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Would it be possible to have new characters start with a blessing from the origin stone -- I was thinking that at level 1 they would gain a ten in each stat (twenty in constitution).

Each level, this bonus would decrease by 1 for each stat and by 2 for constitution until it reached zero bonus at level 10. Characters would still choose their bonus stat allocation to allow for differentiation. However, this would give new players more baseline health and energy as well as practices to ensure that they are not completely gimped should they choose a high wisdom, charisma, dexterity or strength score. This would give all characters some additional practices, health, and energy at low levels which I think would help acclimate characters to the world. Then, by level ten they can hopefully start to purchase some of their own equipment to replace these bonuses.

The goal with this suggestion is to help with new player retention and provide a softer landing into the world. Previously created characters could perhaps receive a one-time set of practices and energy/health bumps to compensate?

Suppose these boosts were sign-up specials which we run from the FB page, Twitter feed, etc.? "Sign up now, receive 20 bonus Reward Points" - which can then be traded for temporary stat boosts?

What do you think?

That is a good idea. Would it be possible to include more of a tutorial for new players to use those RP points specifically for the attribute boosts rather than dinars or practices?

New players often fail to grasp the importance of intelligence and constitution at early levels.

When I started playing my first character earlier this year, experienced players were rarely online when I was. When I returned to the game this month, some experienced players have been online regularly. They gave me a lot of help, including advice (e.g. where to get dinars safely), items (stat boosting armor, herb sachets), and adventuring with me my first time in the spider forest.

Largely because of the help I got from experienced players, my second character leveled up much more quickly than my first. More importantly, I leveled up with significant intelligence boosts in effect, which gave me a lot more skill practices.

For players who are new to the game, and log on when experienced players aren't around, it would be good to have a bit more signposting to warn people away from newbie mistakes (e.g. leveling with no int-boosting items). Unless having a game with a steep learning curve is the goal?

I hear ya.

The design thinking behind TC was always to privilege the kind of social interaction and mutual help you point to. it's possible to thrive in TC as a lone wolf - I'll cite Chiensha as prime example - but much easier when there are experienced folks online to help you. Although there's a lot of lore here in the fora, the best of it is passed on orally - along with material help.

One thought might be to have the Central Computer share advice to newbies. "You're sure you want to level now? If you wear more ruby things, you'll receive more practices." There's already intervention from on high to suggest to noobs that exploring NE at level 2 is probably not optimal. That could be expanded.

What would be a way of making it interesting?

It's out of character for the CC to be non-sarcastic. The three godlets will only help after level 10. Who should the newbie helper be? Maybe Dorothy from the tutorial can chime up with suggestions?

I wonder if there's a way to keep privileging social play while providing a somewhat gentler learning curve to players who start the game when no one experienced is around.

It's very hard for new players to find money (at least it was for me), so telling them to wear more ruby things would probably just be frustrating. But maybe there could be a gentle hint to help them find a less powerful intelligence boost to use while leveling.

When players hit level 2, it might help to suggest that they could learn interesting things in the NW plaza. It took me forever to realize how important it is to explore that plaza thoroughly.

I like the idea of being adopted by an NPC.

Maybe a Spirit Guide?

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SmartMonsters' Bulletin Boards
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