This is something of an idea brought up in another topic but here goes.
We have players that have taken amazing, utterly Astounding initiative to bring in new players or simply have available lowbie/newbie groups for running on Amia for both servers.
This is a notion for taking that just one step further. Bear with me folks, I'm insane and that tends to make me either ramble or deviate to tangents. Forgive me.
Every 1st and 3rd Saturday in a month, holding a 'Meet and Greet' of a fashion on both servers. Frankly dears, someone new to Amia might start on the lower populated server just because it is a little less scary than jumping into a fuller one. For this M&G, it would take place at a local tavern to be randomly chosen on that server and customized by race.
This is where it gets tricky.
Essentially it would mean on those Saturdays for a select time, a DM or two may be needed either in the client or serverside to lead/teleport the signed-up group to the tavern. (sign ups to give an idea to the DM of how many players they'd be wrangling but walk ins welcome of course)
On AIsland that can be the Nomad, Hinn Inn, Mayfield's, Bad Dragon, Butterfly, etc for the surfacers. For the UD group it would be an inn in the UD or UP on the 2nd and last Saturdays.
For ABroad, the same. Surface would be Noway Inn, Land's End (if we're starting that adventure right off the bat with a group that got more than a little 'lost'), Endir's Point or even Chillywick. UD crowd, would start in L'osbul.
Players can volunteer as: Guides. This would not just be for nature folks so don't think I'm biased, but also those players who have PCs that are wonderful host(ess)s or even ICly would be the kind to keep an eye out for 'fresh meat'. Body guards. Self explanatory here. Extortionists. *coughs* Can fall under the first two and well, we shouldn't give the impression that Amia is all peaches and sunshine. Gossipers. ....yeah. You know who you are. All of you. *grins*
At most this might only need 2 DMs and alot of really great players to volunteer. A time would need to be set with the awareness that even late comers are more than welcomed.
One thing about M&Gs at the Fiesty Chicken (Inn on another server) that I used to love is that a DM would send a tell if someone logged in late asking if we wished to join. If we said yes, insto-port and the DM would make an announcement that whatever random warp field "Sucked in another hapless traveler, depositing them at your feet. But is it a friend or foe?"
It left a great impression so that there wasn't the automatic assumption the newly arrive PC was the Fey of Sugar and Sunshine. Everyone else would then fill the newly arrived person in on what happened so far ICly and the DM would be patient while that happened.
Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Location: Kohlingen, and a Basement in Canada
I can think of a partial IC explanation for anyone who'd be coming to Cordor:
- While trying to deter things such as adventurers who are doing nothing but being a drain on the economy, Cordor's Ministry of Finance could be keeping an eye for potential tradesfolk and people who may have something to offer. Thus, they make sure they have someone at the ports to greet new individuals, try to get some basic information and gauge what brings them to the island. Think of modern immigration officials.
.. It needs work , but that's a start to the idea anyhoo.
Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Location: On a Disk, carried by four elephants, which stand on a gigantic turtle.
I'd rather an adventuring guild be set up, and then just have "meet and greets" on certain days, perhaps with a mentoring program. Less OOC that way, but gets the same thing you are saying but all IC.
_________________ I keels u with my axe!
"Do ye know where the Holy-Flamin' Frost-brand Gronk-slayin' Vorpal Hammer o' woundin' an' returnin' an' Shootin'-Lightnin'-out-yer-bum is?"
I think the idea is more to get some of the newer characters to meet some of the older characters so they get involved in their roleplay. The idea has merit, but I agree with Selvec's approach. Brainsplitter has an adventurers guild, THAC0, I always thought it should be made into like a building in cordor where players, etc go to get NPC quests and rank up in the guild. That way you can mix the high level more roleplay orientated adventuers guild idea with something that will benefit players new to the server. Kind of make it 'the' place for adventurers to go in Cordor.
_________________ Wyjyn: Loving all of you (and above all Disco) since 11 Jan 2007.
Except that adventurers are the sole reason for Cordor's ills until player's adopt a sense of responsibility, so, no, I wouldn't base such a place in Cordor.
Except that adventurers are the sole reason for Cordor's ills until player's adopt a sense of responsibility, so, no, I wouldn't base such a place in Cordor.
haha perhaps so, but cordor would be the logical place because it is intuitively where new players go. OOC logical, that is.
_________________ Wyjyn: Loving all of you (and above all Disco) since 11 Jan 2007.
Why does this all have to be so complicated. Basically just have a group of volunteers take a few hours for two Saturdays a month and give a IC tour to new players. Show them around, where key points and shops are, where they can gain exp and gold, all in a IC way of course. You could even introduce them to others as well, especially other new players so they can get to know And grow their characters together.
