considerably longer to process hints if everything gets thrown at them at once, and things will invariably get mixed up in the process. Three, the specialised Civil Glitchen may be able to offer more detailed information about the topic than general Greeters could offer - I'm mostly a chef, for example, so I would be better suited to talking about foraging for and combining basic resources from all over. Miners and Crafters may be more suited to discussion for Production. Four, the combination of specialised discussion, in-depth hints, and cooperation evident among Civil Glitchen can only demonstrate how much fun it is to actually be civil themselves, and will hopefully keep newcomers from becoming bitter jerks along the line (e.g. "I had people take advantage of me as a noob, so I can take advantage of you too - it's just how it goes").

A disadvantage would be that we can't actually control where newcomers go, and we can't complete the tutorial if they wander off through error or by design. This can be controlled somewhat by maintaining connections with the newcomers - have each Civil Glitch along the way add the newcomers as friends - but it will probably happen regardless. Second, Civil Glitchen would have to coordinate who would be where, and when. However, rotating groups of Civil Glitchen will ensure that nobody will have to stay in the same spot for a long time. This effect could also be minimised with sheer numbers, providing an incentive for more experienced Glitchen to meet the newest generation. 
 
A final tweak to the system would be to have Civil Glitchen distribute Welcome Bags for new players. Bags would contain a few essential tools and resources – especially effective for distribution by the Production team – that could generally guide the discussion. By making the Welcome Bags openable only to young players (lvl 1-5? 1-8?) and non-sellable, Welcome Bags would not be collector's items and would serve their purpose without the threat of hoarding by older players for the sake of auctions (even temporarily). Since we carry our around our houses in our heads now, inventory space is no longer a problem and Civil Glitchen can grab some at a moment's notice if necessary.

The game has numerous goals and it keeps growing. There is just no way that a single Greeter can cover every part of the game. Likewise, there is no way that newcomers will know enough from one Greeter to even ask effective questions. Consider a common question from Greeters: “Do you have any questions about the game?” Though straightforward, could such a question really be effective for somebody who's spent less than an hour in-game? Consider instead: “Do you have any questions about producing items?” or “Do you have any questions about housing?” By sharing the responsibility and providing direction, an information relay could offer a tutorial experience that better reflects the community, the diversity, and the sheer Glitchiness of Ur. 


This is a topic that was brought up in the discussion board for my group, Civility. Though we talked about it and mulled it over, I know that you have some further additions that can further refine the idea. We would welcome any comments you have, since the ultimate goal is really just to make players' first experience in Glitch a really good one.

Posted 7 months ago by Lupicek Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • Love the idea/s Lupi :D I see what you and we (as the Civility group collective) have suggested as an evolved form of the buddy system in a way. Let me interject some of my own game experience and it does relate to this suggestion. I actually joined Glitch in November of 2011; however, since I play MMOs to cultivate friendships first and foremost, I didn't get into the game beyond the tutorial since they were few people to interact with who were friendly at that time and I was really lost. Forgive me but I don't recall if I had a greeter or guide back then (drat this silly memory of mine lol). 

    Fast forward to about the end of April 2012, I started playing, was delighted that my account was still here and have become addicted because this time around, tons of folks were chatting with me, and also because I met my Glitchian buddys PTB3 first and then BlackWolf. Both of them armed me with plenty of advice and items too particularly bags :) This is a very long way of me saying that why I can no longer put this game down is because I made 2 great friends who took me under their wing and yes the items, particularly early level food were useful but the best were bags.

