Should newb questions be paid more attention to?

[sullie363]

Quite often a new player will ask a question about how to do something in the game which isn't actually possible to do.  These questions are generally dismissed without much thought, but perhaps these questions should be treated as suggestions.  There might be some real diamonds in the rough here, or at the very least, some shiny quartz.  

"How do you capture the HQ?" - Maybe you should be able to capture an HQ.  Blast it to bits then drop 100 troops on it.  What's the result you ask, how about making the owner of your captured HQ fight for you.  Give an all new meaning to rooknits/nitbish/bishrooks.  Or maybe you've simply robbed the enemy of their HQ causing a permanent loss of radar till they capture it back.

"How do I get smoke to come out of my PT?" - Probably sparked by a newb seeing damaged engines on a PT and not knowing it was caused by damage.  But what if a PT could create a smoke screen?  Perhaps this could add a new element to ship to ship fighting.

"Is my rank my perk points?" - Maybe it should be, would throw score whoring on its head.

"How do I fix my plane?" - Obviously resolved by simple towering out and upping again.  But what if rearm pads could fully repair light damage while also topping you off with fuel, ammo, and a burger.  By light damage I mean plugging those bullet holes but not replacing parts that are outright missing.  

"How do I call in artillery?" - A player most likely from Warbirds that's asking this question.  While the artillery in WB was computer controlled and only responded to player requests for fire, perhaps an AH spin on the old idea would be to have artillery batteries on airfields able to be manned like ack and shore batteries.  Or instead of at each and every field, perhaps just at the large bases or even more specifically the zone bases to make them even more important.  Or something totally new which would be a fire base of sorts which would be capturable adding a new element to the game.

"How do I fly?" - Good idea, jet packs for after you bail out, I like it.

Obviously this could go on forever, but maybe it would be a good idea to listen more to our new players instead of dismissing them.  After all, they only ask because they think it would be fun.

[SFCHONDO]

What would be nice is to see less juvenile replies to these guys like the ghey Alt F4 answer. Some new guys can be annoying with basic question after question and not ever taking the time to read the Help File. (which only takes about 15 min to read) that will answer a lot of their basic questions. But most of them are asking questions to learn and a lot of inmature guys just dog em out. Either help em out or just be quite or squelch em if thier to annoying.

[ROC]

People are always going to be people, regardless of how you try to breed that deficiency out of them.

You are not going to change anyones mind in here with a post like this.  Just answer the players if you want to, dismiss those who want to poke and prod the new guys.

Some are jaded, as there are far too many Long Term Players who log in as a newbie just to act like an idiot and get people riled up, these guys can be spotted a mile away, it happens, move on.

Some newbs are frankly just lazy and dense, and want to be spoon fed.  There are people that have worked out the hard stuff on their own and frankly don't bother typing out things, because if these lazy newbs cant read a help file what makes you think they can read the text buffer?

Don't waste your breath trying to educate this crowd.  Teach if you want, ignore the mokes that steam you, and move on.  

The ones that Really want to be taught are very receptive, and will make good use of the training tools and Players that are at their disposal.

Don't go too lib on us.  Nature needs Lions as much as Sheep.  Allow for some sheep to get eaten.  It's a learning process in itself.

[Obie303]

I have always thought the Alt + F4 joke was a right of passage.  

When I started playing, I took the time to read Net Aces, the trainers page, Soda's Aircraft Evaluations, and anything else to help me learn the game in the beginning.  Many of the new players don't do any of this to help themselves out.  They just jump right in thinking they are going to start flying and blowing other players out of the sky, rolling a Tiger in the midst of a tank battle, or having a huge naval battle between cruisers.   This has been talked about many times and sad to say, "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink".

I believe what happens is that too many new players don't take the time to do their homework and the more experienced players get impatient with some of the silly questions.  When you trie to help the new player out, sometimes you get an attituede.  I think the mentallity is "I was here first and figured it out.  You do the same."

I can only speak for myself that I've tried to help the newbs out and for the most part.  Many seem to be good people and want to learn.  They just get frustrated when they can't figure out the basiscs.  

The trainer's page has made some great improvements and I continue to send people there.  I think thats where the new players should be encouraged to start, not by trying to train them in the MA.  

