Guide Program.

[Dingo123]

Don't feel bad, he hated it in the beginning of the thread so all is not lost

I didn't hate it. I thought that paying turbine 15 bucks a month to play customer service was interesting. If people want to do it, let them.

Eve-Online has had great experiences with this sort of thing.

[Hvymetal]

/signed

I am all for anything that helps out new players, I am sure most new players starting now must get a little intimidated joining a party w/ a bunch of people with glowing weapons that just take off running (usually w/ expeditious retreat clickies) at the beggining of the quest.

[smodge13]

Further, "forcing voice chat" would make it much much easier to help people.

this could easily be used for abuse.

However, teaching people how to tun on voice chat can sometimes be a chore in and of itself. Especially for people who are entirely new to the game.

and someone who cant teach someone new to this via typing, would probably be unfit for the position of teaching more advanced things like hotkeys ect.

[Spell]

this could easily be used for abuse.



and someone who cant teach someone new to this via typing, would probably be unfit for the position of teaching more advanced things like hotkeys ect.

Let along trying to walk them through and making sure they have their "Windows" settings correct and trying to troubleshoot that, all while typing and them rebooting.

[Rason]

I'd happily be a part of this. I think it's a great idea to help out new players.

You could institute a "guyide zone" where the guide becomes a DM in mini, able to access the characters panels to show them what's what, or "force voice chat" which would allow the Guide to speack to the player even if they didn't have voice chat up.

A special zone to teach people combat and such, in a way that is simple enough.

Further, "forcing voice chat" would make it much much easier to help people.

These volunteers wouldn't be the same as GMs.

GMs don't have to teach you how to set up toolbars, or send tells, or any of the like.

What might take 4 minutes of explanation via type could take 20 seconds of explanation in voice chat.

However, teaching people how to tun on voice chat can sometimes be a chore in and of itself. Especially for people who are entirely new to the game.

It has been said already but forcing voice chat is a little over the line considering it would alienate some of the population who don't use voice chat. due to hearing difficulties or perhaps being deaf. Yes, that's right, playing a game without sound, it is possible

As for a special area, we don't need it. As a player already, I can help others by assisting them with how to play the game where needed. We don't need special 'powers' to do that. The only 'powers' that may (may) be granted would be something like assisting with customer service and that is a big 'may' there. All in all, the first concept is to take small baby steps like helping people as a 'guide' rather than wishing to take a teaching career with the powers attached.

this could easily be used for abuse and someone who cant teach someone new to this via typing, would probably be unfit for the position of teaching more advanced things like hotkeys etc.

And to come to a close.. I agree 110%. If you prefer to use voice then you are skipping over a prime tool in DDO and any game really. Typing. Sure it is slower but everyone understands it to some extent and has access to it.

Voice we don't always have access to to listen to, maybe your speakers are broken for instance or perhaps you have guests over and don't want too much noise. The list can go on..

One acronym comes to mind: KISS. If you know what it is, you know why I say it

Start small. Once I get back into DDO, I will gladly set up all my characters to have the comment "D&D Online Helpful Guide" attached to them all and I will easily help anyone who needs some help.

Also, as a note, I would recommend the mature of us to check out the Newbie Harbor as well as the Guest Trial Boards more often, emphasis on the Guest Trial Boards as these are the possible players we may have come into DDO. The Newbie Harbor and Newbie Q&A are just two good places to try and help out and give a friendly shoulder now and then.

[smodge13]

One acronym comes to mind: KISS. If you know what it is, you know why I say it

number one thing to remember whenever you design/program something

[Hvymetal]

number one thing to remember whenever you design/program something

Actually it's a great acronym for just about anything, and to think I learned it in the military

[cryptic]

/signed

I love this idea

Actually it's a great acronym for just about anything, and to think I learned it in the military

that's where i learned it

[Cowdenicus]

Actually it's a great acronym for just about anything, and to think I learned it in the military

Hey thats where I learned it too.

[Marrra]

They did that for the guide program in anarchy online. Not only did you have to be a certain level, the online application has quite a detailed multi-choice test, and and essay as to why you wanted to be a guide.

Was a long process before people got into it, but they were knowledgeable, and after the guide training knew more than most gms in the game.

Sounds like a great idea if they will be granting any level of powers at all. It's important to know that endorsed Guides have the right level of knowledge to actually help.

/signed

I am all for anything that helps out new players, I am sure most new players starting now must get a little intimidated joining a party w/ a bunch of people with glowing weapons that just take off running (usually w/ expeditious retreat clickies) at the beggining of the quest.

I'm *still* intimidated by these groups! I just run along and try to keep up as best I can, doing my job and hoping people will remember to type important information to me

and someone who cant teach someone new to this via typing, would probably be unfit for the position of teaching more advanced things like hotkeys ect.

Typing is a lot easier to understand for everyone. Sure, it's slower sometimes. But there isn't any hassles setting up voice chat, let alone the problems with the medium such as trying to understand the guy with the really strong accent, missing what was just said, plus lack of accessibility for hearing impaired players such as myself. Text is always there, you can read back if you're unsure to double check something or when you turned away for a moment to sneeze

All in all, I like the idea. The suggestion of having an icon you can turn on or a flag or something so that people can *see* that you're there to help them if they have questions, plus a listing on the who page perhaps... all this should be easily implimentable. I do hope that this thread of helpful people and ideas turns into more than just a dream. I know I'll be doing my part and signing up!