Just anecdotal, from my own experience... When I first started playing I was lucky to have a real life friend sit next to me and help me figure stuff out. {2 years ago...} I did the tutorial but this was the first game like this I had ever played 'cause before that I didn't have a computer that would handle graphics at all. About 5 times of playing, my friend moved on to {a hush falls over the thread as he whispers
"Second Life"}

I did the PS tutorial but remember it as being... well, confusing, 'cause I wasn't even acquainted with any of the lingo, conventions or expectations of a game like this. In that tutorial I don't think I was given anything to start out with... no tria, no blades, nada. I was on my own.
I didn't even find the forums or
think about registering for the forums until
months and months after I started playing. It didn't occur to me that there was anything useful here. In my blissful newbie-ness, I assumed everything I really needed was to be found in game.
Now, of course I read the threads and even search them for answers from time to time, but my point is that sometimes newbies really are NEW. New to this whole idea, this whole experience.
So here in this thread, we are honoring the ones before us, in game, who took the time, energy and niceness to help the clueless like me 'explore the depths' as the motto says. In a way I wish there was an automatiic newbie guild that new players would be connected to right off. Who would, like GMs, be there to answer questions and help folks get started, but who would be in avatars in game.
For the ones before me who did that, {a couple of who are still playing!} I want to thank:
Monala
Dragonis
Barike
Dipner
Andoryn
Amaymon
Gell
Siteya
Irri
Solemnus
Amaneldth
and many others who just stopped and said "Can I help you?"
Thanks guys.
Roled