Olympia: Entering the world (aka Newbie Nation) From: jrives@tridom.uucp (Joel Rives) Date: Wed, 13 May 1992 14:48:10 +0000 In general, i find the mechanism for entering Olympia very weak. I have not commented on this previously because i realize this is a test system and there are many other areas of concern. However, i do have a few suggestions. First of all, just showing up with 7000 gp and no skills seems a bit naive and contrived. Secondly, given the concept of a faction, the distinction between a PC and an NPC is not necissary and probably not desirable. A major factor that makes entrance into Olympia unusual and difficult is the presence of civilization without an established legal system and the means to enforce the laws. Granted, this sort of thing is being slowly implemented by players. However, i would expect to see something already in place before the first player ever sets foot in Drassa. Such a thing, would require a certain amount of 'intelligence' for the NPCs responsible. Let me toss in the following ideas for discussion: 1. Each player is considered to be the head of a clan/family 2. Before entering the game, the new player is given some number of abstract Construction Points (CP) with which to build their family. 3. These CP can be spent on any combination of the following: - add a new member (unit) to the family - add a new skill to a family member - improve an existing skill of a family member - add money to the family coffers - purchase items (armor, weapons, horses, etc...) - improve starting location * possibly others 4. No member of a players faction (ostensibly the family) is designated as 'player character'. 5. Unit number assignment is random or hashed (definately NOT sequential) 6. No announcement is made in turn reports and/or the Times about new players entering the game. 7. A message option can be added for broadcasting a message to all new players (This one's for you Oleg :-) I feel that this sort of system would solve a lot of the problems concerning 'newbies'. This would also allow new players to be come more active earlier. -- ------- Joel M. Rives INTERNET: jrives@eng.tridom.com O-O Analysis, Design & Implementation UUCP: joel@ad.UUCP Avalon Designs, Inc. VOICE: (404) 514-3398 Consulting with AT&T Tridom (404) 377-0764 ------- Up