I have already seen several people do this with new arrivals but this would give it some more dedicated time as well as a group more dedicated to doing these meet and greets.
The DMs only need to do is keep a list of the group and send a tell to one about a new player in the area.
Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Location: Leather chair, USA. Tell me about your mother.
Someone's welcome to roll an Amian Tour Guide. I think it may be fun. Take up a few jobs too. Historian maybe, mapmaker etc.
As far as a monthly/weekly meet and greet I think it's too OOC. I'd rather new players just come on and explore, to be honest. I'd just encourage people to be less cliquish.
_________________ We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for I don't know.
If there was to be a monthly meet and greet, how many of the meet and greeters do any of you consider will be new players? You’d have to manually grab them and port them to the meeting area, unless somehow the advertisement for it would be really noticeable and exactly outside the Waukeen Temple.
Then they’d be confused and it would be OOC anyway because they’re so confused.
If you announce it on the forums there a 5% chance a very new player will see it.
In the end it will be old players, all huddled together and doing what they’ve always been doing.
Outside Waukeen Temple could work though, just possibly but it seems like a lot of effort for nothing much.
A tourist info, that gets into conflict with the Cordor authorities all the time, for bringing more adventurers in? I guess some hole in the laws could be found for this mutually(?) intolerable existence to be possible.
Everyone stand outside the temple like jehovah witnesses around your house.
Exactly. I love the idea.. lets just come up with a simple IC solution please. I don't care if it's 'illegal' in Cordor.. *snicker* Underground movement of more adventurers?
Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Location: Kohlingen, and a Basement in Canada
TormakSaber wrote:
Doubtful, the Minister of Justice is also the one most against adventurers.
Unless the Minister of Justice actually has been properly replaced, said minister is also techincially the Minister of Magic, and the Minister of Health and Public Welfare.
You all are still making this more complicated then it needs to be. The group of long time players that volunteer for this wouldn’t stand around with their thumb up their you know what, the group is for the DMs to know who is willing to take a few hours of their time to RP out showing the newcomer around in a IC manner. Several players already do this from time to time, I have showed a few new comers around to places I know of and found other new players for them to party with.
The group of volunteers should meet a few times a month in a OOC fashion to update themselves on better areas and ideas on ways to show new players around. You do not even have to call yourselves guides, just concerned citizens out to help strangers in the new land. To update each other on other new players that can easily be partied with by the one you are showing around, introduce them to each other. Kind of like speedy get them to know the areas but a little more personal and detailed.
The DMs can help by letting this group know who is new and could use some help by a IC guide. The volunteers do not need to do this all at once either, one or two per day is all that’s needed, especially if you can introduce the new player to another new player that you already showed the key areas too.
Keep it all IC between you and the new player, send some OOC tells to explain the job system if you cant find a IC way to do so. Even the evil characters can show the new players the evil side of the server, not overwhelmingly so but a nudge here and there so they can understand the RP.
Joined: 17 Aug 2005 Location: Land of the Scorching Sun, Empowered by Global Warming
Godo wrote:
You all are still making this more complicated then it needs to be. The group of long time players that volunteer for this wouldn’t stand around with their thumb up their you know what, the group is for the DMs to know who is willing to take a few hours of their time to RP out showing the newcomer around in a IC manner. Several players already do this from time to time, I have showed a few new comers around to places I know of and found other new players for them to party with.
The group of volunteers should meet a few times a month in a OOC fashion to update themselves on better areas and ideas on ways to show new players around. You do not even have to call yourselves guides, just concerned citizens out to help strangers in the new land. To update each other on other new players that can easily be partied with by the one you are showing around, introduce them to each other. Kind of like speedy get them to know the areas but a little more personal and detailed.
The DMs can help by letting this group know who is new and could use some help by a IC guide. The volunteers do not need to do this all at once either, one or two per day is all that’s needed, especially if you can introduce the new player to another new player that you already showed the key areas too.
Keep it all IC between you and the new player, send some OOC tells to explain the job system if you cant find a IC way to do so. Even the evil characters can show the new players the evil side of the server, not overwhelmingly so but a nudge here and there so they can understand the RP.
I did that once or twice, but with one of my drow PCs. I can do it again when I am back from my break. The only problem is that he cannot enter Cordor, even though he is not among the bad guys.
