People are being cruel to new players

[Amberion]

Pretty sure more than half the people who started their first MMO didn't think to look things up. I know I didn't with XI. Someone friendly explained things to me, and from there, that is when I started looking things up. Since then, every MMO I have played, I research things as much as I can.

I also found a friendly player in that game. But the biggest difference is that FFXI was a slower game, you had more time to learn your job/class before being thrown into the deep end(party).

In this game you level too fast, you get a new skill way before you familiarize yourself with the previous gotten one.

[Malakhim]

Yes, but I've noticed the way newbies are being treated. Obviously there are different circumstances in which a newbie found themselves not knowing what to do in their first couple dungeons.. but those circumstances are irrelevant when you are already in a party. Instead of trying to ask people to go back in time and tell them what they should have done, you can help them with what they need to do, and there's even nice ways to do it.

And that's when a new player needs to start communicating the fact that he/she is new and to what degree! Otherwise nobody is going to help(because they'd rather not run the risk of being called a "dumb faggot") and/or is going to think the person is a troll. In my experience, the very SECOND people in my groups see another person type out "hey I'm new" most people start raising their hands madly and try to explain how things go. But if a new player is afraid of taking a chance saying that he or she is new because of some stigma, then there really isn't much a group can do. There's no "Captain Hindsight" on any of the groups I've been in. We usually try to be as proactive an courteous that we can be, but again, it's a two-way street. Just like any other interaction with any other person in the history of anything ever.

To my knowledge, there isn't anyone that can read minds out there. Once again, communication, communication, communication.

[reivaxe]

For me it wasn't a problem early on. But now that I think about it ... running DNGS with 2 friends who share your character's last name kinda makes the random 4th know that they can't go all assy.

But even in later DNGS when playing DF solo, most people were nice or helpful. Course there were some asses but it wasn't too bad ... until level 50 that is.

Doing the FIRST STORY MODE 8 PLAYER DNG was a nightmare. A good amount of us were new to the DNG ... and the vets where speedrunning regardless and getting pissy when a new person didn't know that everyone was "trying to avoid the LoS of the mobs" to shorten the run. And I, the TANK, became pretty useless seeing how I had juuuust enough Item Level to get into the DNG where as all the vets and the other tank had fancy high level glowing weapons and gear. I could only pull aggro from mobs attacking ... other new peoples who weren't vastly out leveling me gear wise. MT tells me to kit and I KNOW what that means but ... I can't do it if it aggros onto everyone who hit it when I'm not doing my 1 lil combo to keep hate.

I decided to not go through that again and looked for other ways to better my gear. Thankfully hunting saved me ...

[Farah]

I try to help new players as much as I can, and I'm always very patient with them. I'm on a PS4 (Originally on PS3) and I made sure to have a keyboard to play this game. Communication is essential. Plus, you can get a keyboard for $6-$12 at most stores. It's a cheap investment that will save you a lot of headaches in the long run. That said, if you don't have a keyboard, PLEASE have pre-made macro phrases.

Now, I ran Sastasha the other day to help one of my friends on a dps class get their book. The queue was taking forever so I helped by queueing with them. When we get in there, the healer is a newb. Everyone says hello but her. First thing when we get in there she runs to the first mob and starts smacking it without the tank or buffs. We try to explain to her basic party setup. No response. She runs ahead and starts smacking another mob, she dies.we explain again how the tank has to go first and grab emnity and how she needs to heal the tank. No response, and continues to dps only. Our blm ends up having to heal. She keeps attacking stuff that is ahead of the tank and dying. At that point, we are about 1/3 through the dungeon and we decide to kick her. We honestly had tried explaining everything, she would not respond to us, and she was starting to drive the other party members crazy.

I run into more cases like this than just regular newbs. I think that is what is causing the zero tolerance for new players. I'll admit that some seasoned adventurers are jerks, but there have been a lot of these not-listening, not-responding new players lately. I'm sure it is because of the free login stuff that is going on now, and it will die down some after this is over. I'm just saying the new player isn't always some saint. I've run into a lot that won't take advice and will scream at you if you try to help. I'm patient, but I won't take shit from players when I'm just trying to help.

[Serendipitii]

Don't read tutorials, don't read tool tips

As I said before, what they did or didn't do isn't relevant by the time you are already in a party with the person. When you are in the party with the person, you should be nice to them regardless of if they suck. If they're rude to you despite you being nice and helping them, vote to kick them. But there is NO reason to treat them terribly. Who cares why they suck? Maybe they are mentally handicapped, maybe the didn't read the tutorial.. maybe a little of both? Whatever the case you have a few choices. Help them, be mean to them, or say nothing and pull your own weight. Shouldn't we all be making good choices? Or do people just feel better about the situation when they talk shit? It doesn't HELP the situation thats for sure.

[Serendipitii]

Well it was nice chatting with you all and hearing all sorts of stuff. But my shift is over and I'll be going home soon, meaning I won't be replying to anything else anytime soon. Thanks for helping work go by quickly!

[Blargs_Away]

The majority of my experiences with new players tend to be...

I see them doing a bizarre method of a rotation for their class and I'll try to help them out by detailing a better way to assist them in dealing the most damage they can.

This is usually the remark i'll get from a black mage that's new: "I spam blizzard 1 until I get 3 stacks so I can have max MP when I cast a quick Fire III." "Screw fire II on adds, i'm better off spamming fire I for firestarter!"

And roughly other similar nonsense like from above. Then I just say F it after 2 or 3 explanations and have my pt boot the morons.

I have found some nice nubs though that actually listen and we proceed in a great and honorable fashion!

[kyuven]

snip

There's a certain onus on new players to pay attention when you're being taught something, though. I can't tell you how many headaches could be saved by merely reading what a skill does before you go spamming it.

[Naberrie]

And? It's ok to cause problems for others because you're afraid someone will treat you badly because you say you're new? You're just putting on the same shoes at that point.

Someone needing to learn a fight should not be considered a problem. It should be an opportunity to teach. To help. To make the community stronger. Instead of helping, people go on their FC and complain about how the PT sucks cause one person is new or doesn't know the fight, all the while forgetting that, at one time, that was you.

[Sagittarian]

*snip*
He said it was fine, he'd just use DF. I gave him some pointers and wished him luck.

I can only guess what happened, as today I saw he had deleted his character.

That sucks.
We had a FC mate who we were coaching through tanking. He made it to Brayflox before giving up on it completely due to people being rude in dungeons. Fortunately he picked up archer, loved it, and is still with us. I know several other people who will only tank with people they already know.

So definitely agree with being encouraging to new people and helping them find what they are comfortable with and good at.

As to the other poster who mentioned tanks being the party lead - that is only by convention. The tank is responsible for controlling the mobs and so is usually given the lead role but everyone still needs to work with the party. It is a cooperative effort.