Mentor Program

Wasp · Post by **Wasp** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 3:23 pm

Have you ever helped someone new who wanted some basic tips to get familiar with the game? Have you helped a friend you know become the Allegiance addict you are? If you have, I'm sure they've never forgotten it.

Looking back, I can remember sticking to certain players like glue observing and asking questions that saved me a lot of time learning the basics. Having grasped these basic fundamentals, the learning curve was almost straight up.

Once a newb sees he can be a valuable player doing what needs done, he starts looking for what he can do to help instead of just flying around pointlessly.

While the noob server allows them to practice what they've learned, there really isn't a place for them to get started from ground zero outside of the "training" mission which doesn't really train them much.

I know Cadet is a really good resource for the new guys, but what about the guys who haven't the time to go through the program? How about the guys who are waiting for the next Cadet class to begin?

Take someone under your wing and give them a hand. It's fun, they'll listen to you if they know you're making them a better player and you might find that they'll be there someday when YOU need THEM!

jgbaxter · Post by **jgbaxter** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 4:15 pm

If they don't have the time to do @cadet, then they certainly don't have much time to be online.

@cadet doesn't take much time at all, mostly it gives reading with informal training, and mentoring.

Sgt.Pepper · Post by **Sgt.Pepper** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 4:54 pm

Hum, I have to react to that. I put my name down for @CDT at the beginning of this month and have to wait till next week-end to start the program. So in the mean-time, what? I'm getting tired of mucking about on the newbie servers (though they did help at first), but I'm not confident yet on the mainstream servers.

What I have seen is seasoned players giving advice to newbies for the duration of a single game. On the newbie server, you occasionnaly get a CDT (for example) coaching a newbie commander. Which I think is a great initiative on their part!

The trouble with newbie servers is that you're amongst beginners. Not the best way of learning the game...

*looks forward to his CDT training*

Semarin · Post by **Semarin** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 5:21 pm

Sgt.Pepper wrote:QUOTE (Sgt.Pepper @ Apr 30 2007, 12:54 PM) Hum, I have to react to that. I put my name down for @CDT at the beginning of this month and have to wait till next week-end to start the program. So in the mean-time, what? I'm getting tired of mucking about on the newbie servers (though they did help at first), but I'm not confident yet on the mainstream servers.

What I have seen is seasoned players giving advice to newbies for the duration of a single game. On the newbie server, you occasionnaly get a CDT (for example) coaching a newbie commander. Which I think is a great initiative on their part!

The trouble with newbie servers is that you're amongst beginners. Not the best way of learning the game...

*looks forward to his CDT training*

If you think you have grown beyond the newbie servers, then feel free to move up to the vet servers. I agree that there is only so much (if anything really) that can be learned on the newb servers. If you feel intimidated on the big bog servers, just remember that there are always a couple newbs on there and odds are yoru already ahead of them. Feel free to jsut fly around and probe @#(! up until you start to become more comfortable with things. One can always ask the comm for suggestions and such as well. Most are somewhat underswtanding and appreciate yoru well intentions. (but not all)

Elephanthead · Post by **Elephanthead** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:22 pm

Yes come to the vet servers so you can hear how stupid you are and how much you suck and why you should be booted.

Post by **Tigereye** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:23 pm

Elephanthead wrote:QUOTE (Elephanthead @ Apr 30 2007, 05:22 PM) Yes come to the vet servers so you can hear how stupid you are and how much you suck and why you should be booted.

/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":roll:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />

Kltplzyxm · Post by **Kltplzyxm** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:25 pm

Sgt.Pepper wrote:QUOTE (Sgt.Pepper @ Apr 30 2007, 09:54 AM) Hum, I have to react to that. I put my name down for @CDT at the beginning of this month and have to wait till next week-end to start the program. So in the mean-time, what? I'm getting tired of mucking about on the newbie servers (though they did help at first), but I'm not confident yet on the mainstream servers.

Sgt. Pepper, take a look at this thread I started out of my own newbie frustration: http://www.freeallegiance.org/forums/index...showtopic=30604
Some or most of which you probably already know. Still hopefully there's something that may be of value to you.

Everything that I came up with so far still works really well. I've only been playing for 2 weeks and I have a better time coping with dogfights as my number of kills per game is finally going up. I'm still scouting alot but also playing alot of D.

the others are right, the Newbie server is really limiting in terms of learning the complexities of the game. I only go on there to mess around with new flying tricks that I discovered on my own. And after experiencing what good teamwork is like, it's hard going back to the newbie server.

I'm sure any com you play for will be happy if you just play alot of miner/con D and probe like mad if you're not doing something he's directly requesting. /smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

Angela Liu · Post by **Angela Liu** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:34 pm

it takes a while to get use to vet server. To be honest, I totally had no clue what's happening in the vet server after 8 weeks of playing. I avoided the big server and never really play on it few month ago. Observing a squad game helps, especially because they're well organized and everyone (almost, i still lost track in SG's) knows what they're doing. It doesn't hurt to apply for cadet, fly with your tag on and ask a squaded member to observe one of their squadgames. Just sit in base and see what to do at what time, and it actually helps a lot in vet pickup games.

--Angela

P.S. don't worry about slow reactions /smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> I'm still a noob and everytime i play in vet servers i had to make sure i'm in the wrong place before launch.

Sycrus · Post by **Sycrus** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:44 pm

well, yes but no...you need to be on the vet server as much as possible, just for the first 8 weeks, dont talk, because you WILL gt yourself into a load of @#(! you cant get out of. i pissed off mjol the first time i talked. it took a while to get used to things and soon apologize. so, getting podded repetitively doesnt mean anything except learning what to do better.

and take this is consideration. DO THE TRAINING MISSIONS AND SIGN UP FOR @CDT IMMIDIATELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CANNOT STRESS THAT ENOUGH! so do it /tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":P" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" />

Post by **FreeBeer** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 11:08 pm

other things to do while waiting for @Cadet:

get TeamSpeak! Log in. Say hi! Ask questions. It's so much easier for someone to answer your question on Teamspeak than it is to type in the limited space available in-game. (Many won't respond by typing because of this limitation.) It's ok to ask questions - most don't mind answering you when you've shown a little initiative by wanting to learn. Yes, expect some hazing/teasing but just let it roll off your back - think of the teasing/hazing, if you get it, as a test of your mettle. /mrgreen.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="mrgreen.gif" />

Also, understand that any replies you get may range from excellent to downright wrong (although I've seen little of the latter and much more of the former). Also, every reply will be "contextual" usually. There's generally no stock right or wrong answer to a simple question - the answer always depends on the circumstances. (That is, for questions more complex than: "What key do I press to...") For instance: "What is the best weapon to load on my fighter?" depends on the circumstances, for each weapon has a strength vs different target types.

Pick your time to ask questions... ask in NOAT to people in NOAT is a good idea. People in game have very little time, if any, to reply and it can be distracting.

Ask @Allegs, when they're available.

Ask people in NOAT if anyone is willing to give a little 1v1 tutorial. Many are willing - you just have to ask. If you want to increase your chances of getting a positive response, find out who the Cadet instructors/ Cadet squad reps are, then ask them.