For the first two months maybe more

[USCH]

If we would like to grow the community as a whole, we should have a way of knowing who is new to the game, so that we can offer our help, even if we are Joe blow and not at "AH training" person.

Do we keep track of how many two weekers don't join? Or how often someone plays for a month then quits?
I know I wouldn't "rape" a noob over and over if I knew he was having trouble just getting the gear up. As well, even if it was our own countrymen only (say make their icon color different) if I saw a purple name, I'd say, "hay joe blow, follow me I'm going to do this..." As it stands now, If I think you have your own plan on what you want to do, I wouldn't stop you.

[EagleDNY]

Take a noob on a mission - that is the best way I know to get them into this game.   

[USCH]

Well that's the point, who is a noob? I'd be glad to, point one out in game, by looking at his name. Maybe I'm lazy for not looking up the stats on everyone I see. Am I?

[PFactorDave]

I'll go ahead and point out that there are some people who would use a "noob" tag as an invitation to target them for easy kills and other abuse.

[Oldman731]

I'll go ahead and point out that there are some people who would use a "noob" tag as an invitation to target them for easy kills and other abuse.

True.  But things could be made easier for a noob who would like to ride along with someone to see what things look like.  Maybe an anonymous sign-up board or something, and better directions on how to get there.

- oldman

[bozon]

I used to get a lot of .join requests, but it is very rare these days. Usually, I accept and if the flight is relaxed enough I also try to talk to the guy on a private text/vox channel.

Are new players even aware of this option?

If you are new and consider this - it is usually polite to ask to join in a private text message before sending the ".join PLAYERID" command. To send a private text use:
.p PLAYERID text-message-asking-to-join

[Volron]

I remember when some folks would spam the join request.  Was quite glad that they gave you an option to do away with that annoying pop-up.  Always gave an instant deny, well as quick as I could click on deny.  Now I can merely ignore it.

Unless someone is calling out for it; "Nub" or not, I'd figure it common sense to ask first and wait for a response.

[USCH]

I'll go ahead and point out that there are some people who would use a "noob" tag as an invitation to target them for easy kills and other abuse.

i do see your point and it is for sure the number one concern, but I'm thinking, if we as a group could use our melons and come up with something. Idk just thinking.

[bustr]

An in game list service.

1. - Vet logs in to the MA.
2. - Vet pulls up ride along list service and adds name which keeps track of current country if he jumps countries. Or has to reregister once in the other country.
3. - Newbie pulls up ride along list service and clicks on name of available vets in his country.
4. - PM goes to name.
5. - If Vet reply's to PM, ride along or wing up is arranged.

Vet can clear name from the service by pulling up the service and clearing name from list.
Or
Vet logs out and name auto clears from service.

A bit more premeditated than the random request to join while formalizing it starting with a PM. If the vet is involved in something he can always invite the requestor to fly along side of him into the current fight. Or the Vet can simply ignore the PM leaving it up to the newbie to try another name from the list.

Two big drawbacks to this. No one signs up to the list most of the time leaving newbies with a bad feeling about the game. And the ability to abuse it by those who want to mess with the vets signed in. I'm wondering if the orange help text channel was supposed to fulfill this requirement. Last time I ever tuned to that one, it had turned into squweeker armchair general central.

[USCH]

An in game list service.

1. - Vet logs in to the MA.
2. - Vet pulls up ride along list service and adds name which keeps track of current country if he jumps countries. Or has to reregister once in the other country.
3. - Newbie pulls up ride along list service and clicks on name of available vets in his country.
4. - PM goes to name.
5. - If Vet reply's to PM, ride along or wing up is arranged.

Vet can clear name from the service by pulling up the service and clearing name from list.
Or
Vet logs out and name auto clears from service.

A bit more premeditated than the random request to join while formalizing it starting with a PM. If the vet is involved in something he can always invite the requestor to fly along side of him into the current fight. Or the Vet can simply ignore the PM leaving it up to the newbie to try another name from the list.

Two big drawbacks to this. No one signs up to the list most of the time leaving newbies with a bad feeling about the game. And the ability to abuse it by those who want to mess with the vets signed in. I'm wondering if the orange help text channel was supposed to fulfill this requirement. Last time I ever tuned to that one, it had turned into squweeker armchair general central.

i like it, and agree about the orange chat. You can't filter out the people who are just spamming it with junk. It's like 80 hrs of crap, then one guy who wants and is willing to learn, then 80 hrs of crap again. And that's if your lucky.