Let's discuss New Player/starting area.

I see it regularly stated that the current setup isn't great, is lacking, etc. personally, I agree but it doesn't matter that much to me as a seasoned MMO player. That said, it's still an opportunity for feedback, improvement, new player learning, and setting the stage for what the game is about.

I'm certain that the new character area is under review as theyre planning to expand the world map and introduce additional new player areas (they stated 4 or 5 are planned, one for each pair of races and then the Tulnar.) so now is a great time for feedback.

I think that an instanced tutorial area prior to entering the portal to Verra would be ideal. There's no reason that the players would need to be running into Verra with nothing but the clothes on their back and a rusty sword, since the organizations and governments that allow you through from the other side WANT you to succeed. Therefore, a brief training and equipment setup prior to walking through the portal makes sense to teach the character/player how to move, interact, and what the game is about.

When you frame the character as a sponsored pioneer with an amount of exposition about what you're getting yourself into, and why, players will feel more invested in the success of the nodes and their own advancement. You're here to retake the world from the ravages of time, corrupt gods, and cursed, monstrous races, or whatever.

Then when they're done in the tutorial area they pass through the portal with that sense of purpose.. straight into a warzone. Much like the current Lionhold setup, but with a sense of urgency. The portal attracts corrupted monsters, and you need to defeat them to get out. The safest way is with numbers, protecting an NPC(or player driven, great quest opportunity to find teammates and complete) caravan carrying goods down to Lionhold. We're already so close to this it's perfect.

Anyways, thats my feedback/suggestion for new players and new characters. Obviously the tutorial needs to be skippable after the first character, but a thorough exposition and tutorial will help with the overwhelming nature of MMO's.

What do y'all think, changes? A whole different idea?

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Lucascp92

I don't believe there is a need for an instance tutorial, the first levels and quests in the starter areas are the tutorials itself.

Azherae

I really liked the original Alpha-1 starting area flow, so much so that I think my first post on the forum is a giant essay of praise for it.

I was really disappointed when A2 starter area launched because it does almost every single thing 'wrong' or 'the opposite way', to the point where my group has asked me once or twice to make a post contrasting the giant pile of gushing praise point by point with a giant pile of tight-lipped criticism.

I think that the original starting portal area was not only better for what A1 was, it did such a good job that it would still be better, for what A2 is, and would achieve more of the goals, so I constantly hope that since the other gateways are 'coming', that Lionhold isn't even supposed to be one.

Or at least, that the Empyrean/Northeastern Gateway gets some of the beautiful design structure of Classic Ashes.

I don't think the game actually needs a tutorial that takes place in an instance or on Sanctus, but that opinion may change as the game's pace changes (if it ever does). Right now players don't need the same sort of information to succeed that you need in other games, until a few hours in, so I don't have a problem with the depth or 'focus' of the 'tutorial', only the structure.

blktauna

You guys who don't like the thought of a tutorial are probably long time MMO players. We know what to look for, what to try and do immediately etc, but not all incoming players will. There has to be some sort of intro to get people who want to try the game at some point, to be able to know what to expect and how to participate in the best way.

Right now almost everyone involved is watching youtubes, immersed in the constant back and forth etc. Later on, this will not be the case. Farther down the line people will be trying this out without the wealth of knowledge that the current population has. They will need guidance.

unknownsystemerror

There are going to be 4 starting portals. The Tulnar start around these areas also. This was confirmed by Steven last week on his own Twitch stream. People confuse starting portals with starting areas regularly. The stated intention is for there to be two racial themed starting areas around each portal with Tulnar "structures" around them also. So as an example, right now most people come in through the portal, go out the main gate and turn right and go down the hill to Lionhold. You will be able to go out of an area, turn right to go to one area, or turn left later sort of thing.

Dygz

Austrinaut wrote: »

I see it regularly stated that the current setup isn't great, is lacking...

I would say.... the current setup is LAGGING!

Austrinaut

Dygz wrote: »

Austrinaut wrote: »

I see it regularly stated that the current setup isn't great, is lacking...

I would say.... the current setup is LAGGING!

Nice.

Interesting to hear the most recent news on starting areas, unknownsystemerror. Thank you.

Azherae, I know it may not be beneficial for most mmo players, but, it will benefit a lot of new, mmo inexperienced players who also post reviews and all that. I also think longtime players will benefit from some quality exposition.

https://youtu.be/rBeA6JHkV1I?si=C2EDJiNz6gR6u4GD is the intro for Ultima Online, and is a great example of how they could succinctly accomplish this. For new players, especially those new to mmo's, having a clear explanation of MMO mechanics is absolutely beneficial.

Example: my brother has been a gamer for almost thirty years and did not know what Threat is. He did not know that healing generates threat. He did not realize that as a bard he should not be building 100% physical power. Don't get me started on where my dad is at in-game, he's gonna be a great crafter and I'll leave it at that. Suffice to say, we're early alpha and there's less tutorial than is needed for players to feel comfortable in their shoes. A greater tutorial (instanced or not, solo or mmo whatever) is going to be beneficial to gamers who are not mmo fanatics.

I think that Ashes is going to draw a LOT of those types of gamers. Between the no box cost and the incredible scope of the project, I know that every gamer I show Lazypeon's videos to basically salivates at the prospect of this game - even if they don't like rpg's much.

Now that I think about it, there's no intro cinematic, every game/mmo has one! Are they working on one?! To the wiki! No in-game cinematics, no word on an intro movie.

Azherae

Yeah, I realize that I was limiting my thinking to 'what Intrepid originally implied they thought they were capable of doing'.

Now that they have more staff, they might change their minds eventually, but for now, I still tend to stick to what they claim they can do, since the last thing Ashes needs is more hype about things they can't do, especially during this stage.

I don't have an issue with opening cinematics and tutorials overall, I've quite liked almost all the ones that games have provided recently and many of those were just the standard in-game renders that switched from directed 'cutscene' movement to player agency and so on, so I wouldn't mind that in Ashes.

The game does 'start a little too slowly' for some of it though, and from what I've seen of the myriad responses that even the 'good' intros/tutorials get from the average player, it's a tossup if it's worth actually doing.

Maybe that's because streamers/entertainers get more 'engagement' from being dismissive, but I also have multiple players in my 'focus group' that kinda just don't 'get it' and end up complaining anyway, so if they're going to complain about the same amount, or only be impressed by absolute top-notch, borderline 'afk journey' style tutorials, I wouldn't spend time on it, especially not now.

Well, other than bringing back the incredible OG dynamic.

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