    I love the idea of welcome bags, although perhaps even an empty bag or 2 would be sufficient. There are so many generous souls in Glitch who want to help our baby Glitchen so much by giving them many valuable items which are very sweet. However, there is something to be said (and perhaps this is just me) about gaining a real sense of accomplishment through learning the game by experiencing the game- saving up for an item we need or in my case not taking the kind offers of pals to help me expand my house but by slowly but surely working up all the skills necessary to be self sufficient. That to me is the greatest draw of Glitch: that one works towards goals that are only achieved by assembling parts: be they different skills or resources. Thus unlike WoW or SWTOR, crafting an item doesn't involve just one press of a button after learning one skill etc.,  

    This relay tutorial system is more akin to the Glitchain adage: Give a new born Glitchian some piggy meat, and she'd soon run out. But teach the new born to gather piggy meat and she'd have meat for life. :)

    I Love and am passionate about this game and it is the community that drew me in during this 2nd Beta and it was SO much more fun when I found my buddies. Thus, perhaps by getting Civil(ity) Group members and other seasoned Glitchians to impart knowledge, information and an empty bag or 2, we can all help keep new born Glitchian playing for many years to come :)

    *hugs* and Cheers, thanks all in Glitch particularly my Civility Group pals,

    Bachjess
    Posted 7 months ago by Bachjess♫♫♪ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Just curious what other Glitchian (or Devs) think of these ideas. *hugs* all :D & cheers too :)
    Posted 7 months ago by Bachjess♫♫♪ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • People hate tutorials as it is, and they aren't going to be helped by specialised information about finding resources or whatever when they haven't had a chance to play the game yet. If this was my experience when I first played the game, i.e. being bothered by other players who saw it as their duty to educate me about things I don't even know if I'm interested in yet, I would probably not have played past the tutorial.

    Not to mention that I don't imagine many people would be willing to sign up for a job that basically involves standing around doing nothing and bothering newbies.
    Posted 7 months ago by Helvete Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thanks Helvete :) I hear ya, but so far most people in the Civility group seem to like the idea and are fine with standing around. Maybe, we're just weird lol. Thanks for your input though. Cheers :)
    Posted 7 months ago by Bachjess♫♫♪ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Love the ideas! they are all great! I just started playing myself and the tutorial was a little confusing, but your ideas sound like they would be fun for newcomers to get used to the game. especially the ones about crafting, producing and housing. the welcome bags sound good and i would give them to newcomers from levels 1-8. other than that all great ideas we should be helpful to newbies that have questions.
    Posted 7 months ago by Kipkah Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Regarding Helvete's ideas, I agree that any tutorial should not be mandatory. Some people may want to dive right in, and that's fine. A simple Yes/No answer for participation in the tutorial would suffice. I've seen the sort available in other games: a bubble asks, "Would you like some help with getting started?" and the YES option sends a message to a greeter, who would then teleport to the location if they are available. In this case, the YES option could send a message to a group of Civil Glitchen, who would already know where to go and where to send the newcomer - there would be no waiting around for too long in anticipation that players will join up, I think. Also, like any good volunteer effort, participants have the option to to opt out or leave at any time would always be available.

    As for bothering newbies, I guess that much of it would depend on the quality of the information. I never considered that this would be a lecture on highly specific things, catering to particular skills at most. For that, players would need to spend a good deal of time in-game to determine their interests. That's the fun of the game, and nobody should restrict or place arbitrary controls on that. 

    No, the Civil Glitchen involved would talk about things that affect everybody, and the discussion would be led by participants rather than the Civil Glitchen. My suggestion was to divide the elements of Glitch life accordingly, and to introduce them separately because each one is so dependent on players' interests. Aside from essentials of movement, iMG, energy, and mood: everybody needs is going to run into collectable items, though they can be collected or ignored for different reasons; everybody is going to make new items, though what and how will vary; and, now, everybody has a house, though of course what we do with it varies widely. This is how I see it - if there are better divisions, then let's hear them. The point is that each of these elements can be explored without hampering players' interests, and that each element is fairly detailed. Having an organised means of understanding them could only help newcomers, and it may even help them pursue their own interests in a more efficient manner.
    Posted 7 months ago by Lupicek Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thank you Kipkah! I am happy to hear that you, as a newcomer yourself, would have appreciated the help. Though you have probably found your footing already, feel free to contact me or really any of the Civility group for more information or assistance if you want.
    Posted 7 months ago by Lupicek Subscriber! | Permalink
  • +1

