Re: adding a new-player help file

**ImAWuss** · 02-25-2007, 01:46 PM

I think that verbally explaining things to people might be the best approach. That's how I was taught here at TG. MOST people aren't going to read through text to figure something out. Perhaps a simple text to ?'s... "If you are new to the game, let someone know. We'd like to help you understand the game so that you can contribute to your team!"

Certainly, insisting that someone go to the NS website to read the manual is NOT the best approach. First, people don't like manuals. Second, it comes off as "I don't care to teach you. Go read the manual, and you can be pro like me." And that's just not the TGNS way.

**yeh.j2** · 02-25-2007, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by ImAWuss

I think that verbally explaining things to people might be the best approach. That's how I was taught here at TG. MOST people aren't going to read through text to figure something out. Perhaps a simple text to ?'s... "If you are new to the game, let someone know. We'd like to help you understand the game so that you can contribute to your team!"

Certainly, insisting that someone go to the NS website to read the manual is NOT the best approach. First, people don't like manuals. Second, it comes off as "I don't care to teach you. Go read the manual, and you can be pro like me." And that's just not the TGNS way.

You're missing the essential point. I'll give an example:

New player doesn't know where "x" location is and certainly doesn't know there is a map in the game (since he hasn't looked through a manual or even looked through default binds). He doesn't know to ask how to look at the map, since he doesn't know a map exists. So yes, you can tutor him by saying "look at your map; it's "y" key". However, that only solves sheds light on one problem. You don't teach the very basics of chess by saying "that's a pawn, it moves straight" and assume they know the rest.

Better would be to have a short list of essential things that would take, at most, ONE MINUTE to read (the length is pretty key; we're not writing a manual, just a short list). Then, a new player can ask someone on the server "ok the list said something about a map, i don't get it" since he now knows how to use chat thanks to the list, and any friendly fellow can lecture him further on the nuances of using the map, or what have you.

Half of education is knowing the right questions. The list sets this up for new players. Likewise, knowing that the new player at least supposedly read the list makes it easier for the instructor to have some knowledge about the new player's knowledge, i.e. "ok so you saw there's a map and it's bind; what's the question?".

**ImAWuss** · 02-25-2007, 07:30 PM

yea.j2, if your willing to draft the text for the 'helpme' commands, then I will take the time to code this plugin. I'd like to take into account the class that they are, as Wyz stated here: http://www.tacticalgamer.com/648691-post4.html I think if we be specific as possible with the helpme command, the more informative it can be.

light marine types 'helpme' in console: general help, and light marine help displays.
heavy types 'helpme' in console: general help, and heavy marine help displays.
anyone types helpme class in console: only class help displays.

I think if we break it down, more information can be provided.

**Kerostasis** · 02-26-2007, 12:16 PM

One comment:

We plan to put this text in the console so it doesn't obscure their game view right? While a player is focused on reading their console, they tend to miss things such as chat messages warning them to "communicate or be kicked".

So you should be able to read the whole thing in less than the patience limit of the average GB-wielder.

That means a focus on asking the new player to talk to his team and ask for details that couldn't fit in the short help file.

**yeh.j2** · 02-27-2007, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by Kerostasis

One comment:

We plan to put this text in the console so it doesn't obscure their game view right? While a player is focused on reading their console, they tend to miss things such as chat messages warning them to "communicate or be kicked".

So you should be able to read the whole thing in less than the patience limit of the average GB-wielder.

That means a focus on asking the new player to talk to his team and ask for details that couldn't fit in the short help file.

Kero gets it, as far as what I would like.

Ok a first draft then...

