Newbie Zone – Training Area

[Treyorn]

Well the level 30+ zone I am creating is actually coming a long quite well but it dawned on me tonight that the introduction into the game is pretty awful. I would like to take on the challenge of creating a zone to introduce the game to players. A lot of the systems might be similar to other MUDs but Zusuk and Ornir have created some really amazing systems that are unique and definitely have a learning curve. Obviously like most MUDs, the newbie zone can be completely optional, but having something in place is needed.

I am starting this post to get some ideas from anyone regarding what should be in the zone.

1st Major Question – Do we include a intro to MUDs tutorial? How to move, equip, etc… or just skip that and focus on LuminariMUD stuff? My vote is no on this.

Here is my plan so far:

-Introduction to Trainer to explain: Feats, Practice, Train, Boost so they can immediately increase their starting stats/skills/spells.
-Introduction to Leveling System/Multiclassing
-Introduction to Crafting Kit -BASICS to get started. Resizing etc.
-Introduction to Study/Memorize/Forget/Spells
-Introduction to Quest Masters (Will have a small zone with easy enemies with 3 basic quests (Go Kill Something, Bring Something Back, Find Room). A nice newbie item for completing all three.
-Introduction to Teleporter (which won’t last forever) and World Map (Wilderness)
-Introduction to Epic Races/Remort or Reincarnation

What I need is to finish this list and get ideas from everyone who has played the game more than I have. I have spent a lot of time building and maybe not enough playing to fully grasp all of the features which is why I will need help from the coders who have made or worked on these features and the players that have experienced them. This will be an ongoing project that will likely take a long time as I will probably continue to work on “The Ordinary Well” at the same time. Any help, comments, ideas or anything would be appreciated.

Treyorn

[Ornir Elunari]

Hi Trey, great idea.

1st Major Question – Do we include a intro to MUDs tutorial? How to move, equip, etc… or just skip that and focus on LuminariMUD stuff? My vote is no on this.

I think we should focus on LuminariMUD stuff, but there should be some basic help files that describe how to move, equip, flee, kill, etc. along with a direction to HELP MUD in the MOTD (at a minimum).

Introduction to Trainer to explain: Feats, Practice, Train, Boost so they can immediately increase their starting stats/skills/spells.

Yes, but know this is changing now. Practice is going away and ‘study’ is taking center stage here – Skills are going away (abilities are actually skills) and Feats are coming into the picture. This will complicate the level gaining procedure and simplify all of the book keeping.

-Introduction to Leveling System/Multiclassing
-Introduction to Crafting Kit -BASICS to get started. Resizing etc.
-Introduction to Study/Memorize/Forget/Spells
-Introduction to Quest Masters (Will have a small zone with easy enemies with 3 basic quests (Go Kill Something, Bring Something Back, Find Room). A nice newbie item for completing all three.
-Introduction to Teleporter (which won’t last forever) and World Map (Wilderness)
-Introduction to Epic Races/Remort or Reincarnation

Yes.

What I need is to finish this list and get ideas from everyone who has played the game more than I have. I have spent a lot of time building and maybe not enough playing to fully grasp all of the features which is why I will need help from the coders who have made or worked on these features and the players that have experienced them. This will be an ongoing project that will likely take a long time as I will probably continue to work on “The Ordinary Well” at the same time. Any help, comments, ideas or anything would be appreciated.

That is a pretty complete list – I would stick with that until we have figured out what is going on with feats/study/skills/abilities.

A focus on some of the more interesting skills/spells might be nice, as a way to showcase some of the features.

You are right, this is sorely needed, and thanks for picking up the reigns on this Treyorn.

– Ornir Elunari

[Treyorn]

Any ideas for setting? Races of NPCs? Within Ashenport – seperate realm?

Portals to sections of the training zone? Doors?

[Shadorn]

I think this is a great idea. When I first started, I spent maybe hour or so just reading help files and it help that I have experience playing on MUD. But for someone who is either new to MUD or have little experience will be turned off with little to lacking interactive tutorials or similar.

As for races, since new players will be of various of races so humans might be best as they are most tolerated to diversity of races compared to other races.

For setting, I know this might be cliche but some kind of island and after complete the tutorial sail to the main land?

Oh, one big thing that always catch me when playing casters is different keyword to prepare spells, like pray for cleric, adjure for ranger, memorize for wizard, etc. Should be some class-specific tutorials which help with class only abilities. Such as call companion for ranger/druid, prepare spells for each spell caster class, etc.

