New player journey redesign

[Xylum]

When a new player spawns for the first time, they land at the Bus station with some items and a briefcase. The first thing most new players do, is become a bus driver. At this point, the new player does not have a license and their first experience will most likely be them being put in jail for driving without a license. 

So they try to get a license. First they have to work out where to get one, which is not clear to begin with. The DMV is on the other side of the city and the only way to get there? Illegally drive a bus, or hope that there is a taxi. Oh and the taxi will cost 25% of their starting cash. Not feasible. So you get to the DMV and you go and get a license, but wait, you have to watch a tutorial. Ok fine, 3 or 4 minutes go by and now you can do a practical exam where you just drive a loop around the south east of the city. Not exactly mega engaging for someone whos brand new to the server. 

So you get your license, now what? A car? Nope, can't afford one of those, you've only got 11k left. What about a bicycle? Sure let's go get one of those. How? Where? I'm sat at the DMV and the closest thing I can see is low end cars on the map. Let's get a citybee, nope, none of those are available to rent. Guess I'll run. Get to low end and guess what, all the cars there are $40k plus. Welp, guess I'll get rinsed by a taxi again and go back to driving a bus as its really the only thing I know.

Here's my suggestion:

New players spawn in at Legion square parking and are given a drivers license by default. They are forced to watch the drivers license tutorial by default. The tutorial should also highlight the job locations. They are also given an untradeable warrener by default, they are taught how to take the warrener out of parking. This server depends heavily on transportation, the new player should not be limited straight out of the gate. The new player can still go to the DMV and get their truckers license, only now they can do it legally.

[Hector2Fingers]

+1 with a few modifications.

I definitely think the new player journey could use a refresh.  Personally, I think instead of the bus station, the new player spawn point should be the airport (rply, they'd fly into the city).  The DMV is a short walking distance from the airport where a player can get their license.  Maybe to help, an initial pop up that stays on their screen for a bit advising them to go to the DMV to get their license, or a waypoint set on their GPS on initial spawn which takes them to the DMV.

I would disagree with the idea of giving a new player an untradeable car out of the gate.  Many players wouldn't all want to be stuck with a Warrener forever, if at all.  But I would not be opposed to one or more of the following options.

• 50% discount on any dealership car under 20k (1 time use only and only valid while they have a New Player Tag)
• 5-10K more in starter cash
• First taxi ride free of charge.

[padpilot]

The entire New Player experience is broke., From the locations, assets given and the Admin Message at the start, whole thing is just horrible imo. Recently guided a bunch of people (around 12) through this new player process and each and everyone of them said it sucked. 

You touched on so many wrong choices made by devs here when introducing a player to the server, however I wanted to add one more. Shortly after a player joins the server they get a message saying something like "Hi, I am [insert staff name] if you would like any help please use /rm to reply". This needs removing, its off putting, annoying and you are just overwhelming the players. As I said, i juust guided a bunch of people

Also, just to touch on Hectors point

On 11/2/2024 at 5:52 PM, Hector2Fingers said:

Personally, I think instead of the bus station, the new player spawn point should be the airport (rply, they'd fly into the city). 

Not this. TRhe airport limits roleplaya nd suggests your char is not from Los  Santos, howevere many characters are from Los Santos. There are only 2 roleplay bases for all characters, are they from Los Santos or not. 

Ideally wwhen the player creates their character they would be asked, local or not, the spawn point should be based on this imo

[Ritchie Stones]

i think the server needs a lot more than this, the life span of new player is a week or 2, sometimes they catch some more attention and they stay about 3 months, but max a year, I see people come and go so fast these days, 

all my long friends from years ago are gone, its getting lonely, the server population used to be 450-300, its only 200-240 max now, and I see it getting less and less, Im concerned that the server is on the losing end, 
 

mainly because of new players arent very much attracted anymore by not only the starting point but also the end goal is being drastically taken down, back then we would come in with big dreams and goals, now even being a crim is like being a salary busdriver, it used to be the driveforce of the server, people be doing wild stuff and being very creative with investing, now, its very bleak, so I think after already a hard start, they figure out that what used to be is no longer the case, they just leave.