/*************************************************
Essential Notes on NS
1. BINDS. Look under OPTIONS to change your binds. Knowing your binds is required to do anything.
2. COMMUNICATION. Ask questions in chat (see OPTIONS:KEYBOARD; default t). If you are not sure what to do, please ask.
3. TEAMWORK. Teamwork follows from communication and listening. Without teamwork, you will lose.
4. MAP (see OPTIONS:KEYBOARD; default c). Important points are named on the map, and enemy/friendly players will show up as well. Use your map often.
5. MARINES. If you are new to marines, follow around a more experienced player. Ask how to "build", "weld", and use "phase gates". Look at your map frequently.
6. ALIENS. If you are new to aliens, be a "gorge". A gorge is the builder unit on aliens. Ask what you should build and where to build it; locations are labeled on the map. Gorges are not offensive units, so stay out of danger.
7. COMMUNICATION. Yes, this is listed twice. It is that important. If you have any questions, keep asking till you get an answer.

Helpful Extras:
A. Headphones/Speakers. Hopefully you have these, since many players use a microphone.
B. Skills. Improve your skills as an alien by playing CO (Combat), a different form of NS. The penalty for dying as lerk/fade/onos in NS is severe; in CO it is not.
C. Resource Towers. Res towers are the backbone of NS. Protecting your team's res towers and destroying the enemy team's res towers is very important. Look at your map to locate res tower locations and try to go to those places with a teammate.
D. Other tips. For a more complete guide, look at naturalselection.com, where you can find pictoral guides to NS's units, weapons, and structures.
*************************************************/

**Yoshi MCF** · 02-27-2007, 11:56 PM

Originally Posted by yeh.j2

Kero gets it, as far as what I would like.

Ok a first draft then...

/*************************************************
Essential Notes on NS
1. BINDS. Look under OPTIONS to change your binds. Knowing your binds is required to do anything.
2. COMMUNICATION. Ask questions in chat (see OPTIONS:KEYBOARD; default t). If you are not sure what to do, please ask.
3. TEAMWORK. Teamwork follows from communication and listening. Without teamwork, you will lose.
4. MAP (see OPTIONS:KEYBOARD; default c). Important points are named on the map, and enemy/friendly players will show up as well. Use your map often.
5. MARINES. If you are new to marines, follow around a more experienced player. Ask how to "build", "weld", and use "phase gates". Look at your map frequently.
6. ALIENS. If you are new to aliens, be a "gorge". A gorge is the builder unit on aliens. Ask what you should build and where to build it; locations are labeled on the map. Gorges are not offensive units, so stay out of danger.
7. COMMUNICATION. Yes, this is listed twice. It is that important. If you have any questions, keep asking till you get an answer.

Helpful Extras:
A. Headphones/Speakers. Hopefully you have these, since many players use a microphone.
B. Skills. Improve your skills as an alien by playing CO (Combat), a different form of NS. The penalty for dying as lerk/fade/onos in NS is severe; in CO it is not.
C. Resource Towers. Res towers are the backbone of NS. Protecting your team's res towers and destroying the enemy team's res towers is very important. Look at your map to locate res tower locations and try to go to those places with a teammate.
D. Other tips. For a more complete guide, look at naturalselection.com, where you can find pictoral guides to NS's units, weapons, and structures.
*************************************************/

Some suggestions:
Refer to binds as "controls" or at least "keybindings". To a complete noob, the word binds might not have much meaning.
Headphones/speakers: Not just a good idea, but MANDATORY - communication is a mandatory part of playing on TG, and sound is a prerequisite to that.

Also, would it be possible to broadcast a message to anyone with gb access when a ? uses this command? It would be nice to see who may need help learning the game, and it also will remove Kero's concern.

**aeroripper** · 02-28-2007, 04:53 AM

I like the idea of having a /tghelp command. Just food for thought:

Have the '/tghelp' command shown to question mark players in their chat (it would appear in white). If they typed it it would show some basic stuff like has been listed here, especially the parts about communication and asking your team with questions.

/rules for general rules
/tghelp for more indepth info people will need to know at TG (short, could come up on screen like /rules does, but make it appear in white so its very noticeable).
/rateshelp for default rates\abnormal

hmm

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