Just my .02 cents.

Obie

[lagger86]

When I started I got a bunch of helpfull info. I was clueless on a lot of things, but with help from people I learned much. I got a few ALT-F4 replies to my questions....and honestly it doesn't really work(except when I just need a fast exit when I am just flat out too tarded to fly). I treat others how I wish to be treated....however I also am inclined to treat people how they treat me. If you ask an honest question I'll give you an honest answer...If you have an attitude you will receive an attitude...that is pretty much how RL works as well.

[VonMessa]

My usual reply to any "noob" question (i.e. how to fly, how to capture, how to use tank, etc) is "Go to the TA"  There really isn't a need to be rude (unless they  start PMing you incessantly), but then .squelch is still useful.

     There is no reason for not helping others to get better.  If you are on the same side, it would behoove you to make sure the FNG's have better skills, SA, and such.  Heck, if I was better, I would be a trainer myself........Nah, maybe not, who am I kidding:rofl

[1Boner]

When I 1st started playing in the MA,I can't remember myself asking alot of the basic questions that I usually hear in there now.

I think its because I played alot in the H2H arenas for close to a year before I opened my account.

I learned alot about the game in H2H.

Unfortunatly now the MA will be the training ground for alot of guys who might have got some of their early training in the H2H.

For the most part I will politely answer any questions I hear in the MA,with an occasional "hit enter 3 times" thrown in just for fun.(this ain't disneyland!)

The personality of the person asking the question and the tone in which the question is asked has alot to do with the way the question is answered.


Courteously yours,

Boner

[Lumbergh]

maybe there would be less questions if the manual wasn't so inadequate - so much stuff missing i don't know where to start. eg. the strategy guide tells you how to take an Airfield, no help with Port or Vehicle base though ... can you take out a hanger with HE shells? whats the lb equivalent of a HE shell? ... etc. etc.

a little work on the manual would go along way here, I've only been playing a month now and I've googled 100 times for stuff thats not in the manual cus I'd rather use up my ingame question quota on tactical stuff. also makes it harder to tell noobs to RTFM if it isnt in TM

[Hap]

Originally posted by sullie363
Obviously this could go on forever, but maybe it would be a good idea to listen more to our new players instead of dismissing them.  After all, they only ask because they think it would be fun.

I try to help.  And will keep on doing so.  Most do not show intererest in learning.  They want to do it all immediately.

[Max]

My sense is that there's two types of folks asking the questions...
1. Has done some background reading and perhaps some offline flying. They'll come up against an unfamilar question and pop out a question or two.

2. Is sitting in the tower, has no joystick and has invested ZILCH into learning any basic information.

I'm happy to help either of them, granted #2 requires considerable time and effort. Let's face it, no one came to AH knowing everything. Take a minute to answer a question. If you run across a #2, a quick referral to netaces.org or the trainers website is just as easy to reply with vs Alt F4

my .02

[AWwrgwy]

Originally posted by sullie363




"How do I get smoke to come out of my PT?" - Probably sparked by a newb seeing damaged engines on a PT and not knowing it was caused by damage.  

There -is- a smoke generator modeled on the fantail.  Just inop I guess.


wrgway

[hubsonfire]

While I do sometimes take some time out and answer questions for those who appear sincere, I disagree that they have the best ideas for gameplay ever fielded.

I would say that using the complete FNG ideas is about as effective as printing out the wishlist, taping it to a wall, and throwing darts at it to select the "winning" concepts.

[hitech]

sullie363: I am reminded of the line in Private Ryan when they are talking how griping goes up hill, And he says Listen to him , This is how to gripe.

Nice hidden request in the vale of helping newbies.

HiTech

[1redrum]

Originally posted by sullie363
.

"How do I get smoke to come out of my PT?" - Probably sparked by a newb seeing damaged engines on a PT and not knowing it was caused by damage.  But what if a PT could create a smoke screen?  Perhaps this could add a new element to ship to ship fighting.

.

ask for this a lew times it was part of a PT's operations to provide smoke screens for landing and other ops  

    dont think it will happen though

[Grits]

Originally posted by Obie303
I have always thought the Alt + F4 joke was a right of passage.

It is a right of passage, and contrary to what some have said, it NEVER gets old.