|
Post by drunkensolamnic on Sept 7, 2016 8:07:59 GMT -5
So we've had a number of first-time players join us since launch and the one thing they all seem to have to say is that the tutorial is difficult or not fun for them. Most of us who were here for Beta had the chance to go through at least the sewers with another person, and even then it can still take upwards of two hours. I've had at least two people get to the tutorial and just say to hell with it and not follow through. Now, I don't know what we could do or might need to change to make this better and help folks not be put off.
The things that come to mind for me:
Some visual clues as to where to walk. It is very hard to find your own room, navigate around after the crash, etc. Possibly make the path through the sewer more direct. Maybe add an option where the guy that meets you outside of the sewer instead of letting you through, takes you to meet his boss or something and they pay you enough money to get started on the server in return for you telling them in detail as to what happened on the Titan?
|
|
|
Post by LokiHavok on Sept 7, 2016 10:32:24 GMT -5
Every new player I've referred to the game has said the exact same things. A good portion have gotten extremely frustrated, given up and simply never made it to the main world. I've heard it all, and even for those who've soldier'd to make it in here have said that it was overwhelming difficult and non-helpful. They wouldn't have even pressed on if they didn't know that there was more to the game beyond it.
I know alot of effort was put into it, but from what I've seen it only manages to turn new players off from server at large. Not to mention it takes far too long, is largely ignored as non-canon to their character, and is a solo experience.
I don't know if simply making it easier is the answer. No matter how it's done, it's still a 2-3 hour affair that detracts from what Engines really is. Overall, it doesn't even really represent it. The lore and atmosphere it's trying to convey could be expressed in many other ways. The mechanics, while unique, are simple to understand without instruction.
If there was a change, I'd be extremely confident that there would be a noticeable difference in attendance.
|
|
|
Post by electrohydra on Sept 7, 2016 10:33:07 GMT -5
Better lighting definitely seems like it should be a thing. Finding your way is hell until you get the nightvision potions.
|
|
|
Post by inflatablefriend on Sept 7, 2016 11:42:05 GMT -5
I'll stick my hand up as one of those who never made it past the tutorial.
It looks great and is very atmospheric but after getting machine gunned for the nth time I logged and never returned ig. I haunt your forums and stuff as I keep thinking about trying again.
That's without the ooc confusion of having such a dramatic origin.
|
|
|
Post by Lugwy on Sept 7, 2016 13:11:41 GMT -5
%skip bypasses the entire tutorial but you need a character who has already done it first.
During beta the only reason I made it through the armsmen was because they eventually bugged out and stayed blue. I fared better live but I had experience on my side; newbies don't have that and don't always have the patience.
A hint to give to newbies to be in stealth and use the platforms would help.
|
|
|
Post by Psionic-Entity on Sept 7, 2016 13:18:31 GMT -5
Skip has no requirement of having done the tutorial before. Usually on the beach I just go stealth and click on the door at the end, you don't need any special tactics.
|
|
|
Post by electrohydra on Sept 7, 2016 13:26:36 GMT -5
Yeah. Only thing is the cutscene brings you out of stealth, so you have to remember to turn it back on. Still, it's something.
|
|
|
Post by psykotech on Sept 7, 2016 13:40:55 GMT -5
It specifically tells you to sneak past the armsmen, and they have like -10000000 detect. You can walk in stealth next to all of them and not be detected. Now the rest of the tutorial does have some problems that frustrated me when i went through, but that part is identical to a lot of game tutorials where you can't progress till you understand a basic game function, in this case stealth.
Problems: -Lack of lighting till the torch. There are pitch-black areas before you can get any lightsource. -Bandits can be frustratingly difficult if you didnt choose the two-handed weapon. Especially the ones with armor, as if you went unarmed or dual-wield you do so little dmg per hit that they just laugh and beat you to death. -There is no guide whatsoever of where to go to get to your cabin room. it took me forever to figure out where to go.
|
|
|
Post by TheDullahan on Sept 7, 2016 13:45:32 GMT -5
Skip has no requirement of having done the tutorial before. Maybe this should be presented to people as they start the tutorial, that they can skip it at anytime by using the %skip command?
|
|
|
Post by LokiHavok on Sept 7, 2016 14:39:28 GMT -5
I heard that %skip will work if you've done it before. And that %skipprologue or something works if you haven't. Not sure how true that is, as I've not used them myself.
But it would definately help to have it known beforehand. Maybe an output text line or something when you begin the tut. Also a list of % commands would be very helpful as someone above suggested.
|
|
|
Post by Fuzz on Sept 7, 2016 18:37:41 GMT -5
One of the character creation screens could list it.
|
|
|
Post by Psionic-Entity on Sept 7, 2016 18:50:29 GMT -5
For now (ie. next update) I am going to add a few things.
- Message telling you to use stealth if you die to the armsman. - Much shorter first sewer area. - UI skip button on the character sheet.
|
|
|
Post by ronan on Sept 7, 2016 19:13:06 GMT -5
I chose to skip the tutorial as I had already completed it in beta. However when I did, it seemed to have disabled some of the tutorial dialogue (How to move, how to attack), but it still made me go through the titan crash / sewers / pass etc.
Is skip supposed to teleport you straight to the city?
|
|
|
Post by Psionic-Entity on Sept 7, 2016 21:23:41 GMT -5
That option just stops tutorial popups.
|
|
|
Post by Kitsunenotsume on Sept 7, 2016 21:26:36 GMT -5
There is "Skip tutorial dialogue" which is an option on the tutorial windows, and then there is "Skip the tutorial" which requires a command.
|
|