    and to Bachjess: LOL "Give a new born Glitchian some piggy meat, and she'd soon run out. But teach the new born to gather piggy meat and she'd have meat for life. " 
    Posted 7 months ago by MoM4.6 Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Lupicek, your first paragraph - that's exactly how greeting works now. Players are given the option of requesting help from a player, or not. 
    Greeters (as they are now) don't try to cover all parts of playing the game. As you say, that's way too much info to absorb all at once in a game you're just starting. Instead, Greeters welcome the new player, make sure they are able to move around and interact with things, and answer questions. Some basic info is provided (if the new player doesn't just run off, which sometimes happens) such as where to get more help while playing, and how to find things like your Profile, Wardrobe, the Forums and more. Plus, greeters try to show (by example) the friendliness, fun, and silliness of Glitch, as well as answer any questions that come up. 
    The actual tutorial does (did) a pretty decent job of explaining how to interact with basic game parts. 
    And the tutorial is being re-written, so it will be even better, as well as fitting with the Imagination system and the new housing. 
    Posted 7 months ago by Zany Serendipity Subscriber! | Permalink
  • As food for thought, when I started in Aug 2011, I felt totally overwhelmed for the first few hours. I had the option of summoning a greeter, which I did not take, because I didn't even know what I wanted to ask. A friend came by within minutes of my entering the world, and I could barely talk to her because I was taking it all in.

    There have been threads in the past suggesting that some kind of greeter option be extended beyond the earliest levels, when someone has had a chance to figure out what the heck is going on and actually thought of some questions to ask. Perhaps this is where the civil glitchen might come in.

    That said, perhaps you'd want to consider applying to be greeters as well. :)

    So long as individuals' methods of learning info are respected, we can all help new players acclimatise to this wonderful place.
    Posted 7 months ago by Voluptua Sneezelips Subscriber! | Permalink
  • +1
    This would allow newcomers to better deal with the massive complexity that UR has to offer.
    Posted 7 months ago by Seriandeur Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thank you, Zany Serendipity, for confirming the opt-in/opt-out selection. I had thought that that was in place already, but I wasn't sure - I was a newcomer a long time ago - and I couldn't check directly. Thank you also for describing some of the responsibilities of greeters.

    The original suggestion, though, was to move from a single-greeter system to a multi-greeter system (2-4 guides at max). What are your thoughts on that?
    Posted 7 months ago by Lupicek Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Lupicek, you describe how the conversation would be structured based on the new player's preferences, but I have found that oftentimes, a new player will not know what to ask, much less be able to focus on a particular area of gameplay. A new player may not yet know what they prefer :P

    I think a multi-greeter system might well be too overwhelming for a new player, especially if all the greeters meet them in within the first several streets. I feel that knowing where to find/ask for help when they want or need it would be more valuable to a new player than having a ton of information introduced to them at once. 
    Posted 7 months ago by Millie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • :) Millie--you worded it better than I! There are many different styles of play and many different personality types that play this game. I was overwhelmed even just exploring at
    first and would not have been comfortable being approached so quickly after starting the game. That said, there are undoubtedly players that *would* welcome this. The trick is identifying who's who.

    When I help new players, I try to let them have their own experience and discoveries, and I think this would be important to keep in mind. It's always good to check whether people want to receive items or advice before giving it. Best to let a new player lead you through helping them by waiting for their questions and letting them direct what they learn from you as much as possible.

