New Players

New Players

Kinak 26 Oct 2013 02:20

So, hey, as a head's up, we might be getting quite a few new players coming in the next week or so.

There are two challenges here:
1) Being open and friendly in chat. That's… not something we've ever had problems with, I think that's covered.
2) Halloween is a pretty crazy time to join Metroplexity.

So, if people come around asking for help, you probably won't be able to get them anything through the OmniMall (unless they're a crazy prodigy), but advice is worth more than items in Metroplexity. But people can probably make it to the University and explore the Dorms a little if they're interested.

Anyway, I've never been less than happy with the community here, so this isn't a "better be on your best behavior." I just wanted to give a head's up because the timing on this is a touch weird and chat this time of year tends towards the historical and the esoteric, so new folks might need a leg up.

Thanks in advance for being awesome :)

Cheers!
Kinak

Re: New Players

Erenoth 26 Oct 2013 02:49

Yeah, I remember having just started during halloween and not getting it. And then the party came and I felt left out cause I didn't have a ticket or something, had not realized everything wasn't just part of the story or what things meant. We should make sure that its very explicit, because newer players could easily get confused or killed if they manage to get into some of the event combats and such.

On a related note, new players is great! But why is this likely to be happening now? Was there some sort of advertising?

Re: New Players

Kinak 26 Oct 2013 03:55

Yeah, I remember having just started during halloween and not getting it. And then the party came and I felt left out cause I didn't have a ticket or something, had not realized everything wasn't just part of the story or what things meant. We should make sure that its very explicit, because newer players could easily get confused or killed if they manage to get into some of the event combats and such.

Ah, Explicit Man, my archnemesis.

On a related note, new players is great! But why is this likely to be happening now? Was there some sort of advertising?

We've had something in the works with Erfworld for a while now. It's my first real Metroplexity Games advertising push, with both Metroplexity and Twilight Heroes.

Cheers!
Kinak

Re: New Players

Erenoth 26 Oct 2013 04:05

I seem to recall coming here from erfworld in the first place (oh those years ago), so that makes sense. Anywhere else you're considering advertising?

Re: New Players

bigalphillips 26 Oct 2013 06:08

Coming to a comic store near you:

One thing I've always tried to do (with some resistance from others >.> <.<) is to not just immediately spoil everything in chat. If someone is asking about how to pass the survivors quest, I'll gently nudge them towards areas to explore rather than explicitly stating what to do to get through it quickest. That can so easily destroy so much of the fun of exploring this awesome world.

Last edited on 26 Oct 2013 06:09 by bigalphillips Show more

Re: New Players

Thrillho 26 Oct 2013 07:52

Hello, new players!

The wiki connected to this forum has lots of answers, but once you solve the puzzles, you will know the answers for all time!

One answer, anyway. Or an approximation of one. Unless a quest gets overhauled.

Actually, this is a better summary: sometimes it's fun to wander around, experiment, and not quite know how to solve something!

Re: New Players

Kinak 26 Oct 2013 13:30

I seem to recall coming here from erfworld in the first place (oh those years ago), so that makes sense. Anywhere else you're considering advertising?

When I start specifically seeking out advertising, probably Project Wonderful.

It's mostly just a question of finding the right venue. Since Rob's plugged us before, this was a good option.

One thing I've always tried to do (with some resistance from others >.> <.<) is to not just immediately spoil everything in chat. If someone is asking about how to pass the survivors quest, I'll gently nudge them towards areas to explore rather than explicitly stating what to do to get through it quickest. That can so easily destroy so much of the fun of exploring this awesome world.

Yeah, I think that's much preferable. But, then again, I would :)

Also, Vague Man is never released in comic stores. You have to find the issues. I found issue #1 in an abandoned mill, past the hook-handed man. It contained a note that they were numbered in reverse, so the series was over. I might never know if they were joking.

Actually, this is a better summary: sometimes it's fun to wander around, experiment, and not quite know how to solve something!

Truth!

Cheers!
Kinak

Re: New Players

Fop 26 Oct 2013 16:00

Being open and friendly in chat.

As long as we don't have to be friendly to each other. I'm not sure I can find it in my heart to be nice to Barton when he keeps interfering in my inalienable right to keep control of the quad.

One thing I've always tried to do (with some resistance from others >.> <.<) is to not just immediately spoil everything in chat. If someone is asking about how to pass the survivors quest, I'll gently nudge them towards areas to explore rather than explicitly stating what to do to get through it quickest. That can so easily destroy so much of the fun of exploring this awesome world.

I stayed away from chat for about a month after the survivors quest was rolled out for precisely that reason. It's difficult though. There's a lot to be said for everyone mixing in the same chat channel as opposed to being segregated off into separate ones (and we aren't big enough to justify anything else anyway), but it does mean that chat can contain everything from highly experienced spades wanting to discuss the more esoteric possibilities in detail to complete newbies. So you do sometimes get a bit of conflict in what people need/want to discuss.

It's mostly just a question of finding the right venue. Since Rob's plugged us before, this was a good option.

Can I suggest the tabletop forums (RPGGeek, RPG.Net, TheRPGSite, Enworld) might be worth considering if the cost isn't prohibitive? Some of us have discussed in chat before how in many ways this is a MMPORG that's likely to appeal to tabletop players.

Also, RockPaperShotgun is very indie-friendly and has the right kind of community. Although, obviously, you might just want to chuck sites like that a press release and hope they'll review Metroplexity instead of paying for advertising.

Re: New Players

Thrillho 26 Oct 2013 21:05

Also, RockPaperShotgun is very indie-friendly and has the right kind of community. Although, obviously, you might just want to chuck sites like that a press release and hope they'll review Metroplexity instead of paying for advertising.

RPS really likes Fallen London, which is the other story-based browser game that I play. In general though, I wouldn't suggest carpet bombing anyone with press releases. This Gamasutra article outlines a few good ways for indie games to get in with the gaming press.

Re: New Players

Fop 26 Oct 2013 22:17

I wouldn't suggest carpet bombing anyone with press releases. This Gamasutra article outlines a few good ways for indie games to get in with the gaming press.

Heh, what Gamesutra describes as "personal emails" I'd describe as "individually targeted press releases", so it's probably mostly a matter of terminology. Stuff like writing to a specific individual as opposed to a publication is vital for pretty much any kind of approach.