New guys - do we welcome them?

[bozon]

Do new guys know about the .join XXX option?
I used to get a lot of these random requests that I almost always accepted and included explanations and commentary on what I was doing. My navigator even served tea and muffins.
I don't remember getting any such requests in the last year.

[Lusche]

I don't remember getting any such requests in the last year.

That's mostly because there are very few new players around at all (which mostly is why the numbers have gone down so rapidly in the past years).

Remember back when the country channel was filled with "anyone need a gunner?". Or the near constant "Missun up", with a strange, sensless combination of planes which all had 100% fuel, no matter what? Extended play-by-play commentaries of young, enthusiastic but clueless players? When you couldn't be ranked lower than 200 and without a squad, because your whole screen was quickly filled with unrequested squad invites?

That's what it was like when we had many new players all the time... 

[puller]

Ever taken a hider name up and flown as a 'noob'?

Here is the deal...people aren't friendly to "noobs" because most of them aren't "noobs"

Every new name I have come across or haven't recognized...I will PM them ask them what they are about and invite them to the squad to be taught...

Want to guess how many shade accounts I've come across???

This isn't about new players being treated bad...

This is about griefer shade account holders being found out...

Oh...but I forgot its your 15 bucks....

[Lusche]

griefer?

[FESS67]

Here is the deal...people aren't friendly to "noobs" because most of them aren't "noobs"

Every new name I have come across or haven't recognized...I will PM them ask them what they are about and invite them to the squad to be taught...

Want to guess how many shade accounts I've come across???

This isn't about new players being treated bad...

This is about griefer shade account holders being found out...

Oh...but I forgot its your 15 bucks....

Puller - this is nothing about griefer shade accounts.  The two accounts I fly under are well known and are not used to grief / shade / spy / <insert whatever issue a 2nd account conjures up in peoples minds>

I created another account to see how I would be received if I flew incognito and did not pull any good moves etc.  i.e. I flew like a noob.  I see some really good responses from the community here and that is why I bothered posting.  Thanks for your input.

[WWhiskey]

There are places to find information about how to play the game,, but sometimes you need a giant arrow pointing them out!
I played for two years before I found out about the BBS.
I just figured everything out over time, but I'm a lot more tenacious than The average player.

It was almost six years before I heard about the dot commands that would give me info about objects!
This game has two learning curves,, the easy one ,, IE learning to fly,
 and the difficult one,, learning everything else!
  A good thing about the game is there is something for everyone,,
 score for those who like to rank high!
Perks, for those who like to earn them!
GVs
Planes
Boats
Objectives for players who like to complete them!
 Almost every type of player has something in this game available to enjoy,,
 They just may not know how to get what they want,,, so,,,, More giant arrows!!

[Zacherof]

There's an old saying you can't help others if they won't help themselves to. I used to spend hours reading about planes from the AH wiki page I printed out, and other stuff like what moves are what. Not everyone is the dedicated or has that kinda time tho. But I will always recommend reading the ah information links and stuff like that.

Or find someone who will give you their time or find some one who will point you to people who will help.

And last but not least direct them here to the forum. Where you can always find help.

But I love noobs. Teaching is fun and gives you a chance to reflect on how you can improve yourself at the same time.

[SlipKnt]

We all have been BBSing the hell out of this forum talking about how to get the customer base up.  Everyone seems willing to help to accomplish how we could get our numbers increased.

Not applied to everyone but all are willing until it is time to get the NOOB on channel.  maybe go to the TA or DA and work with them a little.  Allow them to fly as a RIO in the MAs, etc...

The bottom line is this...

How do you treat the NOOBS???

They are the customer base.  We have to make an effort to teach new peeps what we know.  introduce them to the community and have them fly with you (us) as we work to attack bases.  Heck, ask them to run the M3 while you are enroute to attempt a base take.

We HAVE to not be rude to them.  Patience and help who you can.  I prefer to help them in the MAs.  I just haven't been on much lately but I do help when I can.

Want better numbers?  Don't be mean to the new guys.  They won't come back.  I wouldn't... 

 

[Big Rat]

First off let me say great job to all those helping the new guys   You are the people that make this game great for everyone. 

Zoney,  doing what you did with newbs with buffs is above and beyond, great job! Albeit I would probably laugh if you got zapped on the next pass, but still great.

As far as shades, really don't care in the MA, I'm hardly ever there anyway.  What really irks me is when shades come in to irritate the trainers in the TA.  I think they try it for some sort of Ego boost if they can try and outfly the trainer, or simply they are trying and succeeding at being a total "add your bad word here".

 
BigRat

[Raga]

When I started playing in 07 or 08 the MA guys told me to go to the TA first, so I did.

Here is the formula that really works

TA-->DA-->MA

[Lusche]

When I started playing in 07 or 08 the MA guys told me to go to the TA first, so I did.

Here is the formula that really works

TA-->DA-->MA

Back in  2008 it did work, because there were people in all of those arenas almost the time.
These days, you gotta first find someone to go with you to the TA and DA.

[bustr]

Some of you have experienced a new player named DX over the last 6 months. Usual gregarious new player talking all the time, blow by blow, and trying to loudly encourage everyone on VOX to greater gory glory. He was a bit off communication wise on numerous occasions which caused people to eventually mute him on sight. Pretty standard comments about his personal failings, basakwardness, backwoods origins and how that drove everyone to mute him by our elite band of social experts.

He is still here but, the AH transformation has happened on queue. Now all I hear on VOX is another grumpy player who doesn't care to bother anymore. Wonder how long he will keep an account with HTC now that he has hit his limit? This is what we really do to new players who don't quickly get pulled in with a squad to support them. Or the ones who don't quit under 3 months. Learning this game is simple compared to surviving our caustic community.

I suppose one of those kinds of warnings you get for really violent movies would be a bit much as a MOTD.

WARNING!! It's rough in here!

[Lab Rat 3947]

We HAVE to not be rude to the them.

big +1

I've mentined before, in the 4 1/2 years I've been online, I've had 3 friends try out AH.
None of them stayed because of the griefers & juveniles' responses in MA when they asked a question. They did their two weeks, got a sub, but never went for the second month & quit.

[Flossy]

I always try to help players who have questions if I can, and hate to see some of the responses they get from others - Alt F4 etc!

I used to be a Game Assistant in Air Warrior because I wanted to help all players, new or 'old'.  (It's often surprising how often more seasoned players don't know how to do something even though they may have been playing for years!)  Although I couldn't teach them how to fly - that was the trainers' specialities - I could answer most of the questions they asked, or at least point them to where they could find answers.  Having regular slots for covering Game Assistant duties meant I could concentrate on helping others without being distracted by my own playing; however, that didn't mean that I wouldn't help when I was playing myself.

I really think it is important to help and encourage new players, and never forget that we were all new once!   

[49Dallas]

Ever taken a hider name up and flown as a 'noob'?

It is actually not a nice place.  Few people talk to you, if you get a kill many abuse you.  Sad but true.  I think the game needs a few tweaks but maybe the community needs a bit more of an adjustment.

49thFG will welcome you with open arms. We'll teach you the basics. New guys are the future, Without them the game WILL die. The game is already dying but we should do what we can as players.