Return new players to Manhattan, Not Pennslyvania

[Avalanche]

We are now pushing for more new players to join Discovery than ever.

Starting them on an unknown planet in an unknown system is a bad first experience. Discovery, as a mod to Freelancer, instantly comes off as unfamiliar.

The whole idea of joining Discovery (presumably) is to get a post/different Freelancer experience. If unfamiliar was bad, why would they come to the mod in the first place?

Well at this point, I do believe Discovery is now just the last place to get a real multiplayer experience. We have more YouTube videos, channels with many followers, advertising Discovery. Many comments within each video of old players expressing the good old days. If they log on today, they'll start in the unfamiliar system of Pennsylvania and question what they're looking at. Nostalgia and the feeling of familiarity and memories is important to capture attention.

[Avalanche]

We are now pushing for more new players to join Discovery than ever.

Starting them on an unknown planet in an unknown system is a bad first experience. Discovery, as a mod to Freelancer, instantly comes off as unfamiliar.

This is not how you capture attention from a small core audience of players who have played the campaign. Give them what they're used to. They are more likely to stick around.

Pennsylvania was created for new players to be separated from veterans. To free up Manhattan space. But now player numbers are lower.

It would be wise to reverse the change. Make Manhattan populated again. Give newcomers what they're expecting and let them Discover the unknown on their own terms, not be forced into it and potentially pushed away.

I've added a poll. Please vote your opinion.

/restart civilianli

Only a small (if any) proportion of new players will know of the commands what they can do. This is about streamlining user experience and helping keep as many new players around as possible.

[Avalanche]

Pennsylvania has been neglected as a tutorial system for years. The first thing a new player sees upon undocking are two completely out-of-date tutorial buoys that apparently have not been touched since 4.87. Apparently the buoys differ between singleplayer and multiplayer. Regardless, they are not up to date.

Pennsylvania as a starting system is fine if it gets updated for the purpose.

Hey man, good to see you again. Hope all is well?

You feel a tutorial system that potentially alienates new players is better than the old days of launching off Manhattan into a populated system? From a new player perspective I mean.

[Penthrite]

Only a small (if any) proportion of new players will know of the commands what they can do. This is about streamlining user experience and helping keep as many new players around as possible.

To be fair its better getting to know the game in a more relaxed system. Imagine a new player spawning in the middle of an Outcast/Rogue raid, not knowing what to do and then just targeting reds.
I also feel like the welcome message should highlight helpmenus for commands much more, especially /restart .

Throwing new players into an acivity hub might not be ideal, and if anything New York is just ONE jump away.

[Toaster]

Hey man, good to see you again. Hope all is well?

You feel a tutorial system that potentially alienates new players is better than the old days of launching off Manhattan into a populated system? From a new player perspective I mean.

All is indeed well.

I'm not sure what old days you're referring to. I vividly remember launching from Erie back when I started playing in 2010.

Having a semi-isolated beginner area that teaches new players the ropes before dumping them into the "live" environment is multiplayer 101. Pennsylvania has always been that area, it just hasn't been treated as such for quite a while now. The story progression centered around the system coupled with several changes in system layout and the outdated tutorial elements have taken their toll. An update is all it would really take to fix the issue.

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Olivia Sable

[Nazawo]

"alienate" players making them undock in a brand new system on a mod called discovery?

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[Avalanche]

"alienate" players making them undock in a brand new system on a mod called discovery?

Alienate those who have completed the Vanilla campaign (which starts and finished on Manhattan) and now are looking for a multiplayer experience, yes

[Penthrite]

"alienate" players making them undock in a brand new system on a mod called discovery?

Alienate those who have completed the Vanilla campaign (which starts and finished on Manhattan) and now are looking for a multiplayer experience, yes

Wouldn't they just play Vanilla multiplayer then?

[Avalanche]

Hey man, good to see you again. Hope all is well?

You feel a tutorial system that potentially alienates new players is better than the old days of launching off Manhattan into a populated system? From a new player perspective I mean.

All is indeed well.

I'm not sure what old days you're referring to. I vividly remember launching from Erie back when I started playing in 2010.

Having a semi-isolated beginner area that teaches new players the ropes before dumping them into the "live" environment is multiplayer 101. Pennsylvania has always been that area, it just hasn't been treated as such for quite a while now. The story progression centered around the system coupled with several changes in system layout and the outdated tutorial elements have taken their toll. An update is all it would really take to fix the issue.

Ah Pennslyvania goes back that far? I recall it being Manhattan. I did start prior to 2010 though. An update is welcome. My main focus was on vanilla players who finished the campaign and now wanted to try multiplayer, starting in the unknown and being demotivated for the learning curve. Stream lining the experience to get everyone online and staying online. Appreciate your thoughts and comments!

[Nazawo]

I'd say they get more exposed to sanctions being launched from 'hattan after no time at all to adapt in a more calm system than they get alienated from, what toaster said, passing through gaming how to 101

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