Some thoughts/suggestions from a returning newbie
Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:12 pm
Hello all,
Decided to post this message after discussing a topic in-game with someone whilst foraging.
In my short time back, I've come to re-learn, or at least remember some stuff I'd forgotten in my long time away. The basics of some things remained, but the finer details disappeared completely (such as crafting, etc).
Last night, I was talking to another player who was helping remind me of some other things I'd forgotten about (different teleports, etc) and we got to talking about faction.
One thing I've known since the beginning is that I wanted to side with Kami. I just tend to like the more "nature-based", "druidic" or even "tree-hugging" nature of the Kami... at least as I perceive them... over the cold sci-fi nature of the Karavan. Also, the Karavan guards with their faces covered remind me of those soul-less drones sitting at a row of computers in "The Black Hole"...
Creepy...
Anyway...
I got to looking at my standings with the factions and realized something a bit "odd", given my leanings. My Kami is at -13 and Karavan is +8. Not a huge deal, sure, but it shows that I was going the wrong way. That and when I got a mission from the Kami welcomer, it was to kill a couple Green Seed... whom I remember being told to help when I last played.
It made me realize that the last guild I was in - even though I'd told them I wanted to side with Kami - was basically helping me develop my character to align with Karavan instead. Now, at the time, I didn't know better and was assuming that I was being helped develop my character the direction I wanted to.
That, and my conversation just earlier in game has reminded me of something that I notice in all MMOs but, in Ryzom in particular, is more noteworthy.
Basically... people, though their intentions are good, tend to instruct players to make the same choices they made. The thing is, the things you're telling them to do may not lead to the kind of character they want to create.
Again.. in my example.. I wanted to align with Kami, but the people helping me pretty much ignored that and had me doing things to align with Karavan... because that's what they did.
Another example is gear...
I've got several sets of gear right now. At least 3 light and, I believe, 2 heavy. All were given to me by people telling me "you should be wearing this... and use this kind of weapon... and train these skills..." I would thank them for the gear and the advice and that was that.
Then when they'd see me some time later, they'd want to know why I wasn't using the gear they gave me, or the weapons, etc.
My response at one point was "because I'm still using the gear the last person told me I should be using... :-p " - and said it as a joke.
In one instance, the individual became offended and said "Well if you don't want my help, then don't ask for it" (thing is, I hadn't asked for their help in the first place... they basically said "here, use this" and gave me gear).
What I'm getting at here is not to bash people. I know their hearts are in the right place and they really want to help you out.
Thing is, I would recommend making sure you're helping the person create the type of character they want. If they don't understand the difference between A, B or C, then explain and find out what they prefer.. if they know at that time. And so forth.
Then, help the player make the right decisions to develop the kind of character and/or to develop the style of gameplay they prefer.
By simply telling them to do all the things you did, you're basically helping them become a copy of yourself. That isn't necessarily what they want. Offer pro's and cons and suggestions for each option, but leave it up to them to decide.
So.. just some thoughts from someone coming back to the game. Don't stop wanting to help people... just try and make sure you're helping them do what they'd want to do, and not what you want them to do.
For what it's worth :-p
Decided to post this message after discussing a topic in-game with someone whilst foraging.
In my short time back, I've come to re-learn, or at least remember some stuff I'd forgotten in my long time away. The basics of some things remained, but the finer details disappeared completely (such as crafting, etc).
Last night, I was talking to another player who was helping remind me of some other things I'd forgotten about (different teleports, etc) and we got to talking about faction.
One thing I've known since the beginning is that I wanted to side with Kami. I just tend to like the more "nature-based", "druidic" or even "tree-hugging" nature of the Kami... at least as I perceive them... over the cold sci-fi nature of the Karavan. Also, the Karavan guards with their faces covered remind me of those soul-less drones sitting at a row of computers in "The Black Hole"...
Creepy...
Anyway...
I got to looking at my standings with the factions and realized something a bit "odd", given my leanings. My Kami is at -13 and Karavan is +8. Not a huge deal, sure, but it shows that I was going the wrong way. That and when I got a mission from the Kami welcomer, it was to kill a couple Green Seed... whom I remember being told to help when I last played.
It made me realize that the last guild I was in - even though I'd told them I wanted to side with Kami - was basically helping me develop my character to align with Karavan instead. Now, at the time, I didn't know better and was assuming that I was being helped develop my character the direction I wanted to.
That, and my conversation just earlier in game has reminded me of something that I notice in all MMOs but, in Ryzom in particular, is more noteworthy.
Basically... people, though their intentions are good, tend to instruct players to make the same choices they made. The thing is, the things you're telling them to do may not lead to the kind of character they want to create.
Again.. in my example.. I wanted to align with Kami, but the people helping me pretty much ignored that and had me doing things to align with Karavan... because that's what they did.
Another example is gear...
I've got several sets of gear right now. At least 3 light and, I believe, 2 heavy. All were given to me by people telling me "you should be wearing this... and use this kind of weapon... and train these skills..." I would thank them for the gear and the advice and that was that.
Then when they'd see me some time later, they'd want to know why I wasn't using the gear they gave me, or the weapons, etc.
My response at one point was "because I'm still using the gear the last person told me I should be using... :-p " - and said it as a joke.
In one instance, the individual became offended and said "Well if you don't want my help, then don't ask for it" (thing is, I hadn't asked for their help in the first place... they basically said "here, use this" and gave me gear).
What I'm getting at here is not to bash people. I know their hearts are in the right place and they really want to help you out.
Thing is, I would recommend making sure you're helping the person create the type of character they want. If they don't understand the difference between A, B or C, then explain and find out what they prefer.. if they know at that time. And so forth.
Then, help the player make the right decisions to develop the kind of character and/or to develop the style of gameplay they prefer.
By simply telling them to do all the things you did, you're basically helping them become a copy of yourself. That isn't necessarily what they want. Offer pro's and cons and suggestions for each option, but leave it up to them to decide.
So.. just some thoughts from someone coming back to the game. Don't stop wanting to help people... just try and make sure you're helping them do what they'd want to do, and not what you want them to do.
For what it's worth :-p