[padpilot]

2 hours ago, Ritchie Stones said:

i think the server needs a lot more than this, the life span of new player is a week or 2, sometimes they catch some more attention and they stay about 3 months, but max a year, I see people come and go so fast these days, 

all my long friends from years ago are gone, its getting lonely, the server population used to be 450-300, its only 200-240 max now, and I see it getting less and less, Im concerned that the server is on the losing end, 
 

mainly because of new players arent very much attracted anymore by not only the starting point but also the end goal is being drastically taken down, back then we would come in with big dreams and goals, now even being a crim is like being a salary busdriver, it used to be the driveforce of the server, people be doing wild stuff and being very creative with investing, now, its very bleak, so I think after already a hard start, they figure out that what used to be is no longer the case, they just leave.

Each and every one of The Rebels feels this exact same way.. its a lot more like you say tbf.. 

 

I think reallu the Players stay greatly depends on the people they meet within those first crucial days/weeks. However, even if they meet great people, there is just soooo much knowledge embedded unto Report Archives that new players just don't have. This allows exp players to literally run circles around new guys.. 

 

Even cops are fitted to tackle the most OP gangs right, so when a bunch of low life criminals come into town, do they switch amd chase them like low level cops, ofc not, they just obliterate them... its just a very very sad state overall for the server.. 

Remember when mining had an economy, it paid good, but you may get robbed.. so you would RP hiring security or hire workers to help... introduce the Risk V Reward stuff, reduce mining payout and you destroy roleplay so bad. 

It seems this had happened across the server, all a new player has left is a few script jobs... such a damn shame. 

2019 Be the best haha

[astrx]

Please stay on topic, I understand wanting to vent frustrations and such but keep this topic to replying about the OP's suggestion.

[Jordan]

I like the idea, For the most part I agree with what hector said. So just to add onto that I have a few more suggestions:

1.) Give new players the option to have different spawn locations. This can help them coordinate with friends if they start the server together, and it also help others get a head start if they're being introduced to the server by a friend.

2.) I know New Players get a set VIP status for a while, maybe make it known to them that they have that because Im not sure many New Players are exactly aware that its a thing they have until its gone and they appreciate it much less.

3.) And Finally: Maybe assist them further with how to get started I know when I first started its very overwhelming and as Pads said its just a lot when you first start out. maybe direct new players towards freelance jobs more? Im not sure exactly how you would do this, but im sure theres a way to inspire new players to look into those more.

[tigerpet15]

Actually what I think would solve a lot of problems would be cut scene of a video (not sure how it d be possible from the dev side maybe a tv?). With some funny character like Cobb introducing them to the city what you can do, basic tutorial how to get started where are the locations how some of the stuff works etc. Like back in the day (2020) when I stalled my car I didnt know I can turn i back on after some time so I ran away. These kind of stuff would be helpful especially to players with 0 RP experience

[GodDammitKopi]

Misread someone’s comment and made a silly comment

[GodDammitKopi]

31 minutes ago, tigerpet15 said:

Actually what I think would solve a lot of problems would be cut scene of a video (not sure how it d be possible from the dev side maybe a tv?). With some funny character like Cobb introducing them to the city what you can do, basic tutorial how to get started where are the locations how some of the stuff works etc. Like back in the day (2020) when I stalled my car I didnt know I can turn i back on after some time so I ran away. These kind of stuff would be helpful especially to players with 0 RP experience

This was discussed a long time ago but it was more akin to help new players understand rules. It could be helpful though. As for now we have a pretty solid guide for new players on the forums, but most players won’t even come to the forums for a week or so. 

[tigerpet15]

12 hours ago, GodDammitKopi said:

This was discussed a long time ago but it was more akin to help new players understand rules. It could be helpful though. As for now we have a pretty solid guide for new players on the forums, but most players won’t even come to the forums for a week or so. 

I’m aware of this. Though when I remember my new player jorney. I wasn’t aware of the forums and that there are two of them like to gov website and this. Also I played by different rules I somehow found older ecrp rules and used them as a guide (they had some differences) and turned up breaking few of the current rules. Also I’m a big fan off the new player guide. But I think this process of learning rp should be easier accessible. I believe IC video would be cool and it would be really good to explain the forums include the new player guide there and the gov website meaning and differences.