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Newbie spawn area

Discussion in 'New Player Discussions' started by Conners, May 30, 2011.

  1. Conners

    Conners Member

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    I'm just wondering if there is a certain place newcomers spawn? can they pick where they go?
    I know that one spawned at Courageous Firebase Acadamy.
    As a guess I'd say they can spawn at any firebase acadamy. But any clarification would be appreciated.

    Amazing job to the team getting it launched so quickly! It is truly an amazing place!!
    I love it :)
    Conners
     
  2. Faye

    Faye Member Pro Users

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    They spawn at NINE academies all around the planet. Couragous being one of them

    oh and this was comfirmed by David in pm chat =)
     
  3. Conners

    Conners Member

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    ok sweet :) thanks very much
     
  4. David | Arkadia

    David | Arkadia Administrator Staff Member PAF Administrator Planet Arkadia Official

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    Glad you're enjoying the planet Conners.

    Currently the new players spawn randomly through the 9 academy's. We are working to have this changed to 3 primary locations with the others as back up. There are a number of reasons why we have designed the planet this way. Firstly it does make it difficult for any scammers to camp the new player area, more importantly, when a server gets too busy, a new player is bumped to another server - we want every new player to be guaranteed they receive the proper training. Our marketing is likely to create some big spikes in sign ups, you only need about 20-30 people running around the academy to make it feel busy - imagine if there were 200 or even 500 all trying to do the training in that area at the same time - would cause the new players to have a lessened first impression.

    The design also ensures a new player can spot a place of refuge (under any of the 9 ships) when they are out there exploring.

    What do you think of the whole design of having 9 academy's, of the missions themselves?
     
  5. MrJoey

    MrJoey Member

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    Did the Newcomers came from Genesis? ... if not there should be a basic guide for sweating (or similar free possibility to gather some PED) and maybe a spot where sweater meet up.

    9 Bases seams to much .. 1-3 sounds ok even it depends hard on how many ppl join. I was guiding for Calypso some month after CE2, sometimes it was boring like hell.. sometimes there where too much ppl.
     
  6. Milena

    Milena Adviser Pro Users Arkadia Adviser

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    it is always good to have resources in the back ;) I remember the confusion as ie the new ones where spawning on TI and other places with no help around , that was the reason for recruting the guides if i remember right ;)

    Arkadia have alot place to catch them up all with the same start terms so you are ready to handle alot of newcomers at the same time , in my opinion it will work fine
     
  7. Hyssch

    Hyssch Active Member

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    With 9 Academy's for newcomers, I would prefer 3 or 4.

    Reason behind this? Newcomers would get support from other newcomers + other more experienced players. Now they're spread across the continent.


    -- Hyssch --
     
  8. MindStar9

    MindStar9 Deactivated User

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    I really love the idea of multiple training camps, and while 9 may be too many, I agree that 3-4 might be a good starting point as primary spawning locations, and then have the others as backup, because as you say ... your marketing efforts may very well find us inundated with new players, and every new player should have an opportunity to succeed in learning and navigating the planet ... not to mention the consideration being given to lessening the load on a server and making it more cumbersome for all players.

    I think you've done an amazing job with the thought you've given to new players, and it shows the amount of detail that is important to you as a developer. You have a second-step mentality that future thinks about "what if" ... and then respond with a functioning system that pretty much covers the intended end result.

    I'm grinning from ear-to-ear, and patiently waiting to see what else you introduce to us. :)
     
  9. Lee DeLioncourt

    Lee DeLioncourt Arkadian Outrider Platinum Member

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    I too thought 9 was too much at first, but this was based on what we were used to on other planets. I see the logic of it now though, and think the idea to have 3-4 main spawn points with the rest as back up for when there are influxes is actually ideal, well thought out, and hopefully will provide a much smoother newcomer experience :)
     
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  10. Larkin

    Larkin Platinum Member Staff Member PAF Senior Mod Platinum Member

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    Well as David said, he would like to make there be 3 main academies with the others as back up for spikes in newcomer arrivals. I think this is a good idea.

