Starting Characters

[salesperson]

errrr, I made it to lv 50 on my first day, finding a fantastic trade route by accident and then being given knowledge of where to buy an AT from hockeymaster. you really don't need to go through a lot of effort to be a multimillionaire. Now, having enough cash to buy whatnut, I started exploring the map - and that'll probaby keep me occupied for another year  <):)

[HockeyMaster195]

Here here, listen to the smart man. Ask around, DO RESEARCH! I can not stress enough the need to do your own work. Researching a topic and asking around is not hard! Research can be exploring, asking for vague tips, etc.

[Black_Zero]

Well I'm so glad you two newbies have all the answers and know every possible level of player that might come here. You've never seen clueless players who can barely fly? I guess if someone can't make it and leaves he must be 'lazy' eh? Not 'worthy' to be on Void?

I know this Frobozz you're arguing with has been admin on multiple servers for years. Of course you know more than him dontcha?

[HockeyMaster195]

I dont understand why you have to be hostile about this at all...

Im merely stating that with a little work you can excell here at VOID. I was a 'completely clueless new player who could barely fly' when I DLed and Installed the VOID Mod too. I got my awesome little Starflier that can turn on a dime and started cruising around, figuring out the controls, doing backflips, corkscrews and what-have-you.

After about 10 minutes of this I got bored and asked myself, "...Well... that was fun... Now what?" What did I do? I did my own research and work to find out what to do, when to do it, and where to do it.

I'm not insulting anyone, I'm not saying anyone is incapable of being an admin in another community or on another server. Why that would matter either way is beyond me... I'm not saying anyone is more 'worthy' of playing here than anyone else. I did say that we did'nt need lazy people in this Community, and I fully believe that. There is no need for players to be metaphorically spoonfed... or your level of hostility.

Also, by targetting me you have targetted everyone that views this topic as I do (the starting ship is fine as is). You just indirectly flamebaited Verminard, eagleone, Gerard, Zebulon, Dethonastick, salesperson, and anyone else who feels as we do, but didnt post their mind. Please remove the sharp pointy stick from your backside.

[Black_Zero]

[quote="HockeyMaster195";p="168521"]...Like Ive already stated... any player can easily be making millions with a little research. We dont need lazy people in this community.[/quote]

Statements like this is why I'm hostile. As if a Pirate needs a reason. Lazy can be the only reason a player would not make it here eh?

Reason I mentioned he's a admin is your knowelege is much much less. Duh.

[HockeyMaster195]

...What? What do Pirates have to do with anything? I never called pirates lazy in the first place. Being a pirate is fun, but it wouldnt be my technique of making money. Pirates are, or should be, pirates because they like being pirates, not for the money.

You also have no idea how much I know. You say 'Duh' as if its obvious that hes smarter than I am. I may very well be a million times smarter than him, but I never said that. Its also extremely doubtful that I am. Now that I've said this you're going to try to twist these words around and aim them towards me again, right?

[Frobozz]

Wow, this mod discussion has turned into a flame fest.

I began this topic because I started a new character and felt that the starting allowance was too poor. (For the record, I felt the old Dagger startup was too generous.) It is my natural viewpoint to look at such a topic and imagine what this must be like for a utter and complete beginner. I try to put myself in the shoes of such a person and see the server from their eyes. A new player's first impression of a server is not the other players, nor the new mod systems or ships, nor the RP, nor the forums. It's their immediate situation that they're dealing with. That's the initial 'face' of a server. I felt that the initial reaction of an inexperienced player on Void would not be a pleasant one, for the reasons I outlined in the initial post.

Now, one aspect I did not initially take into account has turned this into a flame fest. Hockey, you seem surprised by Black's reaction, but if you took the time to consider the issue from his point of view, put yourself in his shoes, maybe the problem would be clear.

Black is a Pirate, and Pirates as a whole are almost an extinct species on Void. What has this to do with character startup? Think about this for a bit. It appears you have not tried to start a Pirate character, so let me explain it to you. Starting a Pirate character, done in the true spirit of the RP, is about 10 times harder than starting say a Freelancer or Trader or Navy. Everything is stacked against you. No players are going to help you out, unless they are also Pirates and well there's not a lot of them on anymore is there? So a hard startup is very bad news indeed for Pirates. If you don't believe me try it yourself, make a Pirate character from scratch. You'll see.

