A newcomer tutorial ingame

[reflexun]

It is clearly evident newcomers are lost and struggling because you have not provided a full in-game tutorial.

I think Frontier need to gently warm players in so they not become so frustrated right at the beginning. They are overwhelmed by the sheer list of controls and not know the basics.

I can't remember which game possibly Freespace where you had these ingame featues where the tutorials were part of the game. The commander speaking, where he explained what each default key does and your shown the ship moving, a decoy released or a missile launching in real time.

Flight School Academy something like that would enrich the game. That would make a great introduction. You are guided but then you are left on your own to go forth. You would then feel a little empowered knowing what's what. Newcomers are kept on a even keel.

You have several flight school tutorials in game taught by a experienced commander. It could simply be "A friend" in the novella manual.

There's still much to learn from thereafter and fly it. But in a tutorial you are guided and so can learn instead of wrestling with it.

That's needed for Elite.

You don't jump in a 747 jumbo jet and have to workout the hundreds of controls to fly it, you get taught sat in the cockpit.

 

[reflexun]

First thing newcomers see when they download Elite is Combat Training. That's not right.

What about showing live with the ships default basic controls what each key does. Like thrust and movement for example. That way the newcomer can be introduced and be kept immersed instead of spending 4 hours reading forums, videos and 3rd party manuals.

 

[Ears]

I agree (and I am not a newcomer).

Elite is basically four actions repeated. Dock, find mission, leave, jump somewhere else.
Optional three actions. Buy cargo, shoot something, scoop something.

There are tutorials for dock, leave, jump and shoot. The existing ones should really include the other steps too, then you're good to go.

For instance the travel tutorial should include a fetch mission, and have you return to the start system. Simple, effective, and basically all the game has to offer (minus "imagination").

 

[Madjackal]

Each tutorial cover most of the basic, what it lack is actual assist.

You can learn how to fly, combat, dock, travel in all the tutorial they are fairly simple and even got link to video.
The basic and first tutorial, you can fly and get used to the control and tune them to your liking.
The combat tutorial train you the basic of fighting but also flying by teaching roll etc..


The only thing in which newcomer would be lost is, how to start and what to do.
There should be a tutorial for each type of mission.
All starting in the hub, telling you to go to the bulleting board, pick the mission, a voice explain you the detail of what to do and what type of is it and guide you through it.
You'll have to launch, exit station go to the other station or nav beacon, USS then return to the primary station.

Sound silly but most new player i knew or met always were lost in this "what do i do now??" phase. So adding a short trainee mission line would be of help.

 

[reflexun]

Frontier give you a 2 billion universe to explore but won't let you delete your own post on the forum. The irony.

 

[GingerElvis]

Hate to say it but I agree.
I've reached Novice and got to grips with it now, but it was incredibly frustrating.
If I hadn't supported the Kickstarter I'd probably have given up.
Sadly my older brother has now given up after several hours of frustration, and it's going to be less fun without him.
An assisted tutorial is badly needed or the longevity of the game could be at risk.

 

[ProfessionalN00b]

I'd agree with making it more friendly to new players.

The content is out there in training, tutorials, and videos already but most players can't or won't find all of that and will instead be completely in the dark about how to play the game until they eventually figure it all out or quit. Heck, I remember my first time docking and even after watching a half an hour video about it I still didn't feel like I had any clue what I was doing. Not that it was a new feeling, mind you.

 

[reflexun]

It's in the training, tutorials, and videos but with a dextrous control system of this nature newcomers need professional help. It needs some indepth joe blogs tutorials. Not everybody of same ability. The more diverse the player introduced to the universe makes for a better game.

 

[hobostick]

As a newcomer to elite I was completely overwhelmed. This game needs a proper novice introduction tutorial.

Using the existing tutorials but linking them together with builten board missions and step by step pointers. Add in a simple story to introduce the elite universe would also help with immersion for new players. Also include scooping cargo and USS interactions etc. and dumb it right down with big arrows pointing to various panels which need to be selected. For example during docking point to contacts panel to ask for docking permission etc.

Also including things like how and when to use scanners would be helpfull. And possibly introductions / how tos on trading, mining, bounty hunting and exploration

This would be best as part of the single player combat training program not the full game. This way the hand holding can be optional for those who chose it.

I have eventually found this to be a good game but nearly gave up at the start. Improvements in this area are vital for a better newcomer experience.