I could come back in a few days, but I would rather finish the tales I am writing first. ^^;
_________________ BlackDahlya
Once Upon A Time Played Adr'ael Ken'rahel, Auron Teken’ath, Aurora Mesodias, 'Daniel' Daoskinaxarijikkym, Eilin'ira, Helena Rios, Layla Faircurrent, May'Une Do'Ndar, Mellinda Tellus, Michael of Cliffside, Rizzen of Twilight, Valkirya d'Claddath
Godo actually got the intention behind the idea of scheduling a meet and greet. It didn't have to be hugely OOC outside of the time and even -that- didn't' need to be seen as such. Sure having it scheduled may seem like a pain but honestly not everyone has a really free schedule to play on an unknown server spur of the moment. Many of them come, look around and may feel overwhelmed then leave or only login with friends they know who told them about the server.
Knowing that there would be a time that new players or old get together regularly with no pressure at local taverns would help interested players plan ahead. We give advanced notices for other events or gatherings ICly so how is this different? Just because it might involve a DM initially? It really doesn't have to.
The new players could plan to do such tavern crawls repeatedly until they feel comfy enough to also play without attending the newbie orientation as it were. Considering how many people just kind of lolly gag around in Cordor square or even Wiltun fortress, to say nothing of those that roam UP and UD central areas, how un-IC is it that someone spots a new face and nudges the person next to them before calling out a greeting?
Especially if that PC is known to be outgoing or a kind of person that does regularly ICly meet and greet new faces?
I gave the example of DMs porting late/new loggers into the event only as an example of what -could- be done not what -should- be done. Also there was a listing in the OP of the main kinds of IC folks to do such a thing. Good inclined or bad. Folks looking at new faces and thinking 'hey, that's a fat-pursed mark'. ICly they could be providing a tour for the new person while keeping an eye out for the best chance to rob them.
Someone like Xavi or even Elle might see a new face and think 'Oooh that's someone I haven't seen, I wonder who they are?' and walk right up to start chatting. Boom. IC reason and RP. The only OOC thing about it would be that the gatherings would be listed as a schedule to help new players or old know when such a thing was happening.
"The Nomad is running a happy hour night from when to when, folks are invited!"
"Noway Inn, serving the finest ale in all of Ruathym! Come try some and hear our bard perform his evening medley between when and when."
Less savory folks.
"Illharess, it was said that there was a pilgrimage being made by new blood from abroad. Their boat/cart is said by our spies to arrive at -insert time-"
"Well, after I smacked him around a few times, he was more than willing to spill his guts. Said something about new arrivals wide eyed and ripe for conversion into the -insert whatever- and they're showing up around this time and day."
Really and truly, there shouldn't be a limit to the imagination of anything ICly even a scheduled time for something.
ok, first I have to admit (due to limited time) I didn't read all the replies. That being said, I think this is an awesome idea. I started on your server a week or so ago, and haven't really come back too much. I don't like dying and it seemed to happen a little too often.
I am an avid RPer and have no quams with sitting in an inn and chitchatting the wee hours of the morning away, if its in good rp. I just seemed to have a hard time meeting some people on the server. Having a meet and greet could be ooc or even ic and explained as the "kings annual ball" or the local Inn has a monthly festival.
Anywhoo I think it's a great idea. I'm off till thursday morning see ya
Yes please. I've been a new player once upon a time. We -ALL- have been a new player. We as human beings do not always like jumping into stuff that we know jack about. Reading about how to drive a car is different than attending a class on it and speaking with others who have driven.
Same theory. Perhaps the old players and even DMs are so used to Amia they may have forgotten how terrifying it can be or off-putting it can be to be a new player on a server where you do not know a -soul-.
I was going to try a different server. I made my PC, got it tailored for the outfit and weapon, got the starting area goodies and did not set foot in the world because at the Entry way it hit me. I was leaping into an RP world rich in history where everyone knows everyone else and I didn't know anyone or anything.
So I logged and came back to the servers I did know. Granted if I have friends going in with me or had seen that there'd been a scheduled lowbie event on a server, I might have hopped in. Namely because I would have had a goal in mind upon entering the server. From that one goal, other aspects and intentions would likely have emerged.
Also granted, my outlook isn't everyone's but still... *Shrugs* Just a thought which was the purpose of this entire post. Schedule would look like this if it goes into affect: 1st Saturday - M&G on A Surface 2nd Saturday - M&G on A Underdark/Underport 3rd Saturday - M&G on B Surface 4th Saturday - M&G on B Underdark.
Second trick is the time. Evening for each hemisphere means a team of players or DMs that would be there at that time. Again, just a thought and like other things, simply one player's opinion.
Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Location: On a Disk, carried by four elephants, which stand on a gigantic turtle.
