Hello,
I'm an ordinary noob trying to learn and enjoy the game. I started less than a week ago, and I thought I would share some of my perspective, for whatever it's worth.
1. This game is amazing. I wish I would have been able to play it before now.
2. My initial impression of the game community is... a bit disappointing. There's an awful lot of immature elitists running around, and a "newbies need to be hazed" attitude. I really feel like a lot of players WANT this game to be harder for new players to learn just so they can feel better about themselves for already knowing. Fortunately, there are a lot of players that have been friendly and helpful as well, but on the balance the community doesn't come across as very friendly at all.
3. It's frustrating to join a server, then wait 20 minutes to start a game while the "vets" insult each other and argue about stacking.
4. It's also frustrating to jump on a turret, hoping to finally be useful, only to have the bomber pilot turn around and land so he can "dump the noob." I can think of lots of other examples: basically, players get focused on winning, want to be sure that some dumb newbie isn't going to mess them up, and pretty much cut the newbies out of any important moves in the game. How are we supposed to learn, exactly?
5. The Academy website is very good, but none of what I read actually made any sense until I'd played in several games. The reference is helpful, but the way some people have talked it sounds like I should be able to just read the site and memorize it, then be an instantly useful player.
6. A newbie server would be nice, but only if it were populated.
7. Restricting newbies from playing on a "normal" server is a pretty dumb idea. I don't think I would be as excited about the game if I hadn't been able to jump into a couple of large, active games and see how dynamic it could be.
8. My impression is that this game is in its late twilight, and won't be around much longer.
9. The learning curve of the basic game is actually not bad at all. The learning curve for the COMMUNITY, however, and the especially the game styles used, is extremely steep. That's frustrating.
10. As deep as the game is, it seems that only a fraction of it ever gets used with any regularity at all. All I've ever seen is conquest with two teams. It saddens me that large chunks of the game never get played, and I'm afraid that the way the game is declining they never will.
11. There's way too much shorthand, and it's a real pain to get the hang of.
12. Most of the real "progress" I've made has been due to players taking the time to really help, and I am extremely grateful to those players.
13. The single most useful thing I can think of would be to have commanders assign newbies like myself as a "wingman" to an experienced pilot for the duration of the game.
Like I said, take it for what it's worth.
A new player's thoughts
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BlackViper
- Posts: 6993
- Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2003 7:00 am
- Location: Green Bay, WI
"5. The Academy website is very good, but none of what I read actually made any sense until I'd played in several games. The reference is helpful, but the way some people have talked it sounds like I should be able to just read the site and memorize it, then be an instantly useful player"
Learning to drive a car, you can read until you are blue in the face, but until you get behind the wheel. /wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />
"8. My impression is that this game is in its late twilight, and won't be around much longer."
Sorry, but ROFL. Not being an ass or anything. But I just pulled a topic from May of 2000 to include in the Academy's historical section. The topic title? "Allegiance will die in 6 months." So I would not worry about that.
"12. Most of the real "progress" I've made has been due to players taking the time to really help, and I am extremely grateful to those players.
13. The single most useful thing I can think of would be to have commanders assign newbies like myself as a "wingman" to an experienced pilot for the duration of the game."
For every ass here, there is one person who will help you. I have also pulled another old post from June of 2000 that word for word, could almost be your post. Unfortunately we realize that. But like real life, we have a wide spread group here.
"11. There's way too much shorthand, and it's a real pain to get the hang of. "
Abbreviation help
Unfortunately it is a fact of life. It saves time when the game is intense
Always glad to hear feedback.
Learning to drive a car, you can read until you are blue in the face, but until you get behind the wheel. /wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />
"8. My impression is that this game is in its late twilight, and won't be around much longer."
Sorry, but ROFL. Not being an ass or anything. But I just pulled a topic from May of 2000 to include in the Academy's historical section. The topic title? "Allegiance will die in 6 months." So I would not worry about that.
"12. Most of the real "progress" I've made has been due to players taking the time to really help, and I am extremely grateful to those players.
13. The single most useful thing I can think of would be to have commanders assign newbies like myself as a "wingman" to an experienced pilot for the duration of the game."
For every ass here, there is one person who will help you. I have also pulled another old post from June of 2000 that word for word, could almost be your post. Unfortunately we realize that. But like real life, we have a wide spread group here.
"11. There's way too much shorthand, and it's a real pain to get the hang of. "
Abbreviation help
Unfortunately it is a fact of life. It saves time when the game is intense
Always glad to hear feedback.
Always in the Shadows...
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Greator_SST
- Posts: 277
- Joined: Sun Jul 27, 2003 7:00 am
...great post, sushi! The best impressions are the first impressions. And we need to hear that at least once in a while. While a lot of people have commented that this community is way more lenient toward new players than other gaming communities, we have such a concentrated group of veterans who respond instinctively to the game dynamics that for many it gets frustrating to play alongside someone who is just learning the ropes.
Believe me, you'll find lots of people here willing to take the time to help. Tons of resources and protections for 'newbs', not to mention an entire 'cadet' program for new players who want to dig into the game quickly.
Thanks for posting!
Believe me, you'll find lots of people here willing to take the time to help. Tons of resources and protections for 'newbs', not to mention an entire 'cadet' program for new players who want to dig into the game quickly.
Thanks for posting!
...yea
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Enfyrneaux
- Posts: 101
- Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2005 8:00 am
- Location: California
Could a lingo filter for game chat be added to ASGS or FAZ?BlackViper wrote:QUOTE (BlackViper @ Feb 6 2007, 10:23 AM) "11. There's way too much shorthand, and it's a real pain to get the hang of. "
Abbreviation help
Unfortunately it is a fact of life. It saves time when the game is intense
Always glad to hear feedback.
