Newbie Island

[beltpouch]

I'm pretty sure this has been recomended before but I thought I would throw the idea back out there. Perhaps there should be some kind of little cove, an instance all to it's own for new players. While in this cove you are completely seperated from the game world and safe from the high level war going on in the main world.

The area could have the following features:

1.) Plenty of good solid PvE missions to get you aqaunted with the various aspects of the game.

2.) Something I would like to call "newbie" economy. It just like the economy in the regular world but geared just for the new players. Basically while in "Newbie Island" you could produce items that other newbies need such as some basic consumables and outfittings. The "Newbie Island" economy would be completely seperate from the main world economy and perhaps be accelerated a little to accomidate the transient nature of the new player area. This would give people a chance to learn the basics of how the economy works.

3.) No manufactured type goods could leave "Newbie Island". Any unsecured cargo is removed from your hold when you leave the new player area.

4.) Perhaps for the PvP type players there could be a permant PvP area to the south with lots of big warning flags and messages to give people a chance to try out a little PvP before they leave. Maybe even have some PvP missions or mock port battles.

5.) The level is capped to around 15 or 20 while in "Newbie Island".

6.) You should be able to leave new player area at any time if you want to skip all the newb stuff and start as a level 1 character in the main world.

7.) Per Sam's idea the area could be set in the old world. There could be a nifty "graduation" mission at the end of the new area missions that sent you to the new world. This mission could include lots of appropraite warnings about how you are about to enter the dangerous yet exciting waters of the new world with lot's of helpful tips about avoiding combat and how PvP zones work.

I think a lot of issues with ganking are centered around new players and this would solve that issue I think. Also we could get rid of the rather contrived "new player protection" around the major economic hubs of the nations (Sisal, Bartica, Cayo, etc.).

Obviously this would be some work and isn't something we would probobly see anytime soon. Anyway just a thought, curious what others think. Thank your for your replies.

[Spinnaker Sam]

I could see that working. I'd lower the level to somewhere around 12 and then have them respawn into the real world in the next upgrade of fallback ships. I am not sure how someone who decides to bypass the new island training would be able to effectively level in the real world since all low level missions should have been removed from the game. The new player ports could be converted to contestable ports, with resources and whatnot.

What would be interesting is if these zones were based in Europe and by moving out of the training zone you are setting sail for the Caribbean. That would at least avoid the break in immersion by appearing from some magical invisible land.

[beltpouch]

Originally Posted by Spinnaker Sam I am not sure how someone who decides to bypass the new island training would be able to effectively level in the real world since all low level missions should have been removed from the game.

Not everyone levels with missions. Just suggesting the option for those that want to just jump right into the action :-)

Originally Posted by Spinnaker Sam What would be interesting is if these zones were based in Europe and by moving out of the training zone you are setting sail for the Caribbean.

I like this idea :-)

[Luz]

Uhm if this is indeed a PvP game it´s only healthy to be ganked by higher players so you build up some hate towards the other factions!

I just started and won´t whine if someone kills me, it´s part of PvP games. It´s unfair. Life is unfair. So it´s really just realistic.
Newbie captains would be taken out by more experienced ones.
You learn the hard way to stay away from foreign waters, you will one day be high level and can then go kill lowlevels if that is what you want.

[beltpouch]

Originally Posted by Luz Uhm if this is indeed a PvP game it´s only healthy to be ganked by higher players so you build up some hate towards the other factions! I just started and won´t whine if someone kills me, it´s part of PvP games. It´s unfair. Life is unfair. So it´s really just realistic. Newbie captains would be taken out by more experienced ones. You learn the hard way to stay away from foreign waters, you will one day be high level and can then go kill lowlevels if that is what you want.

I agree with you to some extent. POTBS is just such a different game with such interesting game play I would hate to see players who would actually really enjoy it give up at the beginning because of a bad experience as a new player. Just a suggestion is all.

POTBS has been dinged a lot in reviews for it's steep learning curve. Perhaps a new player area, specifically designed to give new players the information and skills they need would help with the issues brought up in the reviews.

[Wintersdark]

I'm liking that.

Add a small little PvP area for newbies to fight other newbies, with LOTS of very visible warnings and tutorials, and you're set. With noone able to go back into the newbie area, and say groups limited to 3, you'd be set. Ganking is nearly impossible, but PvP is still dangerous. Be a really handy place to set up all the tutorials, and easily bypassed by players not wanting to do all of that.

[honnolea]

Originally Posted by beltpouch I agree with you to some extent. POTBS is just such a different game with such interesting game play I would hate to see players who would actually really enjoy it give up at the beginning because of a bad experience as a new player. Just a suggestion is all. POTBS has been dinged a lot in reviews for it's steep learning curve. Perhaps a new player area, specifically designed to give new players the information and skills they need would help with the issues brought up in the reviews.

You can get to level 10 without ever leaving the (Spanish) starter city, and to 13 from the next town with only a 2 minute safe sail in between.

Now the economic tutorial (Spanish) is a different story.

[beltpouch]

Originally Posted by honnolea You can get to level 10 without ever leaving the (Spanish) starter city, and to 13 from the next town with only a 2 minute safe sail in between. Now the economic tutorial (Spanish) is a different story.

That's why I suggested level 20. Of course you could always slow down lower level progression and add in more content to the newbie area to make the experience a little more worth while.