Ensuring good rookie player experience

**Wyzcrak** · 01-03-2013, 03:18 AM

I've put on the server my attempt to enable the best "new player" experience for SMs, regulars, and rookies. The solution never kicks a rookie that's already playing on the server (although they remain vulnerable to reserved slots like any other non-SM).

Anytime the server already has both 10+ players and 4+ rookies, any rookie attempting to join the server will be refused entry, much like reserved slots refuses entry when the server is "full". Like reserved slots or any other kick operation, this regrettably remains a confusing and disorienting experience for the incoming player.

Also, I've modified the admin random command such that it tries to distribute rookies across the two teams evenly.

The idea is to welcome new players at a rate that enables us best to help them learn the game. Four of sixteen is twenty-five percent, which is a healthy percentage of a full server devoted to new players.

Please report plugin defects.

Please share constructive feedback.

**solarity** · 01-03-2013, 12:04 PM

While I like the idea, though this brings the ethical question should we really list our server as a rookie friendly server? We are only friendly up to a point, which I guess many other servers are as well that aren't listed as rookie friendly. Though can Rookies join those servers that are not listed as rookie friendly? Also are supporting members that are rookies immune?

**Wyzcrak** · 01-03-2013, 12:18 PM

SMs are immune.

The NS2 client will allow a rookie to join any server.

A green server listing doesn't tell you whether you'll be allowed to join the server (sadly, nor does slot count). It tells you how you'll be treated once you're there. Insofar as we'll be treating rookies hospitably, let's stay green. If the rookie inbounding experience gets painful enough, I'll work to (somehow) make it more informative for the rejected.

**micr0c0sm** · 01-03-2013, 01:44 PM

I like this a lot. With only a few rookies on the server at a time, regulars can be more attentive and helpful, which is a much more successful tactic in growing TGNS for the long term.

+1 on keeping the rookie friendly flag - it's welcoming to new players and serves as a reminder to regulars to be friendly, patient and helpful.

**solarity** · 01-03-2013, 01:50 PM

Again I am not against it, but trying to be the devils advocate. Getting kicked can be taken very personally, it is one thing to tell someone because of reserved slots, as reserved slots is how we help to pay the bills. It is another thing to tell them because you are a rookie on a rookie "friendly" server. Sometimes good intentions can go very wrong, would like to avoid that. Again I am all for it, just more so questioning the "rookie friendly status".

**Wyzcrak** · 01-03-2013, 02:41 PM

You're good to think things through so thoroughly, solarity. I take that mental posture constantly when I'm designing this stuff. To be sure, I overlook stuff. Also, I make poor judgment sometimes regarding things I do think to consider.

We'll definitely update this thing's design in response to major problems. I'm content at the moment to play this out for a bit and see what happens.

**solarity** · 01-03-2013, 04:43 PM

Wyz you are talking to someone who has had a lot of experience of putting his foot in his mouth

Also feel free to disregard, just playing devils advocate.

**verbose** · 01-03-2013, 08:59 PM

This is a really tough balance. On the one hand, (this is point "1") you don't want to risk alienating new players. On the other (point "2"), you want to do everything to ensure a good experience for those rookies who have already arrived; Give them the "TG" experience.

I think the potential damage from #1 is relatively small compared to the great benefits for #2. New players probably aren't going to read too much into a server rejecting them the instant they join. Getting kicked after being online for 30 minutes is much more jarring.

**Wyzcrak** · 01-03-2013, 09:13 PM

I do see the damage in point 1, and I am banking on the great benefits of point 2.

Time will tell. I'm receptive.

**CingularDuality** · 01-03-2013, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by Wyzcrak

I do see the damage in point 1, and I am banking on the great benefits of point 2.

Time will tell. I'm receptive.

I think we'll all profit from your investment!

**solarity** · 01-04-2013, 12:05 AM

On mine shaft the 3 or 4 rookies on our team "disappeared" all at once. I am guessing it was from this mod as it is very unlikely they all quit at the same time. This made us forfeit the game, their was no winner in the game at that time. It seemed to occur when Wyz joined the game, so I don't know if a 8v8 w/ a lot of rookies triggered it by a SM joining. When we got sent back to the ready game after the forfeit, their were no rookies (Greens) at all.

**Wyzcrak** · 01-04-2013, 01:11 AM

The plugin kicks only players attempting to join the server. I can't explain what you observed, and I'm eager to hear more about future events.

**Yellow-Asterisk** · 01-13-2013, 09:05 AM

I like the logic of the plugin currently and agree with benefits to new players.

But, i must ask. Is there any evidence that new players even pay attention to the rookie flag? If rookies don't pay attention and more seasoned players avoid rookie friendly servers, we may be shooting ourselves in the foot by staying green.

Also, how long do people stay rookies?