Edit 11/22/2013: Added idea

[boom]

@Shadorn wrote:

I think this is a great idea. When I first started, I spent maybe hour or so just reading help files and it help that I have experience playing on MUD. But for someone who is either new to MUD or have little experience will be turned off with little to lacking interactive tutorials or similar.

As for races, since new players will be of various of races so humans might be best as they are most tolerated to diversity of races compared to other races.

For setting, I know this might be cliche but some kind of island and after complete the tutorial sail to the main land?

Oh, one big thing that always catch me when playing casters is different keyword to prepare spells, like pray for cleric, adjure for ranger, memorize for wizard, etc. Should be some class-specific tutorials which help with class only abilities. Such as call companion for ranger/druid, prepare spells for each spell caster class, etc.

Edit 11/22/2013: Added idea

I had no MUD experience before this mud. I really had no clue what i was doing before I started playing. I believe there should be a tutorial zone possibly. I don’t know really about code or anything, but a zone would be nice that newbies could teleport to with characters that say how to do different things. I cool idea would be almost like a classroom setting with a “teacher” that you can ask questions and the teacher will explain it to you. Again i don’t really know the amount of code that goes into making a zones or anything but this seems like a good idea.

Thanks for helping me with all of my questions

[Treyorn]

I had no MUD experience before this mud. I really had no clue what i was doing before I started playing. I believe there should be a tutorial zone possibly. I don’t know really about code or anything, but a zone would be nice that newbies could teleport to with characters that say how to do different things. I cool idea would be almost like a classroom setting with a “teacher” that you can ask questions and the teacher will explain it to you. Again i don’t really know the amount of code that goes into making a zones or anything but this seems like a good idea.

Thanks for helping me with all of my questions

I will add this in the zone for sure. The major priorities will be to having training on things that are custom to LuminariMUD as most people playing MUDs are not playing for their first time. After that is complete, I will add a basic MUD command tutorial. They will both be interactive. Thanks for joining us here. I’m glad you are enjoying MUDs.

[mosheh]

Hey I spoke to Trey on-line and he wanted me to share my idea on here.

So the ‘motvation’ for my idea is to really suck-in and engage new players into the world of Luminari.

So the idea is to take interesting points of Lore from our world and integrate them into a story that as the player plays through this introductory story, they are introduced to basics about the game AND basics about our Lore while truly engaging them in a story.

Thoughts? If people like this idea, I really think Taure/Ornir would be critical in helping craft a neutral story we can give all players to fulfill this goal.

-Zusuk

[boom]

@zusuk wrote:

Hey I spoke to Trey on-line and he wanted me to share my idea on here.

So the ‘motvation’ for my idea is to really suck-in and engage new players into the world of Luminari.

So the idea is to take interesting points of Lore from our world and integrate them into a story that as the player plays through this introductory story, they are introduced to basics about the game AND basics about our Lore while truly engaging them in a story.

Thoughts? If people like this idea, I really think Taure/Ornir would be critical in helping craft a neutral story we can give all players to fulfill this goal.

-Zusuk

That sounds amazing.

[Shadorn]

Story to introduce Luminari and MUD in general is best way, indeed. It will build the tone that you intend for MUD to take direction to.

[Treyorn]

@zusuk wrote:

Hey I spoke to Trey on-line and he wanted me to share my idea on here.

So the ‘motvation’ for my idea is to really suck-in and engage new players into the world of Luminari.

So the idea is to take interesting points of Lore from our world and integrate them into a story that as the player plays through this introductory story, they are introduced to basics about the game AND basics about our Lore while truly engaging them in a story.

Thoughts? If people like this idea, I really think Taure/Ornir would be critical in helping craft a neutral story we can give all players to fulfill this goal.

-Zusuk

I am going with this. I am actually creating the area on an island outside Ashenport and I have started building the zone. 14100 for Imms who want to check it out. The initial trigger will only activate when a character logs into the room but it will start a tutorial introduction to the game while following a story. It will likely be narrated by the guide who is teaching the game to the player. As the introduction goes on, it will become more and more interactive and the player will have increased freedom.

About the spell and skill system. I think the best way to do it is briefly touch on it in the introduction but have a small tutorial in each of the class guilds. Since the commands are so much different for each class, it would be a pain to try and do every class at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Thank you!

[mosheh]

Yeah I really like that idea…

Those that are familiar with Dragonlance for instance, and the wizard’s test at the tower of high sorcery… things like that where they have to play through a story/trial to learn their class would be awesomeeeeee

[Author]

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