    One final thing to consider (and I confess to some bias here): some players have been signed up to be considered as greeters for a long time, me included. While there may certainly be room for other greeting systems, it does feel unfair to think that a self-selected group could apply to be an expansion of a system that a number of us have waited patiently to be considered for for so long. I try hard to be constructive, but I did want to put this out there as well.
    Posted 7 months ago by Voluptua Sneezelips Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thank you for everyone's input: all discussion here is helpful and constructive. You all rock, dear Glitch Community *hugs* and Cheers :D
    Posted 7 months ago by Bachjess♫♫♪ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Personally, I think a group of self-selected "greeters" camping spawn points and waiting to hose down newbies with info, stuff & things would be a massive turnoff.
    And not in Ur's best interest.

    It is possible to kill with kindness.
    Posted 7 months ago by CrashTestPilot Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Before Glitch I had never played an online multiplayer game. I hadn't really played any games in a long time and those were Playstation 1 games (a while back). Friends recommended it so I signed up but I had no real idea if there were things that I was supposed to do. I had a guide but really could have used more information at some point in the first levels. The relay suggestion above would have really helped me. I kept playing because my friends liked it and I wanted to give it a chance but it wasn't until someone gave me the strategy url (and therefore more information) that I started to really enjoy the game. I'm glad I kept going because I love glitch and am definitely one of the addicts now.
    Posted 7 months ago by Grackle Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I feel that I need to clarify that I'm not intending to bombard new players with information, and I am certainly not trying to pull the rug out from under existing and wait-listed Greeters. Perhaps some of this confusion is my fault, in which case I would like to touch on those topics.

    The main point behind the Civil Glitchen/multi-greeter system is not necessarily to (arbitrarily) increase the amount of information given to new players, but rather to organise it. No matter how one looks at it, I think that greeters will have to include more and more information as the game world develops. If Glitch remained static, then I would never have suggested such a plan; but it doesn't, thankfully. The addition of personal houses is just one example, because it adds a brand-new aspect to game play in addition to the rest. As more new elements are added, greeters will have to keep up - and, at some point, the information will be too much for one greeter to handle efficiently. The alternatives in that case would be for devs to make an autonomous general tutorial that extends for way too long (á la Runescape), or to have the responsibility shared across several greeter-type figures. 

    Personally, I favour the latter option, because there would be inherent checks to make sure that new players get the best experience possible. To show off the community of Glitch, what better way to do that than to actually behave as a community within the greeting system? Also, the organisation into general topics could help to direct the conversation; and by covering matters piece by piece, new players will have the time to form questions. A pause between Civil Glitchen (as new players move between streets) would only help further. Finally, it must be noted that a multi-greeter system in no way ensures that all greeters will be flawless - but, by spreading the information over a few people, the process dilutes any periods of inefficiency, giving later Civil Glitchen the opportunity to cover missing material if necessary. Even if one greeter is poor in this case, other greeters along the way can bring the process back to mean efficiency; a single greeter, in contrast, has the pressure of that responsibility as well.

    There may be other alternatives to minimise the load on greeters; if you have one, then please share. 

    As for the claims of self-nomination, in no way did I intend to nominate myself (or other members of the Civility group) for privileges over others. Those who sign up to be greeters through the proper channels should be considered for the role; those who don't, shouldn't. Perhaps the Civil Glitchen title was misleading: I only wished to distinguish between the greeter-type figures in the proposal, and the current all-purpose Greeters in the game already. The name is irrelevant - I just didn't think of another, and I am only concerned with the plan for future tutorials. The development of a multi-greeter system could only improve conditions for existing Greeters: not only would current Greeters have reduced stress on account of sharing responsibility, but having more Greeters in this way would invite more wait-listed players to active duty. So, Mme. Sneezelips, you may actually have a greater chance to be an active Greeter through the proposed system than you would through the existing system.
    Posted 7 months ago by Lupicek Subscriber! | Permalink
  • A recurring theme here seems to be that new players may want tutorial guides later, after they get a feel for the world of Ur and have time to develop some questions. Whether or not new players want a Greeter immediately, what if they were to have a card, ticket, or other type of expendable item that would allow them to summon Greeter(s)? The item could be like the Get Out of Hell card, only instead of (or in addition to) summoning the player it could send automatic teleport requests to Greeters instead. That way, those who refused the tutorial in the beginning could still have it within the first few levels, and those who experienced the tutorial could get a refresher if they want. 

