asking more experienced players for help

[zhai]

hello newcomers!

i hope this message can help you out. in my own experience, only very few people have ever refused to help me when i needed guidance and i'm sure for you it should be no different. now, i haven't played that long but i do go out of my way to help noobs a lot. however, here are some major problems i've come across in doing so:

1. Who are you and how do you know my name??? 
Please introduce yourself and rp. Don't just come up and interrupt a conversation with "how do i get experience?" or, even worse, "give me a weapon". it's plain rude and probably won't get you the help you need.

2. If you ask a question, please wait for an answer before walking away. 
Many answers go beyond "yes" and "no" and you probably want to hear them. so, typing them takes a bit... wait please. leaving a conversation before the other person has a chance to talk back is also rude. yes, some players may ignore you but sometimes, there's a reason for that (they might be afk, rping something or their characters are just not the helping kind and they rp as that). when you talk to strangers, check their description and check if they are alone or in the middle of something (it's pretty easy to tell).

3. depending on the kindness of strangers... 
yes, you can get lucky and someone might help you out A LOT, giving you not only information but equipment and money. this isn't the rule. you should not expect that from anybody and, most importantly, you should appreciate what they are doing for you. YES you might need all that stuff so asking for it sounds reasonable, but unless your character was actually born to beg, don't go asking people to give you stuff. there are many other ways to get things from other players.

4. if you find that you dislike the game... 
don't go saying that it's stupid or that all who play it are. it's childish and annoying for those who do enjoy it.

having said that...


what puts me on the best disposition to help (for nothing in return) is:

1. when they are polite.

2. when they talk in character and are willing to roleplay.

3. when they don't barge in but check descriptions first and choose a good time to engage in conversation (if you have to interrupt a group in the middle of roleplay because nobody else is around when you need help, try saying "excuse me" or "i do not mean to interrupt" or things like that before dropping your questions. greeting might also work. generally those who roleplay more are those more willing to offer help).

4. when they appreciate my help (as in, they pay attention when we're talking and they thank me afterwards. NO, saying "OK" is not the same as saying "Thank you").

i don't think i ask for much so if you don't approach me having this in mind i'm probably gonna limit my help to the minimum or even ignore you completely and i'm not the only one who sees things this way. finally, in my own experience, i've learned and received many more things roleplaying than begging or using OOC conversation. i suggest you do the same because it works and it's a lot more fun. i don't mind at all answering /tells afterwards and it's always nice to hear someone you helped is now helping others. i hope you take this in mind next time you're on and need a hand. see you in yliakum!

zhai

[/b]

[Karyuu]

Hear, hear!

The more polite and thoughtful a new player is, the more likely he or she is to have those qualities returned :)

[The Wandering Djinn]

Excellent post, Zhai 

Politeness to others when I first entered PlaneShift's Yliakum, in the town of Ojaveda, certainly paid dividends for me, and politeness from others towards me, quickly engendered in me a desire to help others as I had been helped. The warm fuzzies of doing so are really quite infectious!

[DracoDanube]

Excellent post zhai.

I do believe that when people play the game they bring with them their
real world culture and personality, whether they are role playing or
not. My point being, those with limited social skills in the game,
will have a limited set of social skills in the real world.

I make this point as a philosophical observation (discuss).

A interesting observation is the way some people react to an
argument. Specifically: how easy it is for players to challenge each
other to a fight-to-the-death. How simple arguments can become fatal
ones.

 

[TestLab]

Nice post

Only been playing for a couple of days. 1st day was just lost and didn't even know what to do. 2nd day I understood the game a bit more and asked for help nicely (and payed off, was helped a lot)

Loving this comunity


PS: Begging for change might be a good way to get money for some but at least don't beg for money while you have two swords in your hands (Happened to me yesterday ...)

[Waylander]

2. If you ask a question, please wait for an answer before walking away. 
Many answers go beyond "yes" and "no" and you probably want to hear them. so, typing them takes a bit... wait please. leaving a conversation before the other person has a chance to talk back is also rude. yes, some players may ignore you but sometimes, there's a reason for that (they might be afk, rping something or their characters are just not the helping kind and they rp as that). when you talk to strangers, check their description and check if they are alone or in the middle of something (it's pretty easy to tell).

Heh, interesting point.  But, if you put yourself in the newbs boots you can understand why they run off so often.  I'll be sure to start answering those who ask me for help with a quick response ("((Just give me a second to type it out))" or something like that) from now on.