    If/when this change occurs David, are you able to let us know which ones are the main arrival areas? (for those who want to be at the right locations to help the newcomers?)
     
  11. David | Arkadia

    David | Arkadia Administrator Staff Member PAF Administrator Planet Arkadia Official

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    Just to clarify, there are 9 Academy's in total. 3 for Primary and 6 as back up. As you'll see from the design, the area with the teleporter and command post operates the same as any other firebase so is perfectly functional for players to use. Simply put, it adds no inconvenience to anyone but guarantees a player cannot arrive from Genesis without getting training. It creates a safe place to go and every Academy has some new player friendly spawns of Oro and Halix nearby.

    If a new player is looking for something to do, maybe suggest they go exploring and find all the Academy's - with the IFN ships being visible in game from 7km away it makes it fairly easy and then they'll know lots of areas they can return to. Hmmmm, might have to make that a new mission in a future update.

    What is very important to remember is that it's not about a server being full of new players. A server could be full of existing players and that will cause a single new player to be spawned elsewhere.

    All new players first start out on Arkadia Genesis before they arrive on the planet. That is where they learn about movement, communication, clothing etc. the missions on the planet are designed as a continuation of that.

    The fact we have no sweating mission is not a mistake or an oversight. Arkadia is not marketed as a free to play game, it is marketed as free to download and explore, deposit to purchase items. Sweating has certainly not been removed from the planet, however it is not a part of the standard training. I know some people will disagree with the approach and that's ok, I just wanted it to be known there is a reason behind the way things are made.
     
  12. Amber Knightley

    Amber Knightley Member

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    Haven't come here yet myself so don't know how it works, but as long as you can complete the missions on any of the 9 locations I think it would be nice. If you tp away and forgot what firebase you got the mission at or find a friend that you do it with on another location.
    Might not be relevant but since it sounds like the same mission then I think it would be nice to be able to finish them where ever.
    Or maybe even have them to visit 3 of the firebases to be able to finish the mission?

    yes!
     
  13. David | Arkadia

    David | Arkadia Administrator Staff Member PAF Administrator Planet Arkadia Official

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    All the new player Academy missions have been linked so someone can start at one academy and complete somewhere else. Took a lot of work to get it all set up this way.
     
  14. chevrons

    chevrons Member

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  15. Amber Knightley

    Amber Knightley Member

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    Cool, my contributions to this thread are officially nullified.
    Good work!
     
  16. nahtanos

    nahtanos Member

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    Awesome! was wondering about all the firebases as well...lol sounds like a great idea...and missions to collect tp's/firebases would be a great idea as well...good free mission for new players to accomplish...^^

    Also agree with the idea of not having sweating as a main focus...it seems to me (and I may be wrong here) that the majority of players that stick around are depositors anyway...with a few trying prove a point by not depositing...people coming into the game knowing they will likely need to deposit at least a little to start out is more realistic and less likely to cause false hopes...

    I can't wait to see what's next...^_^
     
  17. Adamas

    Adamas Member

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    These are the kinds of answers that made me come to arkadia in the first place. This Company and the people who work there are honest, upfront, and informative. This answer is worth about 10 answers from other PPs.
     
  18. bass

    bass Member

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    I find this very honest, and we all know it's the way things work, even on other planet. Despite what people say.

    So, thumb up from me.
     
  19. Milena

    Milena Adviser Pro Users Arkadia Adviser

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    thats much more realistic as i ever heard in the whole universe ;)
    no one will come and expect he get something for free (maybe this will stop begging a bit)......everyone has the chance to have a look, can decide it is worth to depo or not....and he can sweat anyway if he want...pretty good....another good idea from the A-Team in my opinion.....only thing....what is with MF then ? but time will show im sure :)
     
  20. Lee DeLioncourt

    Lee DeLioncourt Arkadian Outrider Platinum Member

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    Thanks for all the info in that post above David, it does sound very well thought out, and yes, the approach to the marketing and the sweating idea I find a lot more honest and I applaud you for that one in particular.