#newbie chat channel

[JaggedAppliance]

I decided to start a #newbie channel for new players to enter when they join FAF. The idea behind this is to give them a place to easily find many of the things they will want and need if they are going to become community members, for example info on using the client, basic tech support, access to trainers and playing partners etc.

How you can help:
1. Join #newbie!
2. Answer questions. Lots of new players have very basic questions and problems which can be solved with a link or two.
3. Become a trainer. This game has some key differences to most RTS games, a small helping hand at the beginning can go a long way for new player looking to understand the basics
4. Host/stream/cast newbie tourneys. I hope to set up regular tourneys for newbies with the help of Tokyto and we are looking for people to help, especially some russian speakers because there are a lot of new russian players thanks to Yuri.
5. Play games with newbies, maybe you'll find a new member for your clan.

For Devs:
One additional thing to mention is that QAI's autojoin is currently broken, this feature would be a huge help to this channel and its aims. If you are capable please fix this feature.


Once I get some people to help(I know you will help) I'll have the link to the channel posted regularly in aeolus by QAI.

[moonbearonmeth]

Would it be possible to impliment a game/rating check so that for example when you log in with the sum total of games played in ladder/global being less than X you auto join #newbie?

[JaggedAppliance]

I made a github issue to see if autojoin could be implemented in the client. https://github.com/FAForever/client/issues/899

[CookieNoob]

there is a PR with the required changes up already (since june). Better convince the maintainers to review it and finalize it
https://github.com/FAForever/client/pull/357

[moonbearonmeth]

Yeah seems like a lot of people are already looking into it which is great.

Also just a personal belief which I'm curious if other people feel the same on, I think it should perhaps be noted that this isn't necessarily meant to become a designated spot for things.
I.e. if someone asks a question in aeolus there is no reason you can't answer it there rather than some overly complicated process of explaining why they should move to this channel and THEN answer their question.

[surtsan]

I've looked into the game lobby code, and seems like if deviation < 100, your rating is white. So maybe it would be the limit ? (considered newbie if deviation of ladder or global > 100)

For their questions, not important if they ask in aeolus instead of newbie channel (have fun telling every day that they should ask a question in this channel instead of aeolus..)


EDIT : switched to number of games < 51 to be considered newbie.

[Zock]

we had this once, and it didn't really work, but maybe it's worth trying it again.

It would probably work better if you indicate a new message in a channel you're not in similar to other chat clients.

[Morax]

we had this once, and it didn't really work, but maybe it's worth trying it again.

It would probably work better if you indicate a new message in a channel you're not in similar to other chat clients.

Not only that, but BAW was one of the bet "we will train you" corps I have ever seen in Supreme Commander. OxideIon, Turinturambar, Nexus, and Zock will always have my respect for the time they gave others and myself to help try and get people into top shape. For many, you really do need to train and give coaching.

I made a suggestion to Medicraze that he makes a nice "this is FAF: here is how you get trained, and who to talk to." Perhaps it best to consider making this video before introducing the concept and making it mainstream.

[Ze Dogfather]

The idea is pretty interesting, and could also have its complications. On one hand I would see the kind of access of information and support available for new players to obtain and interact with being quite beneficial, while on another I worry that this might isolate and "sever" a newbie's place in the community, not so much as a status matter but also of one that they may not feel in place of being on aeolus where "regulars" tend to congregate. That's more a less a fanciful way to putting it, but I can see how this could change things in the community.

Overall I am down for the idea as well, and would like to extend a hand as well into training/moderating the chat however possible. I've done training for dozens of new people and have helped some average players along for a long time. I do have the experience of moderating the FAF discord as well, so while I don't figure you'll need much help for that, I feel it worth putting forth in aiding the cause. I'll help out in any way that I'm able.

Best of luck to the effort, and I look forward to seeing if we can make this work out in the long run

[biass]

Reference the wiki, a lot of the articles for the "Learning Supcom" page are outdated, we do need some people to help write them, i made an old UEF one and dog and i recently wrote a Seraphim one, it's a great starting point for people starting out but needs to be developed!