[sig][/sig]
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Anguirel
- Posts: 407
- Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2004 8:00 am
- Location: El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río de Porciúncula
Good question. Given the presence of the swear filter, it shoudl be technically possible to find-and-replace word chunks with longer ones. We could also set up VCs (possibly with no voice associated) with just directions on how to achieve specific objectives.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" - Beatrice Hall, The Friends of Voltaire
Well Sushi, unfortunarely the time you played yesterday was one of the worst days as far as stacking goes.
in response to your part 4- sometimes bomb runs can be the vital point in a game, in a bomb run where you absolutely must succeed, it is of utmost importance that your turrets be capable of quickly taking down the enemy. However, dont think i dont understand what you are saying because when i was a newbie i got my fair share of this.
In time, however, your skills will improve and you will no longer be the target of such scrutiny. In the meantime, work on your turreting in off hour or low priority bomb runs and for the big bomb runs, grab a scout and a nan. If you become good at dodging fire while nanning you will become a very highly valued member of the team since it will prolong the life of the bomber.
Keep playing, learning, and have fun! if you have any questions feel free to ask. There are many people in this game who are more than willing to help.
in response to your part 4- sometimes bomb runs can be the vital point in a game, in a bomb run where you absolutely must succeed, it is of utmost importance that your turrets be capable of quickly taking down the enemy. However, dont think i dont understand what you are saying because when i was a newbie i got my fair share of this.
In time, however, your skills will improve and you will no longer be the target of such scrutiny. In the meantime, work on your turreting in off hour or low priority bomb runs and for the big bomb runs, grab a scout and a nan. If you become good at dodging fire while nanning you will become a very highly valued member of the team since it will prolong the life of the bomber.
Keep playing, learning, and have fun! if you have any questions feel free to ask. There are many people in this game who are more than willing to help.
BV, that's a pretty weak argument- just because someone was wrong 7 years ago doesn't mean that Sushi is wrong now.
Of course, Sushi is wrong. But not for that reason.
Sushi, this game is not very likely to die. We are all terminally addicted forever. If you last more than two months or so, you also will be terminally addicted forever. The environment hasn't changed significantly since I joined.
Welcome to the ranks.
Of course, Sushi is wrong. But not for that reason.
Sushi, this game is not very likely to die. We are all terminally addicted forever. If you last more than two months or so, you also will be terminally addicted forever. The environment hasn't changed significantly since I joined.
Welcome to the ranks.
Lol, Vet bashin off a newb. I love it. Sushi great post, dont give up on the game yet, I was a bit concerned when i started playing but when I got used to the game I realised it is a really good community.
As for the game dying out im not so sure Iv not been here that long and there are always new players joining up, and a Dev and Art team that literally live on their computers like me.
Just stick with it ignore the $#@!ers who aren't nice and pay attention to the ones who are, as they will be able to teach you more anyway.
Good Luck
Spawn /ninja.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":ninja:" border="0" alt="ninja.gif" />
As for the game dying out im not so sure Iv not been here that long and there are always new players joining up, and a Dev and Art team that literally live on their computers like me.
Just stick with it ignore the $#@!ers who aren't nice and pay attention to the ones who are, as they will be able to teach you more anyway.
Good Luck
Spawn /ninja.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":ninja:" border="0" alt="ninja.gif" />
Sushi,
Excellent post! As a vet returning to this game, I'd say I have to agree with every point you've made except #8 about the game dying. It seems that every 6 months or so, the powers that be get a bug up their arse and decide to re-do the way ranks are calculated. So for those of us who like to switch back and forth from Allegiance to different games, coming back is always fun because you automatically get a 0 tacked on to the end of your name and immediately everyone assumes that you're clueless. I'm sorry, but although my reflexes for this game aren't as sharp as if I had been playing 6 months straight, I still remember how to reduce the sig of my stealth bomber and that it is crucial to defend the miners and constructors, and that early on it is important to find alephs and drop probes, and to nan bombers, etc.
People take these pickup games so seriously and they think that if they win or lose it's going to make some great difference in their lives. I've played many games of Allegiance and regardless of the outcome by the end of the game I don't feel like it matters how my team did as long as I enjoyed myself while playing and didn't annoy anyone on my team.
Point #3 about there being too much time between games really hits home for me. I wish there was a way to set a time limit in between each game starting. Half the stuff people talk about I doubt anyone really cares.
Excellent post! As a vet returning to this game, I'd say I have to agree with every point you've made except #8 about the game dying. It seems that every 6 months or so, the powers that be get a bug up their arse and decide to re-do the way ranks are calculated. So for those of us who like to switch back and forth from Allegiance to different games, coming back is always fun because you automatically get a 0 tacked on to the end of your name and immediately everyone assumes that you're clueless. I'm sorry, but although my reflexes for this game aren't as sharp as if I had been playing 6 months straight, I still remember how to reduce the sig of my stealth bomber and that it is crucial to defend the miners and constructors, and that early on it is important to find alephs and drop probes, and to nan bombers, etc.
People take these pickup games so seriously and they think that if they win or lose it's going to make some great difference in their lives. I've played many games of Allegiance and regardless of the outcome by the end of the game I don't feel like it matters how my team did as long as I enjoyed myself while playing and didn't annoy anyone on my team.
Point #3 about there being too much time between games really hits home for me. I wish there was a way to set a time limit in between each game starting. Half the stuff people talk about I doubt anyone really cares.