EvilEdDead wrote:
Just a suggestion to help improve the chat community, especially until other channels arrive.
It would be a GREAT idea to place all new accounts in a "Help" or "Newbie" type channel by default. If you think there's no need for a requirement for Global (certain amount of Pop or whatever) then I suppose simply finding the Chat channel list would be enough to say they don't have to be in the newbie chat. A lot of veteran players of online games dislike dealing with people who can't be bothered to read manuals, and 90% of new players seem to make the first thing they ask something that's addressed in the first page or two of a manual. This would not only make Global more likely to be kind and well-natured, but will also let people who do enjoy helping, do so without having to compete with flames from other disinclined players.
Impact As there's already a Chat list, I can't see this idea taking more than 5 minutes to program. It would appear that all the sub-systems for separate chats are in place, so simply creating the channel, and changing new accounts from Global to the new channel shouldn't have any negative impacts, particularly if a mod/guide or two regularly patrolled to help out new players.
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We have considered this, Evil.
The problem with putting all the new players into a specific "New Player Help" channel is that we actually do then need to staff that channel with people to answer the questions.
Nothing would make new players quit the game faster than putting them in a New player help channel that had no-one helpful in it.
At least in the Global chat there's usually a good natured and experienced player to answer sensible questions.
At some point in the future, when the playerbase has expanded further, I'm sure we'll revisit this idea.
Also

at your "5 minutes to program" comment