Comments on: Don’t Blame The Noob, Blame The Game http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/2010/02/10/dont-blame-the-noob-blame-the-game/ A blog about MMORPGs like World of Warcraft (WoW) and Everquest 2 (EQ2) Fri, 17 May 2013 14:19:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Gordon http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/2010/02/10/dont-blame-the-noob-blame-the-game/comment-page-1/#comment-14641 Gordon Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:27:42 +0000 http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/?p=3366#comment-14641 Yep. Everyone is in a rush now and they just want easy PUGs to rip through dungeons and raids. No one cares about teaching the newbs any more! Yep. Everyone is in a rush now and they just want easy PUGs to rip through dungeons and raids. No one cares about teaching the newbs any more!

]]> By: nugget http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/2010/02/10/dont-blame-the-noob-blame-the-game/comment-page-1/#comment-14618 nugget Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:40:12 +0000 http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/?p=3366#comment-14618 In the even older days, in MUDs, people would actually teach newbies, just the way you taught your brother. Because in most MUDs, newbies are valued as people. They're fresh blood that you want to stay, to have enjoy your world, and make it richer. MMOs? Pfft. What can I get out of this person? Oh, it's a noob? Nothing then. U suk. Kthxbai. *mourn* In the even older days, in MUDs, people would actually teach newbies, just the way you taught your brother. Because in most MUDs, newbies are valued as people. They’re fresh blood that you want to stay, to have enjoy your world, and make it richer.

MMOs? Pfft. What can I get out of this person? Oh, it’s a noob? Nothing then. U suk. Kthxbai.

*mourn*

]]> By: LifeEquals42 http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/2010/02/10/dont-blame-the-noob-blame-the-game/comment-page-1/#comment-14479 LifeEquals42 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:42:09 +0000 http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/?p=3366#comment-14479 I remember when I was leveling my Druid there was a quest in Arathi Highlands to escort a night elf to check out a building in this little village. I did it by healing the night elf as I wanted to heal in endgame, problem is it was ridiculously easy and since then I have had this recurring wish that Blizzard would sprinkle in solo quests that challenged you in whatever role you played. If you played a tank then make the escort do good dps so that it was a challenge to hold aggro. If you were dps and the mob acted as tank then make the mobs spawn in waves fast enoigh that you had to do decent dps to get the first wave down before the next came but also not pull aggro from the escort. Maybe even make these quest really hard and give a really nice reward on completion so people who see you with the gear will know that you have some competency. This idea could be extended to class specific quests that require you to use a certain ability in order to complete it, for example kite mobs or CC them. Oh well as they say wish in one hand and... I remember when I was leveling my Druid there was a quest in Arathi Highlands to escort a night elf to check out a building in this little village. I did it by healing the night elf as I wanted to heal in endgame, problem is it was ridiculously easy and since then I have had this recurring wish that Blizzard would sprinkle in solo quests that challenged you in whatever role you played. If you played a tank then make the escort do good dps so that it was a challenge to hold aggro. If you were dps and the mob acted as tank then make the mobs spawn in waves fast enoigh that you had to do decent dps to get the first wave down before the next came but also not pull aggro from the escort. Maybe even make these quest really hard and give a really nice reward on completion so people who see you with the gear will know that you have some competency. This idea could be extended to class specific quests that require you to use a certain ability in order to complete it, for example kite mobs or CC them. Oh well as they say wish in one hand and…

]]> By: Gordon http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/2010/02/10/dont-blame-the-noob-blame-the-game/comment-page-1/#comment-14402 Gordon Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:45:04 +0000 http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/?p=3366#comment-14402 I find the lack of communication in groups in WoW really strange. I'm used to playing EQ2 in which everyone chats... now it's just silence unless someone has something offensive to say. I find the lack of communication in groups in WoW really strange. I’m used to playing EQ2 in which everyone chats… now it’s just silence unless someone has something offensive to say.

]]> By: Gordon http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/2010/02/10/dont-blame-the-noob-blame-the-game/comment-page-1/#comment-14400 Gordon Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:43:40 +0000 http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/?p=3366#comment-14400 I think because WoW is often so solo focused there isn't the need to learn group basics or be turned off by it until very late in the game. I think because WoW is often so solo focused there isn’t the need to learn group basics or be turned off by it until very late in the game.

]]> By: Gordon http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/2010/02/10/dont-blame-the-noob-blame-the-game/comment-page-1/#comment-14399 Gordon Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:42:53 +0000 http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/?p=3366#comment-14399 Some people just don't like to be given advice. All the more shame on them I guess. Some people just don’t like to be given advice. All the more shame on them I guess.