    Fitting with the existing system, the item could request one Greeter. Fitting with the proposed system, the item could send requests to several. 
    Posted 7 months ago by Lupicek Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm one of those players who would have hated to have more than one Greeter approach me.  As many have said, there are a lot of people who don't even know what information they want until they've had a chance to explore and play the game for a while.

    I think you are all forgetting one of the main sources of information for brand new players:  Live Help.  The  Guides and TS staff who are there 24 hours a day to answer questions and provide information do a splendid job of answering the newbies with patience and accuracy.  

    It allows all newbies to get exactly the information they want at exactly the time they need it.  

    So let me cast my vote for those who would find the proposed idea more stalkerish than helpful.  
    Posted 7 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Hey all :D

    Just want to pipe up briefly. *hugs* Lupi, Thanks for representing our group voice in this thread and you're doing such a brilliant job explaining things, that I would just detract from it by saying too much, so I'd keep this brief. Thanks too to everyone, most sincerely, who have provided and continue to provide input on this suggestion/s. Cheers & *hugs*

    Jess that is also a Bach (Bachjess)
    Posted 7 months ago by Bachjess♫♫♪ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • +1 Windborn; +2 for conciseness.
    Posted 7 months ago by CrashTestPilot Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I should like to point out that the both times I have started a character, there was no guide (that I was aware of).  Maybe there was one for Carl, but I don't remember getting much help at all, just a passing tip for one thing, that I'd already learned in the tutorial.  I didn't even realize that guides were part of the game until much later when I was looking for things I could do for others!

    I figure things out pretty quickly on my own, though.  I'm one of those people who recycles instruction manuals before turning things on.

    But, anyway, I'm curious to know if the guide system was in place when I started either character: Carl back in November, and Cephalophoria about three months ago.
    Posted 7 months ago by Carl Projectorinski Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Carl, let's keep the terminology straight:

    Greeters are volunteers that TS has chosen to help newcomers.  They respond when a new player clicks a "would you like a real person to help you" button during the tutorial or just afterwards (I don't remember the exact wording, but it's something like that).  

    Guides are volunteers that TS has chosen to help staff the Live Help channel.  They are present (usually) 24 hours a day to answer questions, help with bugs, and pass questions along to busy staff members who can't be in that channel 24 hours a day.  

    So, you were most likely asked if you wanted a Greeter.  Although the pool overlaps (many Guides are also Greeters), they aren't the same roles. 

    IIRC, Greeters were instituted just before the game was launched last year.  There have been Guides in the Live Help channel since early Beta.
    Posted 7 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • WindBorn, thank you for pointing out the Live Help. This is a resource available to all, and indeed it can be used effectively regardless of whether new players have several Greeters available at the start or none at all.

    That said, it must be noted that accessing Live Help is *not* obvious. There is little to nothing pointing out that help is available at any time, and the button is packed in an inconspicuous corner. In addition to the little-used neighbouring Bug Report and Mute buttons, Live Help is very easily overlooked in comparison to other elements of gameplay. Even if one mouses over the button for info, all that appears is "Need Help?" - which could mean FAQ, Encyclopaedia, or any other non-live element. For players like me, who get an hour of play a day if they're lucky, it's more efficient to focus on the actual game.

    So, thank you for talking about Live Help here. I was not aware of the tool until now. My Greeter did not mention Live Help; it is likely that he did not use it, as he was very high-level when he met me. If I had some information from another perspective at the time - such as help from a second Greeter with different experience - then perhaps I would have been aware of the resource.
    Posted 7 months ago by Lupicek Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Live Help is a chat channel.  A newcomer has 3 default chat channels available to them: Live Help, Global, and Updates.  

    Live Help is the topmost channel.  It has a question mark and is called "Live Help".  If you ever use Global, you've skipped right over it.