I'd like to attend, but I probably won't. Mostly because I get the feeling it will be around 6am Sunday forme, and I'm not getting up at 6am on a Sunday morning to play NWN.
_________________ I keels u with my axe!
"Do ye know where the Holy-Flamin' Frost-brand Gronk-slayin' Vorpal Hammer o' woundin' an' returnin' an' Shootin'-Lightnin'-out-yer-bum is?"
Joined: 17 Feb 2007 Location: Patrollink ze borderz! Wo ist das Hahn!?
Ah! Reading this topic is like a freakin' acid trip! Vanilla! VANILLA GOD DAMNIT!
Furthermore - I don't like the idea. It has merit, but I for one don't want to baby sit any newbies purely for the fact that they should be included in more RP.
I'm already baby-sitting half of Winya... And anyway, if you're new, you'll get involved - that's the development of character and comfortability. If someone wants to volunteer to take newbies around Amia on a tour, with a little seven carriage electric train painted in rainbow colors with a bold, capitalised font denoting "Amia's Tour Circuit", then go right ahead - But I will be the first to throw the hellball.
_________________ 'Ze Cock! Ze Cock ist shtill aut der!! Kapitulation feiern - NEIN DANKE!'
Well the point of the previous posts saying 'volunteers' and not 'mandatory' is that it would be a volunteer based service. Also in the interest of drawing in new players, thank you for the heads up that their first tour of Amia would likely include a hell ball.
Seriously, if you didn't like the idea, why did you post at all? Simply not participating in it would have sufficed without need to include IC promises of destroying a party your PC neither knows or has met.
Also it wasn't intended to be a hand holding. Just advertised gatherings of locals at pubs on surface or below at certain times on the weekends. Something offered that players with busy schedules could attempt to make plans or arrangements for.
Who shows up would depend on who comes, be they new players or old ones. Also the attitudes of those who would volunteer would again, depend on the PC. I wouldn't expect a Drow or Banite to show up with candy and kisses just because it's a new player.
Frankly that's condescending and attempting to tell someone else how to RP their PC. If the greeters are darlings or dastards, it depends still on who wishes to participate. If you don't wish to, you don't -have- to.
Organizing my weekends to volunteer some of my lower PCs. Any other players that do have an interest in this, please shoot me a PM or post here and I will try to see what can be arranged. Since I work from home, my schedule is less fluxy than those in school or out of home jobs.
Going to shoot for the first pub crawl in November after speaking with a few players new to Amia that liked this idea. On a personal note, I'm rather saddened that existing players did not see even a slight merit in something that would help new or yet to be players feel more comfortable with coming in and -staying- in.
It is a good initiative and I encourage it. So long as it remains completely IC.
If you think of Amia as the island that has so much opportunity for adventure and that it attracts adventuring types from near and far, it is not at all out of the ordinary for a small group of people to act as stewards towards these incoming adventurers. It was a role Cordor used to fill before the change in government and the rise of people who have a bone to pick with adventurers due to past problems, so now the door is wide open for individuals to take that opportunity.
I call it an opportunity because networking on its own merit is a boon.
heres a link to a group that gathers once a week that ive been participating in. Its based entirely on B. New players/people are more than welcome to join, though by now they would need to have a few lvls as weve been doing this for a few weeks. please note, the time has recently been changed from wednesday to thursday, as shown in the first post of the first link. so ignore the title that ways wednesday night group.
Thank you Nameless! The group by Melf is one that I meant by player initiative to get in new players or at least do activities on B. ^_^ Though those links help as well.
Trying to arrange something that looks feasible for both my home and work life since I work two jobs though my weekends are very light and open and the second job is way more flexible than the first. Still that only covers half a time slot.
Will include the links for Melf's group and the M&G when I post on the two sites I'm thinking of for advertising this.
_________________ GM "Roll a new sheet, you died for blasphemy." P1 "Was the comment he made that bad?" *dice roll for chart* GM "A Sun elf dry-humping the temple statue of Lloth during worship." P1 "...so new character you say?"
November 7th - Amia Island ((Server IP: 64.25.87.18:5121)) - Bad Dragon Inn (time to be determined)
"Come have a cold ale and listen to a hot-tempered cook flay something more than the roast! Passage can be booked with Captain Guston at the docks. Salty fisherman can tell you more about isle they live in and supply food to!"
November 14th - Amia Island ((Server IP: 64.25.87.18:5121)) - Gates of Elysium
"Jabaress, it was said that there was a pilgrimage being made by new blood from abroad. Their boat is said by our spies to arrive at Underport upon this day and around this time." "You will keep me informed about them of course." *knows when he is not being asked a question and simply bows* "Of course jabaress. What reaches my ears will find your own without delay." "As it should be. Dismissed."