]]> By: Kiseran http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/2010/02/10/dont-blame-the-noob-blame-the-game/comment-page-1/#comment-14387 Kiseran Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:49:25 +0000 http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/?p=3366#comment-14387 I occasionally try to lecture someone who does particulary bad, but the distinction between newb and noob usually breaks my neck in this. Both kind of players play somewhat alike, the difference is just: While the newb is willing to learn something new, the noob just wants you to tell him that he is great and then shut the fuck up and give him his loots. The sad thing is: There seem to be much, much more noobs than newbs out there. Whenever I try to teach someone something the usual answer is something like "Others tell me I play just fine" or "Why do you complain, we are not wiping!" (Yeah, because I'm massively overgeared and my heals make you nearly immortal..) or just insults. The last time I really met a newb was in Pit of Saron about two month ago. Two DDs were doing abysmal damage, simply below the point where we could manage the instance, so I tried to do something about it. One of them learned just fine and went from 500 DPS to 2000 DPS even if it took about half an hour of explanations. However the other one (who seemed to be too nice for insults and his faults were too glaring to deny them) actually prefered leaving the group over being taught anything. I occasionally try to lecture someone who does particulary bad, but the distinction between newb and noob usually breaks my neck in this. Both kind of players play somewhat alike, the difference is just: While the newb is willing to learn something new, the noob just wants you to tell him that he is great and then shut the fuck up and give him his loots.
The sad thing is: There seem to be much, much more noobs than newbs out there. Whenever I try to teach someone something the usual answer is something like “Others tell me I play just fine” or “Why do you complain, we are not wiping!” (Yeah, because I’m massively overgeared and my heals make you nearly immortal..) or just insults. The last time I really met a newb was in Pit of Saron about two month ago. Two DDs were doing abysmal damage, simply below the point where we could manage the instance, so I tried to do something about it. One of them learned just fine and went from 500 DPS to 2000 DPS even if it took about half an hour of explanations. However the other one (who seemed to be too nice for insults and his faults were too glaring to deny them) actually prefered leaving the group over being taught anything.

]]> By: Sven http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/2010/02/10/dont-blame-the-noob-blame-the-game/comment-page-1/#comment-14382 Sven Thu, 11 Feb 2010 23:50:23 +0000 http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/?p=3366#comment-14382 I remember my first experience as a tank, playing EQ2. I had no concept of what the holy trinity was, let alone aggro. I had a vague idea that as the guy wearing the heavy armour that I should be the one who stood at the front & took the blows, but that was it. Fortunately for me, several people in the group realised that I had no idea and, rather than spouting insults, quietly whispered tips to me in private. By the end of that (admittedly low level and fairly easy) instance, I was tanking like a champ. I dread to think what would have happened if I'd been a new tank in WOW today. Whilst the level of courtesy on RP servers is still high, the wonders of the dungeon finder mean that you get exposed to people from other servers who are ... less polite. OK, that's an understatement; some of them are vile individuals who would rather mock a newcomer than help them. I wonder how many potential new players will get turned off WOW by that attitude. My own answer to this would be to set up specific new-player servers, so that people who choose to use them can learn together. I remember my first experience as a tank, playing EQ2. I had no concept of what the holy trinity was, let alone aggro. I had a vague idea that as the guy wearing the heavy armour that I should be the one who stood at the front & took the blows, but that was it.

Fortunately for me, several people in the group realised that I had no idea and, rather than spouting insults, quietly whispered tips to me in private. By the end of that (admittedly low level and fairly easy) instance, I was tanking like a champ. I dread to think what would have happened if I’d been a new tank in WOW today. Whilst the level of courtesy on RP servers is still high, the wonders of the dungeon finder mean that you get exposed to people from other servers who are … less polite. OK, that’s an understatement; some of them are vile individuals who would rather mock a newcomer than help them.

I wonder how many potential new players will get turned off WOW by that attitude. My own answer to this would be to set up specific new-player servers, so that people who choose to use them can learn together.

]]> By: Ercles http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/2010/02/10/dont-blame-the-noob-blame-the-game/comment-page-1/#comment-14376 Ercles Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:31:57 +0000 http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/?p=3366#comment-14376 I don't mind grouping with newbies at all (I use the term noob for those who act like newbies when they really shouldn't). What makes me twitch is the newbies who seem to think they know everything. I remember running SM quite a while back when I was leveling my mage. Several times I ran into this mage (before cross server PUGs) who kept meleeing mobs. I tried to explain to him that using a wonder was better if he wanted to conserve mana. His response? He mocked my skill in daggers and told me to go do various things to animals... *headdesk* I don’t mind grouping with newbies at all (I use the term noob for those who act like newbies when they really shouldn’t). What makes me twitch is the newbies who seem to think they know everything.

I remember running SM quite a while back when I was leveling my mage. Several times I ran into this mage (before cross server PUGs) who kept meleeing mobs. I tried to explain to him that using a wonder was better if he wanted to conserve mana. His response? He mocked my skill in daggers and told me to go do various things to animals…

*headdesk*

]]> By: Gordon http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/2010/02/10/dont-blame-the-noob-blame-the-game/comment-page-1/#comment-14374 Gordon Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:20:26 +0000 http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/?p=3366#comment-14374 And just like sex, the best way to learn is by watching vides online and reading about it! ;) And just like sex, the best way to learn is by watching vides online and reading about it! ;)

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