    You access it as you would any other public, group, or personal chat:  by clicking on the title of the chat.  Mousing over the question mark icon above the chat will not open the Live Help chat channel.  The button gives you tips and shows you how to access Global.  Perhaps it would be better if it showed you how to access Live Help.
    Posted 7 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • hmm, when i started greeting, i thought the more info (basic), the best they would be prepared, but i don't remember if i ever felt pressure about the amount of information i can pass to a newbie... i mean, while i'm there, i focus on key-words and some funny starting things and show them in a sequence that makes sense with what the newbie is doing. of course that some leading is necessary, cause they simply don't know something exists! but we, greeters, give basic, basic, basic info and that is enough to open all the possibilities. it's like planting a seed... and this is Glitch, so even a glitched greet is an awesome Glitch greet!

    each newbie is person, so each one will find their own path and organization methods... basic info, as we already give, and a warm glitchy wlecome is the best thing to do, imo, to keep an opened mind to whatever surprise, whenever it happens! and curiosity and coincidences will give them more specialized info... it's wonderful when you go, pet, harvest and wow a bear!?! what's that? whaa? rainbows!! so cute!! whaa? how can i get this and that... and then they go dig for the info they want and find another useful info... and that is part of the game! and it doesn't matter when they found it, it will still be a surprise! of course, we all had that feeling called "oh, why didn't i knew this before!!", but i consider it part of the game experience. it's a game where we can try everything and it seems to me that if we give info in blocks, the newbie might get the feeling that there is a right way and a wrong way to play, which is false.

    what i'm trying to say is, though your ideas seem very civil, sweet and helpful, if you tell someone how to do things, the fun and other awesome feelings they could get in the process of discovery, are lost... it's wonderful to be helpful, but as a child, newbies have to figure out how to do things on their own. if they are really stuck, they will ask for help and they will even make friends in the way. on the other hand, we have players that are so linked in the fast brain feed that they don't have patience to search... well, i guess that for those, devs could set a card because everybody deserves to have fun. and then we would make them rock'n'glitch hard!! hahhaha 

    well, the game has so many things to explain to cover the info you are talking about (if i understand it right). and the greeters also need to have fun and play outside of the greeting streets. i don't know how many of us are able to greet, but consider how many would be needed if 50 (this is a low number!) newbies per day called for them... wow! it's huuuuge!
    and if we decide to make a following up greeting system, then i think pressure will rise! now it's basic, then specific. to make things like this work right, great responsability is needed, cause we want to pass the correct info, right?:)
    do you think it's easier to greet in group? well, it's indeed more fun but it demands much experience and more focus, since you will need to keep up with three or four other players. sometimes you might be forgetting something and another greeter might remember, but you still need to be focused on what points have to be explained plus what the others have said. and then you are just typing the last word of a sentence and another posts the explanation first... so lots of things to consider and train here:)

    give bags with items might help some players, but that doesn't teach them how to fish!... so maybe the best is just be kind, play nice, have fun, offer help, glitch a lot and whatever makes you happy and that will be reflected in the community:) oh, and talk about things like this too:)  if devs want to consider this, i'm in, but i think we will have to train a lot! i support the possibility of summon a greeter (or more) in the early levels or activated by some skills, but only to answer newbie's questions, not to give info in blocks.
    ...hugs around:)
    Posted 7 months ago by mira gaia maia Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thanks for the wonderful input mira *hugs* :D It gives lots of food for thought and is presented in a very reasonable and most of all helpful non-judgmental manner. I, Lupicek and the rest of the Civility group appreciate it greatly. Thanks and cheers and I hope you will allow me to friend you :D