Fewer new pirates means the whole Pirate RP gets closer to extinction.

I will say this, you have twice commented that we don't need lazy people on this server. Is it really an affront to think that they might get $20k or so more credits? Will that make them 'lazy'? What then of handouts?? Your comments smack of Elitism.

@ Black_Zero: Calm down son.

[HockeyMaster195]

Not a flamefest, I've kept that from happening A small debate is all it is.

I completely see your side of the story... now. Its like a little lightswitch went off in my head, but I see now; New players need to see something good, something new, to draw them in... So I've come up with an idea:

What if we modelled and skinned our very own unique VOID ship, and gave it Class 5-6 CUSTOM weapons and made it available for purchase on Manhatten? New players would see a brandnew ship that they've never seen before, and its not that bad! Their first goal would be getting that ship. Lets say we priced it at 250K. This would give them an immediate purpose, or goal, right from the starting point. It would be act as a sort of 'Jump-Start', if you will...

I also understand that it is much harder for pirates to make money than anyone else. Well... you're right.... thats why you make a new character that you use as a Trader. This way you can atleast get started.

As for the 'elitist' comments... Well... yea. I guess I am a bit of an Elitist, all of the communities I've ever joined for Roleplay are the best of the best in their genre and game. I've been working on my elitist attitude ever since I joined the VOID. Before it made sense to keep the best of the best and shove the others to a learning community, because it WORKED. We would give them a link to a guide on RP and a learning community, and they would LEARN. In a month or two they would come back to us perfectly capable of astounding RP. Either way, I'm trying to work on that.

[Frobozz]

A cool ship in NY would be a good incentive, but I'd also like to see the actual starting ship pimped up a bit. 3 class 3 gun slots, a CD mount (for these skittish NPCs), CM, but perhaps no MD for balance. A wicked little LF model that will be cool and as agile as a flea but not as ugly.

As for Pirates, you should be able to start any RP category from scratch without resorting to being something else first. Some players don't trade they do missions. Even getting to the point where you can do Pirate missions is difficult and given that on Void you're only neutral with lawfuls starting up your reds are going to be legion pretty quick!

I for one don't want anyone turned away from Void, and Elitist servers (I have seen them 1st hand) do that. There's less and less FL players as time goes by, FL is long in the tooth. If they can't fit in after a period of adjustment or do something asinine like cheat or disrespect server staff then they can leave. However I know Void is an advanced server and mod, which is why I want them to have a little help.

[Zebulon]

Whilst I understand that of late certain players have been able to get to level 50 within a matter of a few hours  and that they then feel that it opens the VOID to exploration then so be it.  Just cos its not the way I did it doesnt make it wrong - just make sure you didnt take advantage of a bug in the system - thats all....

The commodities on the VOID have been expanded - more than there were when I started.  I took about two weeks to get on to a decent level - that was due to real life - like work, family, sleep....(you remember those dont you?)  It was a great deal of fun for me at any rate.  You chose to do it differently - doesnt mean your experience of the game is any different.  Personaly I liked the Dagger setup with some half decent guns - starting out in a Starflier was tough. As to the issue of more cash? hmm - well I guess it could go up a little bit.  The Begging thing got out of hand cos people were creating 5 new characters in one hit and getting handouts from a variety of sources including clan startup cash.  The ban on begging was brought in, but we did not make it illegal to help anyone - like I said before - its up to you,  just remember that boosting a player to a "kill level" will earn you a smack on the hand from Zebs ban stick - not that any of you have done this of course!

@Black Zero - well I guess they touched a sore point - and thanks for the support, however... they are merely expressing how they feel about starting up on the VOID and all of the points made are valid, if maybe not to everyones liking.  At least they are not suggesting that we all start off with MK2's and a wad of cash with level 10 guns and stuff - what would be the point in that?  The advent of Battleships is also a little worrying for the "old timers" like me - not so sure I like it much, but then (to take my own advice) if I dont like it I can always go play somewhere else.....!  ;)

Good healthy debate is the life blood of the VOID - you are allowed to disagree with people - just try and keep it civil and dont take it too personaly....If I took every bad thing said about me here to heart I would end up in a secure unit of a mental health institute..... *(now where did I put that file so I can saw through these bars....!)  Just my twopence worth...lol

[HockeyMaster195]

Well said.... Now if an Admin would make an official statement this could be locked and done away with.