[Karyuu]

What I dislike more, personally, is when after you type out a helpful reply the person just walks away without another word.

Um. Did that help? Hello? You're welcome? Can I do anything else for you? And then another part of me wants to yell out "WHERE ARE YOU GOING, BOY??!!?!!? >:|>:|>:|" :P

[Waylander]

Heh, never had that happen to me.

The most annoying thing that has happened to me is when I helped somebody.  He understood, asked another question.  I answered that.  Went on for a while, then I got called to a roleplay and I couldn't shake the kid.

Moral of the story: People will help you, but don't hold on to them...or they get mad and then commit suicide just to get away from you

[Syilph]

Good post. *turns to Karyuu* Can we get these sugestions added to the "Geting started ingame" sticky?

[tyhvor]

I agree with zhai

I haven't played for very long, but I couldn't agree more. My role-playing skills are far from excellent at this point, but it is still frustrating to try to role-play and act IC when you get an answer like, 'No idea, just figuring out the interface, lol'. I mean, who the    knows about interfaces and lol in the fantasy world?? Better to use /me chuckles or laughs. When others skip the RP it is easy to let your own RP go down the drain.

I think for many people it is hard to role-play because they think other players may find their role-playing poor, stupid or plain silly. Of course for those who really do try to RP it is a relief when you finally meet another player who is RPing. Personally I do not care if the RP acting is simple and not 100% in keeping with the world and atmosphere. At least they are RPing and that is what the game is about, right?

I must admit however, after a few hours of playing, the game does have a steep learning curve. It is a lot to get familiar with. Menus, /commands and how to control your character. To give an example from my own experience. Someone came over to me and asked a question. I was in the middle of investigating a menu option, so this is my chain of thoughts: Woops, someone is speaking, umm, how to get out of this menu... click !! Starting to type an answer ...woops, is someone speaking to me??? where is this person?? moving the mouse a little too quick I made a 900 degree turn  But finally I found the person. Yaaaaaii  !!!, a really gloomy and BIG figure stands almost on top of me. Hmm, attack??? No too early and in mid-town. Not advicable. Continuing to type an answer. Ok ready, ummm noooo, I had forgotton to click in the Chat window so my great reply was lost in the void. Starting over. Woops, the big fellow has moved. Is he gone?? turning, nope, still there. Finally I did manage to reply, but not a very RPish one.

At least for me, this contributes to my less than excellent RP skills at the present moment. I think when I get more familiar with how things work my RP will also improve quite alot.

[Anfa]

Another suggestion...don't try to trade with someone whom you have not greeted or told them what it is you are trying to trade for?!? 

When a "request to trade" window suddenly pops up from someone I have never met, I usually say "trying to trade with someone without even saying hello is extremely rude" and walk away..

But a 'greetings, I am new to this land" will get my friendly attention.

Feel free to wander over and introduce yourself, my Char loves meeting new folk!!

Cheers 

[Karyuu]

Can we get these sugestions added to the "Geting started ingame" sticky?

Will do, just give me a bit to organize it :)

[Suno_Regin]

You know, I made a character once (forget the name) who was going to be a pack-leader for a certain group of Enkidukai IC. He asked in Hydlaa (ICly) how he could become stronger, since pack-leaders were only chosen by strength alone according to Enkidukai customs. I know how to gain strength, of course, but my character himself didn't. You know what he said? "Fight rats and get progression points, then go to Percival for sword levels."

I have nothing more to say about that.

[ou8i8uo]

Excellent post Zhai.
I couldn't even count how many times the above mentions have happened to me, I have even chased down people just to respond though I don't much anymore, instead I send a tell and pray they noticed their tells window tab flashing.
As far as the trade window,..I realize that many are testing or learning what the context icons are so I just decline or, if they have roleplayed at all I might give them a potion or two.
What really drives me crazy are the OOC shouts "where do I train strength?" or "where do I get a weapon?"
I just try to ignore those and if it persists I will send a tell telling them that it is improper and that if they ask me in character I would tell them. I realize that many don't know better but they should learn by example, noone else is running around asking such questions in shouts are they? So why assume it is the norm?

[zorbels]

  What a superb post indeed. Let us hope this helps newbies to better communicate with players, and not disturb roleplaying that maybe going on with shouts and questions that are clearly OOC.