    Bachjess
    Posted 7 months ago by Bachjess♫♫♪ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Windborn, thanks for the clarification!  I honestly don't remember being asked if I wanted a Greeter, either time.  Not bitter about it, just wondering if my memory's poor or if the system isn't 100%.
    Posted 7 months ago by Carl Projectorinski Subscriber! | Permalink
  • There are some good ideas here but it may be TMI for a lot of players.  I believe that when most newcomers leave the Start street all they want to do is explore and figure out things for themselves.  As a Greeter, I have to be careful as I tend to try to tell them too much.  I have cut down on the info a bit but do ask (sometimes more than once) if they have any questions.  Many of them friend me and later I get an IM with questions which I am happy to answer.  Sometimes if a newcomer seems a bit lost I will follow them off of the Start street and help them get oriented and point out a few things such as the Vendor and Shrine and how to use them.  New players usually enter the Life Catalog very soon after they leave the Start.  Sometimes I wait for them and tell them to be sure and keep the Bear.  Some players sell the bear or just toss it and then are sorry later.

    I suppose maybe if we had a "Greeter" or "Guide" shirt they would know where to get Help once they leave the Start if they have questions.
    Posted 7 months ago by Brib Annie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Just to clarify: greeting began in March of 2011.  The group started with three people and eventually grew to about two hundred.  If you didn't get the option to speak to a greeter when you started to play, it was for one of a number of reasons.  At launch in late September 2011, it would probably have been because thousands of people were joining the game at once, and there was no way to greet all of those people; rather than leave new players waiting around for greeters, staff just turned off the greeter option at certain times.  Otherwise, it would've been because greeters can choose whether or not they'd like to greet at any given time, and when there aren't many greeters available, the option is automatically turned off.  There may also be some greeting-related bugs.  Hopefully the new tutorial and greeting system will be an improvement.

    The live help guide program began at the end of August 2011.  The idea for it did emerge from the greeter program: I had wanted a way to let new players know that greeters were experienced players, and that when we helped in the LH channel or elsewhere, our advice was coming from a friendly and informed position.  We kicked around a lot of ideas: an in-chat tag, specialized clothing options, a "greeter" bubble over our heads, specialized information locations in the game, and on and on.  Eventually staff added guide tags in Live Help, and invited certain interested players to participate in the group.  Not all guides are greeters, and not all greeters are guides. 

    If you'd like to become a greeter or guide, you can submit a bug report.  Staff chooses greeters and guides.  If you have submitted your name and haven't heard back, it's typically because no new greeters or guides have been needed.  Also, taking on new greeters means training them, which is a difficult process when there are so few new players being allowed into the game.

    As for the ideas presented in the original post, they are mostly duplicates of what's already been done.  New players are encouraged to add greeters to their friends lists, to ask whatever they want, and to go to Live Help if the greeter isn't logged in at that moment.  Greeters can (at no cost to them) give players food, drinks, gameshow tickets, and other items.  There's also at least one other group which started distributing new-player gift bags about a year ago.  I don't remember the name of the group, but if you search in the forums, you'll probably find it.

    After spending a year greeting new players, I can say that about three quarters of new players do not want to be greeted, and of those who actually choose to speak to a greeter, many do so accidentally, or just out or curiosity -- they think that greeters are non-playable characters, and want to have some fun with robots -- and do not actually have any questions.  When they do, they know that they can ask greeters, ask in LH, search in the forums, search in the wiki, join the FAQ group or other similar groups, or file bug reports.  If you were to accost new players once they emerge from the tutorial, they would mostly be annoyed.  Everything mira gaia maia said above is also true; most of the fun of the game is in discovery, and being given spoilers (many of which are not even useful early on, since new players have no skills) would be hugely disappointing for a lot of players.

    Lastly, I think everyone can appreciate an enthusiastic new player, but it's probably best to know the game really well before attempting to appoint yourself to any position of authority.  New players occasionally ask much more advanced questions than another new player can answer... and they also ask if they can be greeters right away.  My best advice is to play for a while, make sure that you're really interested in spending even more time on this game, and then apply to the existing greeter group.
    Posted 7 months ago by glum pudding Subscriber! | Permalink