November 21st - Amia ABroad ((Server IP: 64.25.87.18:5122)) - Noway Inn (ttbd)
"Noway Inn, serving the finest ale in all of Ruathym! Come try some and hear our bard perform his evening medley this evening. He's a tale or two about local rumors of pirates, demons and a local island where not a soul has returned from in the last half decade."
November 28th - Amia Abroad ((Server IP: 64.25.87.18:5122)) - L'obsul
"There is something coming." "What is it?" "The passage to the surface has shown movement of late. Some-one's- coming." "Where are they?" "They've gone for now but I heard them say they'd come exploring...." "What!? When?!" "Don't know! Sometime in the next few days or something. You go look if you want to know so badly!" *scuffling ensues*
((When I can figure out a good time on Saturdays and get other reliable 'hosts' if something crops up irl for me, then this will be posted in the bioware boards and neverwinter connections as well as other nwn server boards that can be found.))
Last edited by colanah on Thu, Oct 22 2009, 1:27 AM, edited 1 time in total.
Joined: 06 Jan 2008 Location: ANU, behind the coffee mug (+10 GMT)
Care to put times up? Saturday is roughly 48 hours long travelling from one timezone to another (i.e. when it starts for Aussies and Kiwis to when it ends for Americans)
_________________ 2009's Second Most Overall Contributing Player
Still trying to figure out the time to do those Yurell, so that they would allow overlap for each side of the hemi if at all possible. That or reknown UD/surface players that are on the otherside of the hemi might be able to take part in the M&Gs as well.
The other thing is that a gathering would be needed either IG briefly in the entry or we'd (by we it is meant the 'tour guides' and I use this term very loosely. Not every guide will be the same and the M&Gs themselves might not be done with good IC intentions, which as it should be to reflect irl/ig motives) need to figure a way/place to chat OOC (likely Gamespy chat) briefly to figure out who has a specialty in which place.
Although learning about an unexplored map together is awesome yes. The goal is just to show the new players around ICly but if each person (going with the presumption more than one host will arrive) has conflicting ideas of where to go, it could result in an IC argument without really going anywhere.
...then again that sounds like fun and something funny. Tavern brawl!!! J/k ....possibly. >.> <.<.....
_________________ GM "Roll a new sheet, you died for blasphemy." P1 "Was the comment he made that bad?" *dice roll for chart* GM "A Sun elf dry-humping the temple statue of Lloth during worship." P1 "...so new character you say?"
Saturdays around 2am GMT. This is subject to change as I can get a viewing of the bloody aftermath known as Daylight Savings for certain areas/countries.
XD Those who have been interested in assisting me with this, please send a tell or a PM in regards to it so that we can meet up if possible a few days prior. Godo this includes you as well as anyone else wishing to participate.
The other thing for Participation, those on the other side of the world Can and Should post something similar for those in their time zones to do as well!! We're not forgetting our minority time zone players. We love you too!!
This isn't just my idea, it's an idea for helping Amia. Anyone England/Aussie side that thinks it has merit is not only free to run similar in their time zones but also encouraged to do so fully!! Please yes do!!
_________________ GM "Roll a new sheet, you died for blasphemy." P1 "Was the comment he made that bad?" *dice roll for chart* GM "A Sun elf dry-humping the temple statue of Lloth during worship." P1 "...so new character you say?"
I think you actually mean Sunday at 2 am GMT. Which makes it Saturday evening in North & South America.
I'm available for an hour or so around that time. Not that I know where the Bad Dragon Inn is.
EDIT: Is that in Uhm?
_________________ ~Sharess on AmiaWiki~ Priestess, politician, prostitute "[They] were moving in on me like Sharessans on a new broad in the bath house" - Tracer Bolt AmiaWiki mod (mostly inactive)
Alright, I kind of need a listing of other places to post about this. Any one have any ideas? Also going to be re-wording these for NWC scheduled games. So far seen a few new players as an end result but a few more couldn't hurt.
Heehee.
_________________ GM "Roll a new sheet, you died for blasphemy." P1 "Was the comment he made that bad?" *dice roll for chart* GM "A Sun elf dry-humping the temple statue of Lloth during worship." P1 "...so new character you say?"
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Guides. This would not just be for nature folks so don't think I'm biased, but also those players who have PCs that are wonderful host(ess)s or even ICly would be the kind to keep an eye out for 'fresh meat'.
How would this all be explained IC? I have no idea, that's for sure.
