It really wouldn't be a bad thing for the mud if you could get great stats immediately. The more people that are on statters, the less that can happen at any given time. No one should be spending 8 hours to get started on a game, or on a new character.
If there's a problem inherent in high stats themselves, then it's the upper limits that should be reduced, rather than access to those stats that should be limited.
The Newbie Experience
Re: The Newbie Experience
I have about 4 super stated characters now and only statted one, the rest were all rerolled because of age. I think best thing to keep new players (and keep old players around) is make stats completely different.
Change stats to be hidden until level 20 - then you get 20 stats to choose from like at rerolls(based on a decent statsum). Before that everyone has same medium type stats. Then you get to decide at level 20 if you want to keep going to 30 or start a new character. I think 20 is enough that you have some roleplay, you have some relationships, you might have traveled around a little, you have something invested in the character.
Then change rerolls to happen starting at year 100.
Side benefit of this would be more people playing the game at lower levels just for fun (and chance for super stats). There is always a certain camaraderie going from level 1-20 with other people and would encourage a lot of that (at least that I've seen).
Just a concept
Change stats to be hidden until level 20 - then you get 20 stats to choose from like at rerolls(based on a decent statsum). Before that everyone has same medium type stats. Then you get to decide at level 20 if you want to keep going to 30 or start a new character. I think 20 is enough that you have some roleplay, you have some relationships, you might have traveled around a little, you have something invested in the character.
Then change rerolls to happen starting at year 100.
Side benefit of this would be more people playing the game at lower levels just for fun (and chance for super stats). There is always a certain camaraderie going from level 1-20 with other people and would encourage a lot of that (at least that I've seen).
Just a concept
Re: The Newbie Experience
Also, leatherleafs are just too easy to bot off of, especially change them from darkside but I'd remove them except for some in remote zones. They are ideal for stat botting, but that isn't what you want to show new players.
Re: The Newbie Experience
Lots of great ideas here, but most of the last couple pages are all coding related. 6 letter word and all. I don't think stats matter for retaining newbies as much as everyone thinks. The people I know that tried WoTmud and quit didn't get far enough to care about stats. It was clients, command difficulty, and not wanting to learn how to navigate a text based world. You get far enough to care about stats and they should either be hooked already or not even 19's across the board will keep them playing. The PK type of player will put in work to get stats because they want them to compete, newbies that show up for other reasons won't care right away. Environment is key to retain them.
I really like the idea about a quest to take characters from EF to Caemlyn like Rand and company did in the books, granted Shadar Logoth might be a bit much for sub level 10
I really like the idea about a quest to take characters from EF to Caemlyn like Rand and company did in the books, granted Shadar Logoth might be a bit much for sub level 10
Re: The Newbie Experience
I really like the Emonds Field to Caemlyn quest idea, since it directly connects the experience to the books.
The newbie adventurer clan is neat too, to establish relationships and stuff. Maybe they then go on to other things with their newfound friends. While we're sticking with an rp theme, could the adventurer clan make the newbie:
I agree ease of accessibility needs to be looked at. The java clients don't seem to work for me. Maybe a link to a free client with a short idiot-proof (i.e. if Dartes can figure it out in one try, anyone can) step-by-step connection tutorial.
And that's my sleep-deprived $0.02
The newbie adventurer clan is neat too, to establish relationships and stuff. Maybe they then go on to other things with their newfound friends. While we're sticking with an rp theme, could the adventurer clan make the newbie:
I would have been totally hooked (even more). After they rank up by learning and/or get to lvl 20, they can move on to a full clan like... *SHAMELESS PLUG* DragonswornThis ranks you as Dartes the Explorer [Hunter for the Horn 1] (Level 5).
I agree ease of accessibility needs to be looked at. The java clients don't seem to work for me. Maybe a link to a free client with a short idiot-proof (i.e. if Dartes can figure it out in one try, anyone can) step-by-step connection tutorial.
And that's my sleep-deprived $0.02
Re: The Newbie Experience
Do we link to the new forums on character creation? Is that coding?
Re: The Newbie Experience
I love the idea of a newbie clan, and love the idea of that clan being "Hunters for the Horn" as the hunt spanned all nations and is all about exploring. It makes alot of sense that many of our adventurers would have participated in a hunt for the horn at some point as well, and doesn't break rp at all that they would be leaving to join "full clans" as participating in the Hunt was a temporary thing. Great idea Dartes.This ranks you as Dartes the Explorer [Hunter for the Horn 1] (Level 5).
Re: The Newbie Experience
First, I'd like to say that I like the hunter for the horn newbie clan idea. I also like the start in EF and work your way to Caemlyn idea.
I had a thought on how to fix the problem of either statting for super stats just to play the game and giving up vs prerolled stats idea. What if you could take the prerolled stats, let's call them 18 18 war, 18 17 17 hunter, and 17 18 17 rogue. Then, when you hit level 30? 40? You are now invested in the game and want better, but dont want to remake this fun character that you put so much time into, rp'd, made friends, explored with, etc. Add an option to restat if you have the exact prerolled stats, but you keep your level, etc. Maybe you can fight a blademaster or something in some sort of arena to test your abilities (versus killing saplings), and if you win, you get a new set of stats. If you don't like them, you can decline, and pay a few gc or something and try again.
That way only those that jumped right into the game could try it, and you wouldn't get a bunch of super statted people getting free rerolls trying to super stat more.
You could also cap the stats at 19 19 war, some combination of 19 18 18, 18 19 18, or 18 18 19 hunter, and 18 19 18 rogue. Then even poorly statted oldbies could use it to be decent.
I had a thought on how to fix the problem of either statting for super stats just to play the game and giving up vs prerolled stats idea. What if you could take the prerolled stats, let's call them 18 18 war, 18 17 17 hunter, and 17 18 17 rogue. Then, when you hit level 30? 40? You are now invested in the game and want better, but dont want to remake this fun character that you put so much time into, rp'd, made friends, explored with, etc. Add an option to restat if you have the exact prerolled stats, but you keep your level, etc. Maybe you can fight a blademaster or something in some sort of arena to test your abilities (versus killing saplings), and if you win, you get a new set of stats. If you don't like them, you can decline, and pay a few gc or something and try again.
That way only those that jumped right into the game could try it, and you wouldn't get a bunch of super statted people getting free rerolls trying to super stat more.
You could also cap the stats at 19 19 war, some combination of 19 18 18, 18 19 18, or 18 18 19 hunter, and 18 19 18 rogue. Then even poorly statted oldbies could use it to be decent.